The fourth Meeting of the Parties to the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement met from 15-19 September 2008, in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Among the meeting’s main achievements were: the adoption of a budget that will allow the Secretariat to maintain its current level of staff and activities, with additional costs for interpretation and meeting travel cost support covered by funds from increased minimum annual contributions; and the adoption of a resolution on an African Initiative for the Conservation of Migratory Waterbirds and their Habitats in Africa, which illustrates the Agreement’s increasing focus on Africa. The meeting also adopted: the Strategic Plan 2009-2017 and an enhanced national report format; conservation guidelines concerning impacts of infrastructure development-related disturbance and measures needed to help waterbirds adapt to climate change; and international single species action plans on the maccoa duck, Madagascar pond heron, white-winged flufftail, lesser flamingo, black-tailed godwit, Eurasian spoonbill and lesser white-fronted goose, the latter with a note that it will be kept under review and updated when new information becomes available. A Mauritian proposal to include 20 additional seabird species in Annex 2 of the Agreement was agreed. Other resolutions addressed: phasing out lead shot in wetlands; avian influenza; climate change and migratory waterbirds; hunting and trade legislation; re-establishment projects; and non-native species.
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