The fourth Meeting of the Parties (MOP4) to the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds, also known as the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA), is meeting from 15-19 September 2008, in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

The MOP4 agenda includes the implementation of the: Agreement and Action Plan; International Implementation Priorities 2006-2008; Communication Strategy; and African-Eurasian Flyways Global Environment Facility (GEF) Project. Discussions are also focusing on: phasing out lead shot in wetlands; avian influenza; climate change and migratory waterbirds; proposed amendments to the Annexes of the Agreement; Draft Single Species Action Plans; Draft Conservation Guidelines; establishment of an International Review Panel; and International Reviews on various technical matters, including the conservation status of migratory waterbirds in the Agreement area and the status of introduced non-native waterbird species. AEWA is a UNEP-backed agreement developed in the framework of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). According to a press release published by the AEWA Secretariat, a study to be presented to the meeting shows declines of 41% of migratory waterbird populations along their main migration routes in Africa and Eurasia.
Links to further information
IISD RS coverage of the meeting
AEWA press release