AEWA News

Bonn/Boulder/Incheon, 8 May 2026 - As millions of migratory birds cross continents and oceans, people across the planet are preparing to mark World Migratory Bird Day 2026, with the first peak day for the year taking place on Saturday, 9 May 2026. This year’s campaign is guided by a simple but powerful message: “Every Bird Counts –  Your Observations Matter!” – highlighting the importance of community science (also referred to as citizen science) in safeguarding migratory birds along all the world’s flyways.

From 23 – 29 March, governments, scientists, conservationists, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, environmental leaders, and civil society representatives from around the world are meeting in Campo Grande, Brazil for the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). As a daughter Agreement developed under the auspices of CMS, the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) is actively engaging in the meeting, working with governments and partners to advance the conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitats across Africa and Eurasia.

The AEWA Secretariat is deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Gerard C. Boere, Honorary Patron and Founder of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA). Gerard passed away peacefully on 6 January 2026, at his home in Gorssel, the Netherlands, at the age of 83.

The UNEP/AEWA Secretariat would like to announce that Mr. Sergey Dereliev has been appointed as Acting Executive Secretary of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA). Mr. Dereliev took up this temporary assignment on 7 January 2026 for an initial period of one year.

The global Partners behind World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) are excited to announce the theme for 2026: “Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter!” highlighting the important role of community science (also referred to as citizen science) for the conservation of migratory birds.