July 2015: The 10th Meeting of the Standing Committee (StC10) of the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) under the auspices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) reviewed documents to be considered at the forthcoming sixth meeting of the Parties (MOP6) to the AEWA.

At the meeting, held from 8-10 July 2015, in Kampala, Uganda, participants reviewed the latest version of the 6th Edition of the Conservation Status Report (CSR6), draft resolutions for adoption by MOP6, as well as new AEWA conservation guidelines and International Single Species Action Plans (SSAPs). AEWA StC10 also provided the opportunity to give guidance to both the Secretariat and to MOP6 on a number of institutional developments and challenges that will inform the work of the Agreement in the future.

The CMS also supported a meeting of more than 70 representatives from Africa, Asia and Europe in Sofia, Bulgaria, from 5-8 July, to develop a Flyway Action Plan for the Egyptian Vulture. The Action Plan will fall under the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MoU), among others. The declaration adopted by meeting participants highlights threats to the Egyptian vulture including: poisoning, insufficient amounts of accessible food caused by habitat degradation; and electrocution on medium voltage power poles, as well as collisions with power lines and wind turbines.

With regard to sharks, CMS announced that on 7 July 2015, New Zealand signed the Sharks MoU, bringing the total number of signatories to 39. Six out of the seven shark species listed in the Sharks MOU inhabit New Zealand’s waters and it is expected that this signature will strengthen international efforts to conserve them. [CMS Press Release on AEWA StC10] [CMS Press Release on Vulture] [CMS Press Release on Sharks MoU] [CMS Press Release on New Zealand]