Common use of STRENGTHENING MONITORING OF MIGRATORY WATERBIRDS Clause in Contracts

STRENGTHENING MONITORING OF MIGRATORY WATERBIRDS. Recalling Resolution 5.2 “Addressing gaps in knowledge of and conservation action for waterbird populations and sites important for them”, and further recalling Resolution 5.22 “Establishing a long-term basic structural funding regime for the International Waterbird Census in the African-Eurasian region”, Taking note of the Report on the Development of Waterbird Monitoring along the African-Eurasian Flyways and the progress made towards achieving Targets 3.1. of the AEWA Strategic Plan 2009-2017 with respect to waterbird monitoring data gathering and being aware that sustainable funding is yet to be secured (document AEWA/MOP 6.X), Gratefully acknowledging the contributions to the objectives of AEWA made by Contracting Parties, international donors, national and international non-governmental organisations, particularly through the AEWA African Initiative, the Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative, the Conserving Migratory Waterbirds in West Africa project, the Mediterranean Waterbird Monitoring project, the Strengthening Waterbird Monitoring in the African-Eurasian flyway project, the Adriatic Flyway Initiative, the Migratory Soaring Birds project, and the From the Arctic to Africa project as examples of strategic regional initiatives for the conservation of waterbirds and their habitats, Taking full account of AEWA/MOP 6.XX “Report on the Conservation Status of Migratory Waterbirds in the Agreement Area – 6th edition” (aka CSR6), Noting that the preliminary “Report on the Site Network for Waterbirds in the Agreement Area – 1st edition” (document AEWA/MOP 5.15) was not revised and finalised during the last triennium due to lack of funding, Further noting that also due to lack of funding, the Technical Committee could not provide advice at MOP6 on the monitoring of seabirds and colonial breeding waterbirds, identify priorities for the systematic development of waterbird monitoring in order to reach the targets of the Strategic Plan 2009-2017, or revise the AEWA Conservation Guidelines on Waterbird Monitoring (AEWA/MOP 6.XX [TC’s Chair’s report], Aware that only modest improvement of the knowledge of population sizes, neither with regard to quantity nor quality, has been achieved since the 4th edition of the CSR (CSR4), with 2% of populations still lacking size estimates, only 12% of size estimates based on census data, and the remaining being either “best guess” (26%) or expert opinion (60%), Further aware that the assessment of population trends shows 28% of populations still lack any trend estimates, with most of the available estimates being poor (38%), only 28% reasonable and just 6% of good quality, Concerned that a high proportion (36%) of populations with known trends continue to show declines compared to the 25% of populations which are increasing, Noting that the International Waterbird Census (IWC) and the related schemes could provide a good basis for estimating population size and trends for 32% and 52% [tbc] of the waterbird populations in the Agreement area respectively, provided that the coverage of these schemes is improved, Further noting that the population size and trends estimates could be based on colonial breeding bird schemes in the Agreement area in the case of 32% and 27% [tbc] of the populations, provided a comprehensive scheme covering the region existed, Noting that the species with the least exhaustive or non-existent population size and trend estimates are usually those which cannot be covered by generic monitoring schemes, such as the IWC, Further noting that the West and Central Asian regions, alongside the Afrotropical region, have the least exhaustive population size estimates, population trend estimates and highest proportion of declining populations, Acknowledging that in CSR6, the increase of populations whose status is assessed on the basis of regular monitoring data has increased from 102 to 180, i.e. by 75% compared to CSR4, and thus exceeds the Strategic Plan target of 50%, but still represents only 32% of the populations listed in Table 1 of the AEWA Action Plan, Extremely concerned that none of the eight status-related targets of the Strategic Plan were reached so far and in the case of five of the eight targets, the situation has worsened, Acknowledging the usefulness of the Critical Site Network Tool for a number of international and national processes under the Agreement but noting that the Tool is gradually becoming outdated both technologically and data-wise, Recognising that other MEAs, particularly the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and the Convention on Migratory Species, as well as the EU Birds Directive, require regular waterbird monitoring data for their operations, such as Ramsar criteria 5 and 6 for the designation of wetlands of international importance whose applicability is linked to the Waterbird Population Estimates which is largely derived from IWC data, Taking into account the conclusions and recommendations of the Standing Committee report to MOP6 on the progress of implementation of the AEWA Strategic Plan 2009-2017 (AEWA/MOP 6.XX).

STRENGTHENING MONITORING OF MIGRATORY WATERBIRDS. Recalling Resolution 5.2 “Addressing gaps in knowledge of and conservation action for waterbird populations and sites important for them”, and further recalling Resolution 5.22 “Establishing a long-term basic structural funding regime for the International Waterbird Census in the African-Eurasian region”, Taking note of the Report on the Development of Waterbird Monitoring along the African-Eurasian Flyways and the progress made towards achieving Targets 3.1. of the AEWA Strategic Plan 2009-2017 with respect to waterbird monitoring data gathering and being aware that sustainable funding is yet to be secured (document AEWA/MOP 6.X6.24), Gratefully acknowledging the contributions to the objectives of AEWA made by Contracting Parties, international donors, national and international non-governmental organisations, particularly through the AEWA African Initiative, the Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative, the Conserving Migratory Waterbirds in West Africa project, the Mediterranean Waterbird Monitoring project, the Strengthening Waterbird Monitoring in the African-Eurasian flyway Flyway project, the Adriatic Flyway Initiative, the Migratory Soaring Birds project, and the From the Arctic to Africa project as examples of strategic regional initiatives for the conservation of waterbirds and their habitats, Taking full account of document AEWA/MOP 6.XX 6.14 “Report on the Conservation Status of Migratory Waterbirds in the Agreement Area – - 6th edition” (aka CSR6), Noting that the preliminary “Report on the Site Network for Waterbirds in the Agreement Area – - 1st edition” (document AEWA/MOP 5.15) was not revised and finalised during the last triennium due to lack of funding, Further noting that also due to lack of funding, the Technical Committee could not provide advice at MOP6 on the monitoring of seabirds and colonial breeding waterbirds, identify priorities for the systematic development of waterbird monitoring in order to reach the targets of the Strategic Plan 2009-2017, or revise the AEWA Conservation Guidelines on Waterbird Monitoring (document AEWA/MOP 6.XX [TC’s Chair’s report]6.7 Report of the Technical Committee), Aware that only modest improvement of the knowledge of population sizes, neither with regard to quantity nor and quality, has been achieved since the 4th edition of the CSR (CSR4), with 2% of populations still lacking size estimates, only 12% of size estimates based on census data, and the remaining being either “best guess” (26%) or expert opinion (60%), Further aware that the assessment of population trends shows that 28% of populations still lack any trend estimates, with most of the available estimates being poor (38%), only 28% reasonable and just 6% of good quality, Concerned that a high proportion (36%) of populations with known trends continue to show declines compared to the 25% of populations which are increasing, Noting that the International Waterbird Census (IWC) and the related schemes could provide a good basis for estimating population size and trends for 32% and 52% [tbc] of the waterbird populations in the Agreement area respectively, provided that the coverage of these schemes is improved, Further noting that the population size and trends estimates could be based on colonial breeding bird schemes in the Agreement area in the case of 32% and 27% [tbc] of the populations, provided a comprehensive scheme covering the region existed, Noting that the species with the least exhaustive or non-existent population size and trend estimates are usually those which cannot be covered by generic monitoring schemes, such as the IWC, Further noting that the West and Central Asian regions, alongside the Afrotropical region, have the least exhaustive population size estimates, population trend estimates and highest proportion of declining populations, Acknowledging that in CSR6, the increase of populations whose status is assessed on the basis of regular monitoring data has increased from 102 to 180, i.e. by 75% compared to CSR4, and thus exceeds the Strategic Plan target of 50%, but still represents only 32% of the populations listed in Table 1 of the AEWA Action Plan, Extremely concerned that none of the eight status-related targets of the Strategic Plan were reached so far and in the case of five of the eight targets, the situation has worsened, Acknowledging the usefulness of the Critical Site Network Tool for a number of international and national processes under the Agreement but noting that the Tool is gradually becoming outdated both technologically and data-wise, Recognising that other MEAs, particularly the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and the Convention on Migratory Species, as well as the EU Birds Directive, require regular waterbird monitoring data for their operations, such as Ramsar criteria 5 and 6 for the designation of wetlands of international importance whose applicability is linked to the Waterbird Population Estimates which is largely derived from IWC data, Taking into account the conclusions and recommendations of the Standing Committee report to MOP6 on the progress Progress of implementation of the AEWA Strategic Plan 2009-2017 (document AEWA/MOP 6.XX6.12), Being aware that the UNEP/AEWA Secretariat is represented in the African-Eurasian Waterbird Monitoring Partnership1.

STRENGTHENING MONITORING OF MIGRATORY WATERBIRDS. Recalling Resolution 6.3 “Strengthening monitoring of migratory waterbirds”, and further recalling Resolution 5.2 “Addressing gaps in knowledge of and conservation action for waterbird populations and sites important for them”, ” and further recalling Resolution 5.22 “Establishing a long-term basic structural funding regime for the International Waterbird Census in the African-Eurasian region”, Taking note of the Report on the Development of Waterbird Monitoring along the African-Eurasian Flyways and the progress made towards achieving Targets 3.1. of the AEWA Strategic Plan 2009-2017 with respect to waterbird monitoring data gathering and being aware that sustainable funding is yet to be secured (document AEWA/MOP 6.X7.31), Gratefully acknowledging the contributions to the objectives of AEWA with respect to developing waterbird monitoring, made by Contracting Parties, international donors, national and international non-non- governmental organisations, particularly through the AEWA African Initiative, the Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative, the Conserving Migratory Waterbirds in West Africa project, the Mediterranean Waterbird Monitoring project, the Strengthening Waterbird Monitoring in the African-Eurasian flyway Flyway project, the Adriatic Flyway Initiative, the Migratory Soaring Birds project, and the From the Arctic to Africa RESSOURCE project as examples of strategic regional initiatives for the conservation of waterbirds and their habitats, Taking full account of document AEWA/MOP 6.XX 7.14 “Report on the Conservation Status of Migratory Waterbirds in the Agreement Area – 6th - 7th edition” (aka CSR6CSR7), Noting that the preliminary “Report on the Site Network for Waterbirds in the Agreement Area – - 1st edition” (document AEWA/MOP 5.15) was not revised and finalised during the last triennium two triennia due to lack of funding, Further noting that also due to lack of funding, Welcoming the Technical Committee could not provide advice at MOP6 on progress with the monitoring of seabirds coordination and colonial breeding waterbirds, identify priorities for the systematic development of waterbird monitoring in order to reach the targets of the Strategic Plan 2009-2017, or revise the AEWA Conservation Guidelines on Waterbird Monitoring (AEWA/MOP 6.XX [TC’s Chair’s report], Aware that only modest improvement of the knowledge of population sizes, neither with regard to quantity nor quality, has been achieved since the 4th edition of the CSR (CSR4), with 2% of populations still lacking size estimates, only 12% of size estimates based on census data, and the remaining being either “best guess” (26%) or expert opinion (60%), Further aware that the assessment of population trends shows 28% of populations still lack any trend estimates, with most of the available estimates being poor (38%), only 28% reasonable and just 6% of good quality, Concerned that a high proportion (36%) of populations with known trends continue to show declines compared to the 25% of populations which are increasing, Noting that reporting from the International Waterbird Census (IWCdocument AEWA/MOP 7.14) and recognizing the related schemes could provide a good basis need for estimating continued support for the scheme both at national and international level, Welcoming the progress with the 2nd European Breeding Bird Atlas coordinated by the European Bird Census Council and appreciating the improvements in population size and trends for 32% and 52% [tbc] of the waterbird populations in the Agreement area respectively, provided that the coverage of these schemes is improved, Further noting that the population size and trends estimates could be based on colonial breeding bird schemes in the Agreement area in the case of 32% and 27% [tbc] of the populations, provided a comprehensive scheme covering the region existed, Noting that the species with the least exhaustive or non-existent population size and trend estimates are usually those which cannot be covered by generic monitoring schemes, such as the IWC, Further noting that the West and Central Asian regions, alongside the Afrotropical region, have the least exhaustive population size estimates, population trend estimates and highest proportion of declining populations, Acknowledging that in CSR6, the increase of populations whose status is assessed on the basis of regular monitoring data has increased from 102 to 180, i.e. by 75% compared to CSR4, and thus exceeds the Strategic Plan target of 50%, but still represents only 32% of the populations listed in Table 1 of the AEWA Action Plan, Extremely concerned that none of the eight status-related targets of the Strategic Plan were reached so far and in the case of five of the eight targets, the situation has worsenedrange change estimates this may bring, Acknowledging the usefulness of the Critical Site Network Tool for a number of international and national processes under the Agreement but noting and grateful for its technical redevelopment under the Climate Resilient Flyway project, recognizing its potential to facilitate the monitoring of Objective 3 of the AEWA Strategic Plan 2018-2027, while recognising that adequate monitoring schemes are essential to ensure that the Tool contains information that is gradually becoming outdated both technologically and data-wise, Recognising that other MEAs, particularly adequate to support the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and management of the Convention on Migratory Species, as well as the EU Birds Directive, require regular waterbird monitoring data for their operations, such as Ramsar criteria 5 and 6 for the designation of wetlands of international importance whose applicability is linked to the Waterbird Population Estimates which is largely derived from IWC datasite network, Taking into account the conclusions and recommendations of the Standing Committee report to MOP6 MOP7 on the progress Progress of implementation of the AEWA Strategic Plan 2009-2017 (document AEWA/MOP 6.XX6.12), Further taking into account the relevant targets and activities of the AEWA Strategic Plan 2019-2027 and of the Plan of Action for Africa 2019-2027, Welcoming the establishment of the Waterbird Fund2 and thanking the Government of Switzerland and other contributors for their donations to the Fund so far, 1 ▇▇▇▇▇://▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇/our-network/waterbird-monitoring-partnership/ 2 ▇▇▇▇▇://▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇

STRENGTHENING MONITORING OF MIGRATORY WATERBIRDS. Recalling Resolution 5.2 “Addressing gaps in knowledge of and conservation action for waterbird populations and sites important for them”, and further recalling Resolution 5.22 “Establishing a long-term basic structural funding regime for the International Waterbird Census in the African-Eurasian region”, Taking note of the Report on the Development of Waterbird Monitoring along the African-Eurasian Flyways and the progress made towards achieving Targets 3.1. of the AEWA Strategic Plan 2009-2017 with respect to waterbird monitoring data gathering and being aware that sustainable funding is yet to be secured (document AEWA/MOP 6.X), Gratefully acknowledging the contributions to the objectives of AEWA made by Contracting Parties, international donors, national and international non-governmental organisations, particularly through the AEWA African Initiative, the Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative, the Conserving Migratory Waterbirds in West Africa project, the Mediterranean Waterbird Monitoring project, the Strengthening Waterbird Monitoring in the African-Eurasian flyway project, the Adriatic Flyway Initiative, the Migratory Soaring Birds project, and the From the Arctic to Africa project as examples of strategic regional initiatives for the conservation of waterbirds and their habitats, Taking full account of AEWA/MOP 6.XX “Report on the Conservation Status of Migratory Waterbirds in the Agreement Area – 6th edition” (aka CSR6), Noting that the preliminary “Report on the Site Network for Waterbirds in the Agreement Area – 1st edition” (document AEWA/MOP 5.15) was not revised and finalised during the last triennium due to lack of funding, Further noting that also due to lack of funding, the Technical Committee could not provide advice at MOP6 on the monitoring of seabirds and colonial breeding waterbirds, identify priorities for the systematic development of waterbird monitoring in order to reach the targets of the Strategic Plan 2009-2017, or revise the AEWA Conservation Guidelines on Waterbird Monitoring (AEWA/MOP 6.XX [TC’s Chair’s report], Aware that only modest improvement 1 The numbering of the knowledge of population sizes, neither with regard draft resolutions presented to quantity nor quality, has been achieved since the 4th edition of the CSR (CSR4), with 2% of populations still lacking size estimates, only 12% of size estimates based on census data, and the remaining being either “best guess” (26%) or expert opinion (60%), Further aware that the assessment of population trends shows 28% of populations still lack any trend estimates, with most of the available estimates being poor (38%), only 28% reasonable and just 6% of good quality, Concerned that a high proportion (36%) of populations with known trends continue to show declines compared to the 25% of populations which are increasing, MOP6 may change. Noting that the International Waterbird Census (IWC) and the related schemes could provide a good basis for estimating population size and trends for 32% and 52% [tbc] of the waterbird populations in the Agreement area respectively, provided that the coverage of these schemes is improved, Further noting that the population size and trends estimates could be based on colonial breeding bird schemes in the Agreement area in the case of 32% and 27% [tbc] of the populations, provided a comprehensive scheme covering the region existed, Noting that the species with the least exhaustive or non-existent population size and trend estimates are usually those which cannot be covered by generic monitoring schemes, such as the IWC, Further noting that the West and Central Asian regions, alongside the Afrotropical region, have the least exhaustive population size estimates, population trend estimates and highest proportion of declining populations, Acknowledging that in CSR6, the increase of populations whose status is assessed on the basis of regular monitoring data has increased from 102 to 180, i.e. by 75% compared to CSR4, and thus exceeds the Strategic Plan target of 50%, but still represents only 32% of the populations listed in Table 1 of the AEWA Action Plan, Extremely concerned that none of the eight status-related targets of the Strategic Plan were reached so far and in the case of five of the eight targets, the situation has worsened, Acknowledging the usefulness of the Critical Site Network Tool for a number of international and national processes under the Agreement but noting that the Tool is gradually becoming outdated both technologically and data-wise, Recognising that other MEAs, particularly the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and the Convention on Migratory Species, as well as the EU Birds Directive, require regular waterbird monitoring data for their operations, such as Ramsar criteria 5 and 6 for the designation of wetlands of international importance whose applicability is linked to the Waterbird Population Estimates which is largely derived from IWC data, Taking into account the conclusions and recommendations of the Standing Committee report to MOP6 on the progress of implementation of the AEWA Strategic Plan 2009-2017 (AEWA/MOP 6.XX).