A Brief Analysis of AEWA MOP6: Fueling (and Funding) Long-haul Flight

Earth Negotiations Bulletin
published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
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In the twenty years since the adoption of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA), more and more parties in the African-Eurasian flyway region have acceded to the Agreement, to a total of 75 by MOP6. Although the increase is worth celebrating, a growing number of contracting parties is only positive to the extent that it raises the profile of AEWA, advances the Agreement’s implementation, and furnishes more specific and detailed knowledge of the conservation status of migratory waterbirds. Given that just 55% of current parties submitted national reports in the lead-up to MOP6, AEWA’s ability to accurately assess the plight of migratory waterbirds is severely limited.

In fact, reliable population trends are not available for two-thirds of AEWA species; thus, in this case, “no news does not mean good news.” Based on what is known, a third of waterbird species are in decline. Although Strategic Plan implementation improved slightly since MOP5, progress toward the overall goal of waterbird conservation dropped, an apparent discrepancy explained by the fact that the targets achieved relate to capacity building and awareness raising. While these activities are necessary for better conservation outcomes, they are not in themselves sufficient. Overall progress will depend on parties focusing more on targets that can directly influence the status of AEWA waterbirds—and on accurately relaying the results of these efforts through national reports.

At MOP6, some parties asked the Secretariat to assist with national reporting more directly, namely by following up with individual parties who submit inadequate data and by taking NGO reports into consideration when assessing the status of waterbirds and progress on implementing the Agreement. But while parties are happy to increase the workload of the already overstrained Secretariat, they are less willing to increase their financial contributions to AEWA, at least judging from the zero percent budget increase.

Innovative funding mechanisms, such as support from waterbird hunting organizations, might be necessary to close the gap between AEWA’s aspirations and its available funding. Enhancing synergies and sharing common services between CMS instruments may also help streamline the efficiency of AEWA, allowing the diversion of funds from administrative matters to technical support, but joint efforts also risk watering down the focus on waterbirds. For AEWA to really soar, more reliable, long-term funding is needed for implementation.

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The full report can be downloaded here

Here are relevant articles on AEWA MOP6:

AEWA MOP 6, Bonn, Germany: 9-14 November 2015
International Migratory Waterbird Conference Kicks Off in Bonn
Africa: Countries Commit to Tackling Multiple Threats to Migratory Waterbirds

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