2025/007: Integration of AEWA Priorities into National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans

The UNEP/AEWA Secretariat notes the ongoing process in many AEWA Contracting Parties to revise and update their national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs), to align with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and its goals and targets.

Given that many countries within AEWA’s Agreement Area have not yet concluded this process, the Secretariat would like to remind Parties of Target 5.5 of the AEWA Strategic Plan 2019-2027, which aims for the conservation of migratory waterbirds to be “integrated into the new generation of NBSAPs and/or similar national plans/policies by at least three-quarters of the Contracting Parties”.

The Secretariat additionally reminds Parties of the analysis of Opportunities for AEWA to Support the Kunming-Montreal Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, which was discussed at the 8th Meeting of the Parties to AEWA and approved by the AEWA Standing Committee at its 23rd meeting, in accordance with Resolution 8.9. This analysis highlights various issues where full AEWA implementation will help deliver the objectives of the GBF – many of which will also contribute to delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals and international objectives regarding climate change mitigation and adaptation. It concludes that AEWA implementation will have the greatest benefit to the GBF in relation to those actions that:

• ensure the conservation and wise use of national networks of protected areas, especially, but not restricted to, wetlands, and in both terrestrial and marine environments (GBF Target 3);
• ensure that land-uses are fully compatible with sustaining migratory waterbird populations (GBF Targets 1, 10, 14 & 18);
• reduce, mitigate and compensate for habitat loss and degradation as appropriate, restore degraded habitats to reverse past losses and create new multifunctional wetlands (GBF Targets 2, 14 & 15);
• address the causes and consequences of introductions of invasive alien species (GBF Target 6);
• implement climate change adaptation measures, including nature-based solutions and ecosystem approaches related to the waterbird habitats (especially but not restricted to wetlands) (GBF Targets 8 & 11);
• remove unnecessary causes of waterbird mortality and ensure that harvests, where made, are sustainable (GBF Targets 4, 5 & 7); and
• develop strong engagement with local communities with respect to the management and wise use of waterbirds and their wetland habitats (GBF Targets 9, 12, 21 & 22).

The Secretariat urges AEWA Administrative Authorities to make use of this analysis in their engagements regarding the integration of migratory waterbird conservation into revised NBSAPs.

The Secretariat also encourages Contracting Parties to provide information on their efforts to integrate AEWA priorities into NBSAPs in their Reports on the Implementation of AEWA for the period 2021 – 2024 (specifically, in response to question 99 of the national report format), and reminds Parties that these reports are due by 13 May 2025.