Headlines from AEWA Technical Committee 10 and forward look to MoP 5 (La Rochelle, France May 2012) David Stroud, TC Regional Representative for Northern & Southwest Europe

Single Species Action Plans 1.Greenland White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons flavirostris [UK, IE] 2.Bewick’s Swan Cygnus columbianus bewickii [EE, LT, LV, FI, PO, SE, DK, DE, NL, BE, FR, UK, IE, EL] 3.Red-breasted Geese Branta ruficollis [BU, RO] {revision of existing plan} 4.Slaty Egret Egretta vinaceigula 5.Sociable Lapwing Vanellus gregarius {revision of existing plan} 6.Adaptive management plan for Pink-footed Goose (Svalbard population) Anser brachyrhynchus [DK, NL, BE]

Major information reviews AEWA Conservation Status Review 5 – New ‘user-friendly’ format – Reviews: State of knowledge Conservation priorities – Also technical justification of proposed changes to status Declining Stable Increasing

Major information reviews Review on the conflict between migratory birds and electricity power grids in the African-Eurasian region Adverse effects of agrochemicals on African waterbirds Review of impacts of lead fishing weights on migratory waterbirds

Major information reviews Review of sufficiency and coherence of site networks, including: – Methods to assess ‘sufficiency’ – Methods to assess ‘coherence’ (especially in context of climate change issues)

Major information reviews Toolkit related to impacts of extractive industries on wetlands and waterbirds (joint with Ramsar STRP) – Guide to guidance – Risk assessment tools & framework

Amendments to Action Plan text In response to request from MoP 4 (Res. 4.3) Definition of term ‘over-riding public interests’ (para 2.1.3) List of “modes of taking” of waterbirds to be restricted or regulated (para 2.1.2(b)) Tackling aquatic invasive weeds Endeavour to phase out use of lead fishing weights (para 4.1.4) Measures for non-native species – align para 2.5 of AP with Article III 2(g) of the Agreement

TC proposed changes to Table 1 of Action Plan 1 Add additional criterion for selection of Column A for IUCN Near Threatened species – Proposed that hunting to be undertaken for such species within the context of an international single species action plan

TC proposed changes to Table 1 of Action Plan 2 Several changes of species status. Those affecting Annex II species that move from AEWA Column B to Column A and thus requiring complete protection: – Larus fuscus fuscus NE Europe/Black Sea, SW Asia & eastern Africa – upgrade from B2c to A3c – Anser fabalis fabalis NE Europe/NW Europe – upgrade from B1 to A3c

Guidance related to the implementation of the Action Plan Toolkit for defining periods of pre-nuptial migration and breeding {Information paper. Position for EU = Key Concepts} Technical guidance related to the term term “extreme fluctuations in population size or trend” applicable to the AEWA Table 1

Probable Resolutions 1 AEWA’s contribution to the Aichi 2020 targets Waterbirds, wetlands and extractive industries Waterbirds and agrochemicals in Africa Powerlines and migratory birds Adoption of Species Action Plans (and summary of state of implementation of others)

Probable Resolutions 2 Climate change adaptation measures for waterbirds Renewable energy and migratory waterbirds Promotion of twinning schemes between the natural sites covered by AEWA and Ramsar {submitted by FR} Encouraging greater joint implementation of AEWA and the Ramsar Convention {submitted by FR}

Probable Resolutions 3 Legal and scientific clarifications on the notion of disturbance, useful for appropriate implementation of the AEWA Action Plan {submitted by FR} Reinforcing capacities with a view to improving laws and policies in favour of waterbirds and the participation of non-EU States party to AEWA decisions {submitted by FR} Lead fishing weights

New or updated Conservation Guidelines Guidelines for mitigating/avoiding the conflict between migratory birds and electricity power grids in the African-Eurasian region {new} Tackling emergency situations {revised and updated} Avoidance of introductions of non-native waterbirds {revised and updated} Regulating trade in migratory waterbirds {revised and updated} Question: how useful are AEWA’s Conservation Guidelines (in their current format)?

African Plan of Action

Other issues Consideration of harmonisation of taxonomies between AEWA & CMS (and other MEAs) Updated International Implementation Priorities