Report on the Conservation Status of Migratory Waterbirds in the Agreement Area

In News

• Recently, according to the report most of the waterbird populations protected under the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) are now facing serious threats.
  • The report was released at the Eighth Session of the Meeting of the Parties to AEWA opened in Budapest September 27, 2022. 

Major Highlights of the report 

• Decline in population:
  • Some 41 percent of all waterbird populations protected under AEWA are now declining.
  • The decline in waterbird populations in the short and long term is 40 percent higher than the increase. This proportion has not changed substantially over the last 15 years. 
  • Some 29 per cent are stable and 30 per cent are increasing.
• Major threats: 
  • The species are impacted by the 38 threats including shifting and alteration of habitat, invasive alien species, unsustainable harvest and poaching, dams and water management.
• Region based assessment: 
  • The proportion of decrease in AEWA waterbird population is higher in central and southwest Asia and eastern and southern Africa.
• IUCN Status:
  • Some 13 percent of the AEWA species are globally threatened. 
  • Four are critically endangered. 
  • Nine are endangered and 20 are vulnerable according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. 

Major challenges faced by the Migratory Waterbirds

• Changes in range and distribution: It is well known that temperature is one of the primary determinants of the location of biomes and habitats. It is therefore logical that species ranges also depend on temperature.
• Changes in breeding range: The periods of the two BTO Breeding Bird Atlases, bird species (including some waterbird species) extended their breeding ranges northwards by an average of 18.9 km, a trend that they attributed to warming temperatures.
• Habitat Loss: One of the main threats facing endangered migratory animals is habitat loss.
• Turbines: The Bern Convention (the Council of Europe) commissioned a report from BirdLife International on how wind turbines affect birds and how to minimize the risks.
• Oil Spills: Of all man-made disasters, oil spills are among the most common and can, over localized areas, be one of the most destructive to wildlife, killing the animals and poisoning their habitats.
• Climate Change: The Earth‘s temperature and sea levels are rising, rain patterns are altering, and extreme weather is occurring more often.
• Electrocution: Birds are threatened due to power poles that have yet to be fitted with the latest safety devices.
• Unsustainable Hunting and Poaching: Poaching, illegal trade and unsustainable hunting are among the most serious threats to the survival of wild species (migratory and sedentary) alongside habitat loss and degradation.
• Wildlife Crime: Wildlife crime ranks alongside drug smuggling, human trafficking and illegal arms trade as one of the most lucrative activities funding organized crime and terrorism.

Recommendations of the report

• The development of schemes to monitor the breeding of migratory waterbirds in Africa, central and southwest Asia and Russia.
• Recruitment of additional Parties to join the agreement
• Intensifying the assistance to AEWA parties in Africa and central and southwest Asia
• Filling the gaps in implementing the AEWA Strategic Plan 2019 – 2027.

Way forward

• The report provides essential insight into the status of implementing the AEWA Strategic Plan for 2019-2027. 

Source: DTE