AEWA and CAFF Secretariats Sign Resolution on Cooperation

Mr. Bert Lenten, Officer in charge of the UNEP/CMS Secretariat on behalf of the UNEP/AEWA Secretariat and Mr. Tom Barry, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the CAFF signing the MoC between CAFF and AEWA Bonn/Bucharest,
16 July 2012 - In the margins of the side event “Synergies
and cooperation: options for the biodiversity-related
agreements" at the 11th Conference of the Parties
(COP11) to the Ramsar Convention, the UNEP/AEWA Secretariat
and the Secretariat of the Conservation of Arctic Flora
and Fauna (CAFF)
have signed a Resolution on Cooperation that provides
the institutional framework for their future mutual work
on the conservation of birds and their habitats.

With this initiative AEWA has also paved the way towards
a broader cooperation between its mother convention,
being the Convention on Migratory Species
(CMS),
and CAFF.

In the face of increasing threats to Arctic
biodiversity, cooperation with regards to understanding

biodiversity changes within this fragile and unique ecosystem
is extremly important. The Resolution of cooperation between

AEWA and CAFF will contribute to building and sharing knowledge,
creating awareness and enhancing capacity for understanding

change. It will also strengthen international cooperation
and build capacity regarding the conservation of migratory

waterbird species within the African-Eurasian flyways.

The Resolution was signed by Mr. Bert Lenten,
Officer in charge of the UNEP/CMS Secretariat on behalf
of the UNEP/AEWA Secretariat and Mr. Tom Barry, Executive
Secretary of the Secretariat of the CAFF on the sixth day
of the conference.

COP11 took place at the Palace of Parliament
in Romania, Bucharest from 6-13 July under the theme “Wetlands
– home and destination” and was attended by
representatives of members states and observers from countries

and relevant organizations gathering to assess the progress
of the Convention and the sustainable use of wetlands
to
date, sharing knowledge and experience on technical issues,
and planning their own and the Ramsar Secretariat’s
work for the next triennium.

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