CELEX: 51995PC0444
Language: de
Date: 1995-09-26
Title: Vorschlag für einen BESCHLUSS DES RATES zur Unterzeichnung der Übereinkunft zum Schutz der Wasservögel, die afrikanisch-eurasiatische Zugkorridore benutzen, durch die Europäische Gemeinschaft

KOMMISSION DER EUROPÄISCHEN GEMEINSCHAFTEN
                                      Brüssel, den 26.09.1995
                                      KOM(95)444 cndg.
                    Vorschlag für einen
                BESCHLUSS DES RATES
           zur Unterzeichnung der Übereinkunft
 zum Schutz der Wasservögel, die afrikanisch-eurasiatische
Zugkorridore benutzen, durch die Europäische Gemeinschaft
              (von der Kommission vorgelegt)
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                            Begründung
Die Gemeinschaft ist Vertragspartei des Übereinkommens zur Erhaltung der wandernden
wildlebenden Tierarten (Bonner Übereinkommen) *.
Nach Artikel IV des Bonner Übereinkommens sollten für Arten in Anhang II (mit
ungünstiger Erhaltungssituation) möglichst bald regionale Übereinkünfte abgeschlossen
werden.
Die Wasservogelarten, die die afro-eurasiatischen Zugkorridore benutzen, erfordern
unmittelbare Aufmerksamkeit, um ihren Erhaltungsstatus zu verbessern und Informationen
für zweckdienliche Managementbeschlüsse zu erfassen.
In der Entschließung Nr. 1.6 der ersten Konferenz der Parteien des Bonner
Übereinkommens wurde die Ausarbeitung einer Übereinkunft über westpaläarktische
Anatidae-Arten gefordert. In der Zeit von 1988 bis 1991 arbeitete die niederländische
Regierung im Einvernehmen mit der Gemeinschaft und in Zusammenarbeit mit dem
Sekretariat des Übereinkommens, der IUCN, einer Arbeitsgruppe des Wissenschaftlichen
Rates des Übereinkommens zur Erhaltung der wandernden wildlebenden Tierarten und dem
"International Waterfowl and Wetland Research Bureau" (IWRB) den Entwurf einer
Übereinkunft einschließlich eines Aktionsplans und eines Managementplans aus. Darauf
folgte eine Initiative des Sekretariats des Übereinkommens, die zur Ausarbeitung eines
neuen Entwurfs einer Übereinkunft mit einem auf weitere ziehende Wasservogelarten
ausgedehnten Geltungsbereich führte.
Vom 12. bis 14. Juni 1994 fand nach der vierten Konferenz der Parteien des Bonner
Übereinkommens vom 7. bis 11. Juni 1994 in Nairobi ebenfalls in Nairobi eine inoffizielle
Verhandlungssitzung statt. Vertreter der Kommission nahmen an dieser Sitzung teil.
Ein geänderter Entwurf einer Übereinkunft wurde vom Sekretariat des Übereinkommens
ausgearbeitet und auf der Verhandlungssitzung vom 12. bis 16. Juni 1995 in den Haar als
Verhandlungsgrundlage vorgelegt. Die Übereinkunft wurde schließlich auf Grund eines
Konsenses von sechzig Arealstaaten und der Europäischen Gemeinschaft angenommen. Die
Übereinkunft liegt ab 16. Oktober 1995 zur Unterzeichnung auf.
Diese Übereinkunft schafft die Rechtsgrundlage für eine konzertierte Strategie der
Arealstaaten zur Erhaltung der ziehenden Wasservogelarten und -populationen, deren
U B I . L 210 vom 19.07.1982, S. 10
 ---pagebreak--- Individuen westpaläarktische und afrikanische Zugkorridore benutzen, unabhängig von
ihrem Erhaltungsstatus.
Die Übereinkunft erstreckt sich auf:
        rund 170 Arten
        ein Gebiet von rund 60 Mio. m2 in 116 Arealstaaten in ganz Afrika und Europa
        sowie Teilen Asiens.
Die Übereinkunft umfaßt drei Anhänge:
        eine Karte mit dem geographischen Geltungsbereich der Übereinkunft
        eine Liste der Zugvogelfamilien im Geltungsbereich der Übereinkunft
        einen Aktionsplan
Die Übereinkunft erfordert vor allem koordinierte Maßnahmen zur Wiederherstellung und
Beibehaltung eines günstigen Erhaltungsstatus der Wasservogelarten, die afrikanisch-
eurasiatische Zugkorridore benutzen. In Artikel III der Übereinkunft sind die zu
ergreifenden Erhaltungsmaßnahmen aufgelistet. In Anhang III (Aktionsplan) sind die
Aktionen angegeben, die die Parteien in Übereinstimmung mit den allgemeinen
Erhaltungsmaßnahmen in Artikel III der Übereinkunft für prioritär zu behandelnde Arten zu
ergreifen haben.
Die Übereinkunft betrifft vor allem Angelegenheiten im Zuständigkeitsbereich der
Gemeinschaften, für die in der Gemeinschaft die Richtlinie des Rates 79/409/EWG über die
Erhaltung der wildlebenden Vogelarten 2 und die Richtlinie 92/43/EWG zur Erhaltung der
natürlichen Lebensräume sowie der wildlebenden Tiere und Pflanzen^ Geltung haben.
Die Gemeinschaft ist ferner Vertragspartei des Berner Übereinkommens zur Erhaltung der
europäischen wildlebenden Pflanzen und Tiere und ihrer natürlichen Lebensräume4 sowie
des Übereinkommens von Barcelona zum Schutz des Mittelmeers gegen Verschmutzung^
und seiner Protokolle, insbesondere des Protokolls über die besonderen Schutzgebiete^.
2       ABl. L 103 vom 25.04.1979, S. 1
3       ABl. L 206 vom 22.07.1992, S. 7
4
 AB1.  L 38 vom 10.02.1982, S. 3
5       ABl. L 240 vom 19.09.1977, S. 3
6       ABl. L 68 vom 10.03.1984, S.36
                                            3
 ---pagebreak--- Die Gemeinschaft sollte somit die Übereinkunft zur Erhaltung der Wasservögel, die
afrikanisch-eurasiatische Zugkomdore benutzen, vorbehaltlich ihres späteren Abschlusses
unterzeichnen.
 ---pagebreak---                          Vorschlag für einen Beschluß des Rates
                          zur Unterzeichnung der Übereinkunft
               zum Schutz der Wasservögel, die afrikanisch-eurasiatische
              Zugkorridore benutzen, durch die Europäische Gemeinschaft
DER RAT DER EUROPÄISCHEN GEMEINSCHAFTEN -
gestützt auf den Vertrag zur Gründung der Europäischen Gemeinschaft,
auf Vorschlag der Kommission,
in Erwägung nachstehender Gründe:
Die Gemeinschaft ist Vertragspartei des Übereinkommens zur Erhaltung der wandernden
wildlebenden Tierarten (Bonner Übereinkommen)?.
In Artikel IV des Bonner Übereinkommens wird für Arten mit unbefriedigender
Erhaltungssituation (in Anhang II erwähnte Arten) der möglichst rasche Abschluß regionaler
Übereinkünfte gefordert.
Die in Anhang II erwähnten Wasservogelarten, die afrikanisch-eurasiatische Zugkorridore
benutzen, erfordern zur Verbesserung ihrer Erhaltungssituation und zur Erfassung von
Informationen für zweckdienliche Managementbeschlüsse unmittelbare Aufmerksamkeit.
Auf der ersten Tagung der Parteien des Bonner Übereinkommens wurde die Ausarbeitung
einer Übereinkunft zur Erhaltung der westpalaearktischen Anatidae-Arten gefordert.
Infolgedessen wurde ein Entwurf einer Übereinkunft erstellt, der auf andere ziehende
Wasservogelarten ausgedehnt wurde.
Für die Erhaltung von ziehenden Wasservögeln ist die Gemeinschaft auf Grund der
Richtlinie 79/409/EWG vom 2. April 1979 über die Erhaltung der wildlebenden
VogelartenS, zuletzt geändert durch die Richtlinie 94/24/EG^, und der Richtlinie
92/43/EWG vom 21. Mai 1992 zur Erhaltung der natürlichen Lebensräume sowie der
wildlebenden Tiere und Pflanzen*0 weitgehend zuständig.
Die Kommission beteiligte sich im Namen der Gemeinschaft auf Grund der
Verhandlungsleitlinien des Rates vom 7. Juni 1995 an der Verhandlungssitzung vom 12. bis
16. Juni 1995 in den Haar. Auf dieser Sitzung wurde auf Grund eines Konsenses eine
7ABl. L210 vom 19.07.1982, S. 10
8       ABl. L 103 vom 25.04.1979, S. 1
9      ABl. L 164 vom 30.06.1994, S. 9
10     ABl. L 206 vom 22.07.1992, S. 7
                                            'S
 ---pagebreak--- Übereinkunft zur Erhaltung der Wasservögel, die afrikanisch-eurasiatische Zugkorridore
benutzen, (nachstehend "Übereinkunft" genannt) angenommen.
Die Übereinkunft liegt ab 16. Oktober zur Unterzeichnung auf.
Die Gemeinschaft sollte die Übereinkunft vorbehaltlich ihres Abschlusses unterzeichnen -
BESCHLIESST:
                                        ARTIKEL 1
Der Vorsitzende des Rates wird ermächtigt, die Person(en) zu benennen, die befugt sind, die
Übereinkunft zu Erhaltung der Zugvögel, die afrikanisch-eurasiatische Zugkomdore
benutzen, vorbehaltlich ihres Abschlusses im Namen der Gemeinschaft zu unterzeichnen,
und sie mit den hierfür erforderlichen Befugnissen auszustatten.
Geschehen zu Brüssel, am
Im Namen des Rates
Der Präsident
                                            6
 ---pagebreak---        AGREEMENT ON THE CONSERVATION OF AFRICAN-EURASIAN
                            MIGRATORY WATERBIRDS
     THE CONTRACTING PARTIES,
     RECALLING that the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species
of Wild Animals, 1979, encourages international cooperative action to conserve
migratory species;
                                                                                   c
     RECALLING further that the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties
to the Convention, held in Bonn in October 1985, instructed the Secretariat of -
the Convention to take appropriate measures to develop an Agreement on
Western Palearctic Anatidae;
     CONSIDERING that migratory waterbirds constitute an important part of the
global biological diversity which, in keeping with the spirit of the Convention on
Biological Diversity, 1992, and Agenda 21 should be conserved for the benefit
of present and future generations;
     AWARE of the economic, social, cultural and recreational benefits accruing
from the taking of certain species of migratory waterbirds and of the
environmental, ecological, genetic, scientific, aesthetic, recreational, cultural,
educational, social and economic values of waterbirds in general;
     CONVINCED that any taking of migratory waterbirds must be conducted on
a sustainable basis, taking into account the conservation status of the species
concerned over their entire range as well as their biological characteristics;
                                    y
 ---pagebreak---       CONSCIOUS that migratory waterbirds are particularly vulnerable because
they migrate over long distances and are dependent on networks of wetlands
that are decreasing in extent and becoming degraded through non-sustainable
human activities, as is expressed in the Convention on Wetlands of International
Importance, especially ss Waterfowl Habitat, 1 9 7 1 ;
      RECOGJsIIZING the need to take immediate action to stop the decline-of
migratory waterbird species and their habitats in the geographic area of the
African-Eurasian waterbird migration systems;
     -CONVINCED that the conclusion of a multilateral Agreement and its
implementation     through coordinated    or  concerted   action    will contribute
significantly to the conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitats in the
most efficient manner, and will have ancillary benefits for many other species of
animals and plants; and
      ACKNOWLEDGING that effective implementation of such an Agreement will
require assistance to be provided to some Range States for research, training and
monitoring of migratory waterbird species and their habitats, for the management
of those habitats as well as for the establishment or improvement of scientific
and administrative institutions for the implementation of this Agreement,
      HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
                                    ARTICLE I
                       Scope, Definitions and Interpretation
      1.   The geographic scope of this Agreement is the area of the migration
systems of African-Eurasian waterbirds, as defined in Annex 1 to this Agreement,
                                         $
 ---pagebreak--- hereafter referred to as the "Agreement Area".
      2.   For the purpose of this Agreement:
      (a)  "Convention" means the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory
          Species of Wild Animals, 1979;
      (b)  "Convention Secretariat" means the body established under Article IX
          of the Convention;
      (c) "Waterbirds" means those species of birds that are ecologically
          dependent on wetlands for at least part of their annual cycle, have a
          range which lies entirely or partly within the Agreement Area and are
          listed in Annex 2 to this Agreement;
      (d) "Agreement secretariat" means the body established under Article VI,
          paragraph 7, subparagraph (b), of this Agreement;
      (e) "Parties" means, unless the context otherwise indicates, Parties to this
          Agreement; and
      (f) "Parties present and voting" means the Parties present and casting an
          affirmative or negative vote; those abstaining from voting shall hot be
          counted amongst the Parties present and voting.
     In addition, the terms defined in Article I, subparagraphs 1(a) to (k), of the
Convention shall have the same meaning, mutatis mutandis, in this Agreement.
     3.   This Agreement is an AGREEMENT within the meaning of Article IV,
paragraph 3, of the Convention.
     4.   The annexes to this Agreement form an integral part thereof.         Any
reference to the Agreement includes a reference to its annexes.
                                         ^
 ---pagebreak---                                                                                     1
                                      ARTICLE II
                                Fundamental Principles
      1.    Parties shall take co-ordinated measures to maintain migratory
waterbird species in a favourable conservation status or to restore them to such
a status. To this end, they shall apply within the limits of their national
jurisdiction the measures prescribed in Article III, together with the specific
actions determined in the Action Plan provided for in Article IV, of this
Agreement.
      2.    In implementing the measures prescribed in paragraph 1 above, Parties
should take into account the precautionary principle.
                                     ARTICLE III
                            General Conservation Measures
       1.   The Parties shall take measures to conserve migratory waterbirds,
 giving special attention to endangered species as well as to those with an
 unfavourable conservation status.
      2.    To this end, the Parties shall:
       (a)  accord the same strict protection for endangered migratory waterbird
            species in the Agreement Area as is provided for under Article III,
            paragraphs 4 and 5, of the Convention;
       (b)  ensure that any use of migratory waterbirds is based on an assessment
            of the best available knowledge of their ecology and is sustainable for
            the species as well as for the ecological systems that support them;
       (c)   identify sites and habitats for migratory waterbirds occurring within
             their   territory and    encourage   the   protection,  management,
                                              cAO
 ---pagebreak---      rehabilitation and restoration of these sites, in liaison w i t h those bodies
    listed        in Article    IX,  paragraphs            (a) and    (b)  of  this  Agreement,
    c o n c e r n e d w i t h habitat c o n s e r v a t i o n ;
(d) coordinate their efforts to ensure t h a t a n e t w o r k of suitable habitats
    is maintained or, where appropriate, re-established t h r o u g h o u t the
    entire         range of each migratory                waterbird     species   concerned,   in
    particular where wetlands extend over t h e area of m o r e than one Party
    t o this Agreement;
(e) investigate problems that are posed or are likely to be posed by h u m a n
    activities and endeavour to rmplement remedial measures, including
    habitat rehabilitation and restoration, and c o m p e n s a t o r y measures for
    loss of habitat;
(f) cooperate in emergency situations requiring international concerted
    action and in identifying the species of m i g r a t o r y w a t e r b i r d s w h i c h are
    the most vulnerable to these s i t u a t i o n s as w e l l as cooperate                  in
    developing appropriate emergency p r o c e d u r e s to provide increased
    p r o t e c t i o n to these species in such s i t u a t i o n s a n d in the preparation of
    guidelines to assist individual Parties in t a c k l i n g these situations;
(g) prohibit the deliberate introduction of n o n - n a t i v e w a t e r b i r d species into
    the environment and take all a p p r o p r i a t e measures to prevent t h e
    unintentional release of such species if this i n t r o d u c t i o n or release
    w o u l d prejudice the conservation s t a t u s o f w i l d flora and fauna; w h e n
    non-native waterbird species have already been i n t r o d u c e d , the Parties
    shall take all appropriate measures to p r e v e n t these species f r o m
    b e c o m i n g a potential threat to indigenous species;
(h) initiate or support research into the b i o l o g y and e c o l o g y of migratory
    w a t e r b i r d s including the harmonization of research and monitoring
    methods            and, where appropriate,                 the establishment    of joint  or
    cooperative research and monitoring p r o g r a m m e s ;
                                                   A\
 ---pagebreak---       (i)  analyze their training requirements for, inter alia, migratory, waterbird
           surveys, monitoring, ringing and wetland management to identify priority
           topics and areas for training and cooperate in the development and
           provision of appropriate training programmes;
      (j)  develop and maintain programmes to raise awareness and understanding
           of migratory waterbird conservation issues in general and of the particular
           objectives and provisions of this Agreement;
      (k)  exchange information and results from research, monitoring, conservation
           and education programmes; and
      (I)  cooperate with a view to assisting each other to implement this
           Agreement, particularly in the areas of research and monitoring.
                                      ARTICLE IV
                       Action Plan and Conservation Guidelines
      1.   An Action Plan is appended as Annex 3 to this Agreement. It specifies
actions which the Parties shall undertake in relation to priority species and issues,
under the following headings, consistent with the general conservation measures
specified in Article III of this Agreement:
      (a)  species conservation;
      (b)  habitat conservation;
      (c)  management of human activities;
      (d)  research and monitoring;
      (e)  education and information; and
      (f)  implementation.
      2.   The Action Plan shall be reviewed at each ordinary session of the Meeting
of the Parties, taking into account the Conservation Guidelines.
                                       At
 ---pagebreak---       3.    Any amendment to the Action Plan shall be adopted by the Meeting of
the Parties, taking into consideration the provisions of Article III of this
Agreement.
      4.   The Conservation Guidelines shall be submitted to the Meeting of the
Parties for adoption at its first session, and shall be regularly reviewed.
                                    ARTICLE V
                           Implementation and Financing
      1.   Each Party shall:
      (a)  designate the Authority or Authorities to implement this Agreement-
 , ~       which shall, inter alia, monitor all activities that may have impact on
           the conservation status of those migratory waterbird species of which
           the Party is a Range State;
      (b)  designate a contact point for the other Parties, and communicate
           without delay its name and address to the Agreement secretariat to be
           circulated forthwith to the other Parties; and
      (c)  prepare for each ordinary session of the Meeting of the Parties,
           beginning with the second session, a report on its implementation of
           the Agreement with particular reference to the conservation measures
           it has undertaken. The format of such reports shall be determined by
           the first session of the Meeting of the Parties and reviewed as may be
           necessary at any subsequent session of the Meeting of the Parties.
           Each report shall be submitted to the Agreement secretariat not less
           than one hundred and twenty days before the ordinary session of the
           Meeting of the Parties for which it has been prepared, and copies shall
           be circulated forthwith to the other Parties by the Agreement
           secretariat.
                                           A^
 ---pagebreak---       2.   (a)    Each Party shall contribute to the budget of the Agreement in
           accordance with the United Nations scale of assessment.             The
           contributions shall be restricted to a maximum of 25 per cent of the
           total budget for any Party that is a Range State. No regional economic
           integration organization shallbe required to contribute more than 2.5
           per cent of the administrative costs.
      (b)  Decisions relating to the budget and any changes to the scale of
           assessment that may be found necessary shall be adopted by the
           Meeting of the Parties by consensus.
     3.    The Meeting of the Parties may establish a conservation fund from
voluntary contributions of Parties or from any other source for the purpose of
financing monitoring, research, training and projects relating to the conservation,
including protection and management, of migratory waterbirds.
     4.    Parties are encouraged to provide training and technical and financial
support to other Parties on a multilateral or bilateral basis to assist them in
implementing the provisions of this Agreement.
                                    ARTICLE VI
                               Meeting of the Parties-
      1.   The Meeting of the Parties shall be the decision-making body of this
Agreement.
      2.   The Depositary shall, in consultation with the Convention Secretariat,
convene a session of the Meeting of the Parties not later than one year after the
date of t h e . entry into force of this Agreement. Thereafter, the Agreement
secretariat shall convene, in consultation with the Convention Secretariat,
                                          AH
 ---pagebreak---                                                                                         j
ordinary sessions of the Meeting of the Parties at intervals of not more than three     i
years, unless the Meeting of the Parties decides otherwise. Where it is possible
to do so, such sessions should be held in conjunction w i t h the ordinary meetings     ;
of the Conference.of the Parties to the Convention.                                     !
                                                                                        t
                                                                                        i
      3.    On the written request of at least one third of the Parties, the            |
Agreement secretariat shall convene an extraordinary session of the Meeting of          !
the Parties.                                            -                           _   |
      4.    The United Nations, its Specialized Agencies, the international Atomic      j
Energy Agency, any State not a Party to the Agreement, and the secretariats of           j
international conventions concerned inter alia with the conservation, including           j:
protection and management, of migratory waterbirds may be represented by               J
observers in sessions of the Meeting of the Parties. Any agency or body               " j
                                                                                          I
technically qualified in such conservation matters or in research on migratory
waterbirds may also be represented at sessions of the Meeting of the Parties by
observers, unless at least one third of the Parties present object.
       5.   Only Parties have the right to vote. Each Party shall have one vote, but
regional economic integration organizations which are Parties to this Agreement
shall, in matters within their competence, exercise their right to vote with a
number of votes equal to the number of their Member States w h i c h are Parties
to the Agreement. A regional economic integration organization shall not exercise
its right to vote if its Member States exercise theirs, and vice    versa.
       6.   Unless provided otherwise in this Agreement, decisions of the Meeting
of the Parties shall be adopted by consensus or, if consensus cannot be
achieved, by a two-thirds majority of the Parties present and v o t i n g .
                                           AS
 ---pagebreak---  7.   A t its first session, the Meeting of the Parties shall:
 (a)  adopt its rules of procedure by consensus;
 (b)  establish an Agreement secretariat within the Convention Secretariat
      to perform the secretariat functions listed in Article VIII of this
      Agreement;
(c)   establish the Technical Committee provided for in Article VII of this
      Agreement;
(d)  adopt a format for the reports to be prepared according to Article V , .
     paragraph 1 , subparagraph (c), of this Agreement; and
(e)  adopt criteria to define emergency situations which require urgent
     conservation measures, and determine the modalities for assigning
     responsibility for action to be taken.
8.    A t each of its ordinary sessions, the Meeting of the Parties shall:
(a)  consider actual and potential changes in the conservation status of
     migratory waterbirds and the habitats important for their survival, as
     w e l l as the factors which may affect them;
(b)  review the progress made and any difficulty encountered in the
     implementation of this Agreement;
(c)  adopt a budget and consider any matters relating to the financial
     arrangements for this Agreement;
(d)  deal w i t h any matter relating to the Agreement secretariat and the
     membership of the Technical Committee;
(e)  adopt a report for communication to the Parties to this Agreement and
     t o the Conference of the Parties of the Convention; and
(f)  determine the time and venue of the next session.
9.   A t any of its sessions, the Meeting of the Parties may:
(a)  make recommendations to the Parties as it deems necessary or appropriate;
                                      AS
 ---pagebreak---      (b) adopt specific actions to improve the effectiveness of this Agreement
         and, as the case may be. emergency measures as provided for in
         Article VII, paragraph 4, of this Agreement;
    (c)  consider and decide upon proposals to amend this Agreement;
    (d)  amend the Action Plan in accordance w i t h Article IV. paragraph 3, of
         this Agreement;
    (e)  establish such subsidiary bodies as it deems necessary to assist in the
         implementation of this Agreement, in particular for coordination w i t h
         bodies established under other international treaties, conventions and
         agreements with overlapping geographic and taxonomic coverage; and
    (f)  decide on any other matter relating to the implementation of this
                                                                                  i
         Agreement.
                                                                                    i
                                                                                    !
                                                                                    i
                                                                                    i
                                                                                    i
                                 ARTICLE VII                                        i
                             Technical Committee
     1.  The Technical Committee shall comprise:
    (a)  nine experts representing different regions of the Agreement Area, in
         accordance with a balanced geographical distribution;
    (b)  one representative from the International Union for Conservation of
         Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), one from the International
         Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau (IWRB) and one from the
         International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CfC); and
    (c)  one expert from each of the following fields: rural economics, game
         management, and environmental law.
    The procedure for the appointment of the experts, the term of their
appointment and the procedure for designation of the Chairman of the Technical
                                        Ai
 ---pagebreak---  Committee shall be determined by the Meeting of the Parties. The Chairman may
 admit    a maximum of four observers from specialized international            inter-
 governmental and non-governmental organizations.
      2%    Unless the Meeting of the Parties decides otherwise, meetings of the
 Technical Committee shall be convened by the Agreement secretariat                 in
 conjunction w i t h each ordinary session of the Meeting of the Parties and at least
 once_between ordinary sessions of the Meeting of the Parties.
      3.    The Technical Committee shall:
      (a)   provide scientific and technical advice and information to the Meeting
            of the Parties and, through the Agreement secretariat, to Parties;
      (b)   make recommendations to the Meeting of the Parties concerning the
            Action Plan, implementation of the Agreement and further research to
            be carried out;
      (c)   prepare for each ordinary session of the Meeting of the Parties a report
            on its activities, which shall be submitted to the Agreement secretariat
            not less than one hundred and twenty days before the session of the
            Meeting of the Parties, and copies shall be circulated forthwith by the
            Agreement secretariat to the Parties; and
      (d)   carry out any other tasks referred to it by the Meeting of the Parties.
      4.    Where in the opinion of the Technical Committee there has arisen an
emergency which requires the adoption of immediate measures to avoid
deterioration of the conservation status of one or more migratory waterbird
species, the Technical Committee may request the Agreement secretariat to
convene urgently a meeting of the Parties concerned. These Parties shall meet
as soon as possible thereafter to establish rapidly a mechanism to give protection
to the species identified as being subject to particularly adverse threat. Where a
                                            A%
 ---pagebreak--- recommendation has been adopted at such a meeting, the Parties concerned shall
inform each other and the Agreement secretariat of measures they have taken to
implement    it. or of the reasons why the recommendation could not be
implemented.
     5.   The Technical Committee may establish such working groups as may
be necessary to deal with specific tasks.
                                 ARTICLE VIII
                             Agreement Secretariat
     The functions of the Agreement secretariat shall be:
     (a)  to arrange and service the sessions of the Meeting of the Parties as
          well as the meetings of the Technical Committee;
     (b)  to execute the decisions addressed to it by the Meeting of the Parties;
     (c)  to promote and coordinate activities under the Agreement, including
          the Action Plan, in accordance with decisions of the Meeting of the
          Parties;
     (d)  to liaise with non-Party Range States and to facilitate coordination
          between the Parties and with international and national organizations,
          the activities of which are directly or indirectly relevant to the
          conservation, including protection and management, of migratory
          waterbirds;
     (e)  t o gather and evaluate information w h i c h will further the objectives
          and implementation of the Agreement and to arrange for appropriate
          dissemination of such information;
     (f)  to invite the attention of the Meeting of the Parties to matters
          pertaining to the objectives of this Agreement;
                                      Al
 ---pagebreak--- (g) to circulate copies of the reports of the Authorities referred to in
    Article V. paragraph 1, subparagraph (a), of this Agreement and of the
    Technical Committee, along with copies of the reports it must provide
    pursuant to paragraph (h) of this Article, to each Party not less than
    sixty days before the commencement of each ordinary session of the
    Meeting of the Parties;
(h) to prepare, on an annual basis and for each ordinary session of the
    Meeting of the Parties, reports on the work of the secretariat and on
    the implementation of the Agreement;
(i) to administer the budget for the Agreement and, if established, its
    conservation fund;
(j) to provide information for the general public concerning the Agreement
    and its objectives; and
(k) to perform such other functions as may be entrusted to it under the
    Agreement or by the Meeting of the Parties.
                              ARTICLE IX
          Relations'with International Bodies dealing with
               Migratory Waterbirds and their Habitats
The Agreement secretariat shall consult:
(a) on a regular basis, the Convention Secretariat and, where appropriate,
    the bodies responsible for the secretariat functions under Agreements
    concluded pursuant to Article IV, paragraphs 3 and 4^ of            the
    Convention which are relevant to migratory waterbirds, the Convention
    on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl
    Habitat, 1 9 7 1 , the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
    Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, 1973, the African Convention on the
    Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, 1968, the Convention
                                    go
 ---pagebreak---           on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, 1979,
                                                                                   i
          and the Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992, with a view to the     j
          Meeting    of  the Parties cooperating w i t h    the Parties to  these
          conventions on all matters of common interest and, in particular, in the
          development and implementation of the Action Plan;
     (b)  the secretariats of other pertinent conventions and international
          instruments in respect of matters of common interest; and
     (c)  other organizations competent irr the field of conservation, including
          protection and management, of migratory            waterbirds and their
          habitats, as well as in the fields of research, education and awareness
          raising.
                                    ARTICLE X
                          Amendment of the Agreement
     1.   This Agreement may be amended at any ordinary or extraordinary
session of the Meeting of the Parties.
     2.    Proposals for amendment may be made by any Party.
     3.   The text of any proposed amendment and the reasons for it shall be
communicated to the Agreement secretariat not less than one hundred and fifty
days before the opening of the session. The Agreement secretariat shall transmit
copies forthwith to the Parties. Any comments on the text by the Parties shall be
communicated to the Agreement secretariat not less than sixty days before the
opening of the session. The Secretariat shall, as soon as possible after the last
day for submission of comments, communicate to the Parties all comments
submitted by that day.
                                               StA
 ---pagebreak---        4.   An amendment to the Agreement other than an amendment to its
annexes shall be adopted by a two-thirds majority of the Parties present and
voting and shall enter into force for those Parties which have accepted it on the
thirtieth day after the date on which two thirds of the Parties to the Agreement
at the date of the adoption of the amendment have deposited their instruments
of acceptance of the amendment with the Depositary.            For each Party which
deposits an instrument of acceptance after the date on which t w o thirds of the
Parties have deposited their instruments of acceptance, the amendment shall
enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date on which it deposits its
instrument of acceptance.
       5:  Any additional annexes and any amendment to an annex shall be
adopted by a two-thirds majority of the Parties present and voting and shall enter
into force for all Parties on the ninetieth day after the date of its adoption by the
Meeting of the Parties, except for Parties which have entered a reservation in
accordance with paragraph 6 of this Article.
       6.  During the period of ninety days provided for in paragraph 5 of this
Article, any Party may by written notification to the Depositary enter a
reservation with respect to an additional annex or an amendment to an annex.
Such reservation may be withdrawn at any time by written notification to the
Depositary, and thereupon the additional annex or the amendment shall enter into
force for that Party on the thirtieth day after the date of withdrawal of the
reservation.
                                            £t
 ---pagebreak---                                       ARTICLE XI
                      Effect of this Agreement on International
                             Conventions and Legislation
      1.    The provisions of this Agreement do not affect the rights and
obligations of any Party deriving from existing international treaties, conventions
or agreements. **
      2.    The provisions of this Agreement shall in no way affect the right of any
Party to maintain or adopt stricter measures for the conservation of migratory
waterbirds and their habitats.
                                      ARTICLE XII
                                Settlement of Disputes
      1.    Any dispute which may arise between t w o or more Parties w i t h respect
to the interpretation or application of the provisions of this Agreement shall be
subject to negotiation between the Parties involved in the dispute.
      2.    If the dispute cannot be resolved in accordance with paragraph 1 of
this Article, the Parties may, by mutual consent, submit the dispute to arbitration,
in particular that of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, and the
Parties submitting the dispute shall be bound by the arbitral decision.
                                     ARTICLE XIII
             Signature, Ratification, Acceptance, Approval, Accession
      1.    This Agreement shall be open for signature by any Range State,
whether or not areas under its jurisdiction lie within the Agreement Area, or
                                               ^3
 ---pagebreak--- regional economic integration organization, at least one member of which is a
Range State, either by:
        (a)  signature without reservation in respect of ratification, acceptance or
             approval; or
        (b)  signature with reservation in respect of ratification, acceptance or
             approval, followed by ratification, acceptance or approval.
        2.   This Agreement shall remain open for signature at The Hague until the
date of its entry into force.
        3.   This Agreement shall be open for accession by any Range State or
regional economic integration organization mentioned in paragraph 1 above on
and after the date of entry into force of the Agreement.
        4.   Instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be
deposited w i t h the Depositary.
                                     ARTICLE XIV
                                    Entry into Force
        1.   This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the third
-nonth after at least fourteen Range States or regional economic integration
organizations, comprising at least seven from Africa and seven from Eurasia,
have signed without reservation in respect of ratification, acceptance or approval,
or have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval in
accordance w i t h Article XIII of this Agreement.
        2.   For any Range State or regional economic integration organization
w h i c h has:
                                               ^
 ---pagebreak---       (a)   signed without reservation in respect of ratification, acceptance, or
            approval;
      (b)   ratified, accepted, or approved; or
      (c)  acceded to
            this Agreement after the date on which the number of Range States
           and regional economic integration organizations necessary to enable
           entry into force have signed it without reservation or have ratified,
           accepted or approved it, this Agreement shall enter into force on the
           first   day  of  the  third month    following  the  signature    without
           reservation, or deposit, by that State or organization, of its instrument
           of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.
                                     ARTICLE XV
                                     Reservations
     The    provisions   of  this Agreement shall not     be subject     to   general
reservations. However, a specific reservation may be entered by any State or
regional economic integration organization on signature without reservation in
respect of ratification, acceptance or approval or, as the case may be, on
depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession in
respect of any species covered by the Agreement or any specific provision of the
Action Plan. Such a reservation may be withdrawn at any time by the State or
regional economic integration organization which had entered it, by notification
in writing to the Depositary; such a State or organization shall not be bound by
the provisions which are the object of the reservation until thirty days after the
date on which the reservation has been withdrawn.
                                                #<r
 ---pagebreak---                                         ARTICLE XVI                         —
                                        Denunciation
          Any Party may denounce this Agreement by written notification to the
Depositary at any time. The denunciation shall take effect twelve months after
the date on which the Depositary has received the notification.
                                        ARTICLE XVII
                                         Depositary
          1.    The original of this Agreement, in the Arabic, English, French and
p
  u s s i a n languages, each version being equally authentic, shall be deposited w i t h
ine Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands which shall be the
Depositary. The Depositary shall transmit certified copies of these versions to all
States and regional economic integration organizations referred to in Article XIII,
paragraph 1 , of this Agreement, and to the Agreement secretariat after it has
been established.
          2.    As soon as this Agreement enters into force, a certified copy thereof
shall be transmitted by the Depositary to the Secretariat of the United Nations for
registration and publication in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the
United Nations. .
          3.    The Depositary shall inform all States and regional economic integration
organizations that have signed or acceded to the Agreement, and the Agreement
secretariat, of:
          (a)   any signature;
          (b)   any deposit of instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or
                accession;
                                                 #6
 ---pagebreak---      (c)   the date of entry into force of this Agreement and of any additional
           annex as well as of any amendment to the Agreement or to its
           annexes;
     (d)   any reservation with respect to an additional annex of to            an
           amendment to an annex;
     (e)   any notification of withdrawal of a reservation; and
     (f)   any notification of denunciation of the Agreement.
     The Depositary shall transmit to all States and regional economic integration
organizations that have signed or acceded to this Agreement, and to the
Agreement secretariat, the text of any reservation, of any additional annex and
of any amendment to the Agreement or to its annexes.
     In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorized to that effect,
have signed this Agreement.
     Done at The Hague this sixteenth day of June 1995.
                                    r?
 ---pagebreak---                                        Annex 1
                          Definition of the Agreement Area
        The boundary of the Agreement area is defined as follows: from the North
Pole south along the 130°W line of longitude to 75°N; thence east and southeast
through Viscount Melville Sound, Prince Regent Inlet, the Gulf of Boothia, Foxe
Basin, Foxe Channel and Hudson Strait to a point in the northwest Atlantic at
6 0 ° N , 60°W; thence southeast through the northwest Atlantic to a point at 50°N,
3 0 ° W ; thence south along the 30°W line of longitude to 10°N; thence southeast
"a the Equator at 20°W; thence south along the 20°W line of longitude to 40°S;
thence east along the 40°S line of latitude to 60°E; thence north along the 60°E
line of longitude to 35°N; thence east-northeast on a great circle to a point in the
western Altai at 49°N, 87°27'E; thence northeast on a great circle to the coast
of the Arctic Ocean at 130°E; thence north along the 130°E line of longitude to
the North Pole. The outline of the Agreement Area is illustrated on the following
map.
 ---pagebreak---      Annex la: Map of the Agreement Area
160°  170« 180° 170e  160e  ISO»
                                                        1140°
                                                         130»
                                                      ~mio*.
                                      40« 50« 60« 70»
                     £%
 ---pagebreak---                                        Annex 2
                  Waterbird Species to which this Agreement Applies
 GAVIIDAE
 Gavia stellata      .                      Red-throated Diver
 Gavia arctica                              Black-throated Diver
 Gavia immer                                Great Northern Diver
 Gavia adamsii                             White billed Uivei
 PODICIPEDIDAE
 Podiccps     giiscyvtw                    Rml no<:k»u1 Or«*hn
  jdiceps    auritus                       Slavonian Grebe
 PELECANIDAE
Pefecanus      onocrotafus                 Great White Pelican
Pe/ecanus     crispus                      Dalmatian Pelican
 PHALACROCORACIDAE
Phalacrocorax       pygmaeus               Pygmy Cormorant
Phalacrocorax       nigrogularis           Socotra Cormorant
ARDEIDAE
Egretta vinaceigufa                        Slaty Egret
Ardea purpurea                             Purple Heron
 Zasmerodius albus                         Great Egret
Ardeola idae                               Madagascar Pond-Heron
Ardeola    rufiventris                     Rufous-bellied Heron
Ixobrychus     minutus                     Little Bittern
Ixobr/chus     sturmii                     Dwarf Bittern
Botaurus stellaris                         Great Bittern
CICONIIDAE
Mycteria ibis                              Yellow-billed Stork
Ciconia nigra                              Black Stork
Ciconia episcopus                          Woolly-necked Stork
Ciconia ciconia                            White Stork
                                          SO
 ---pagebreak---    THRESKIORNITHIDAE
   Plegadis falcinellus               Glossy Ibis
   Geronticus eremita                 Waldrapp
    Thresktornis      aethiopicus     Sacred Ibis
   Pia ta le a leucorodia             Eurasian Spoonbill
   Pia ta lea alba                    African Spoonbill
   PHOENICOPTERIDAE
   Phoenicopterus       ruber         Greater Flamingo
   Phoenicopterus        minor        Lesser Flamingo
   ANATIDAE
   Dendrocygna        bicolor         Fulvous Whistling-Duck
   Dendrocygna vidua ta               White-faced Whistling-Duck
   Thalassornis feuconotus            White-backed Duck
   Oxyura leucocephala                White-headed Duck
   Cygnus olor                        Mute Swan
   Cygnus cygnus                      Whooper Swan
   Cygnus columbianus                 Bewick's Swan
   Anser       brachyrhynchus         Pink-footed Goose
   Anser fabalis                      Bean Goose
   Anser albifrons                    Greater White-fronted Goose
   Anser      erythropus              Lesser White-fronted Goose
   Anser anser                        Greylag Goose
   Bran ta leu cop si s               Barnacle Goose
   Bran ta bernicla                   Brent Goose
   Bran ta ruficollis                 Red-breasted Goose
   A/opochen        aegyptiacus       Egyptian Goose
   Tadorna ferruginea                 Ruddy Shelduck
   Tadorna cana                       South African Shelduck
   Tadorna tadorna                    Common Shelduck
y' Plectropterus      gambensis       Spur-winged Goose
   Sarkidiornis      melanotos        Comb Duck
   Nettapus auritus                   African Pygmy-goose
   Anas penelope                      Eurasian Wigeon
   Anas strepera                      Gadwall
   Anas crecca                        Common Teal
   Anas capensis                      Cape Teal
   Anas       platyrhynchos           Mallard
   Anas undulata                      Yellow-billed Duck
                                  3-1
 ---pagebreak--- Anas acuta                             Northern Pintail
Anas      erythrorhyncha               Red-billed Duck
Anas hot ten to ta                     Hottentot Teal
Anas querquedula                       Garganey
Anas clypeata                          Northern Shoveler
Marmaronetta          angustirostris   Marbled Teal
Netta rufina                           Red-crested Pochard
Nett a     erythrophthalma             Southern Pochard
Aythya ferina                          Common Pochard
Aythya     nyroca                      Ferruginous Pochard
Aythya     fuligula                    Tufted Duck
Aythya marila                          Greater Scaup
Somateria       mollissima             Common Eider
Somateria       spectabilis            King Eider
Polysticta     stellen                 Steller's Eider
Clangula hyemalis                      Long-tailed Duck
Melanitta nigra                        Common Scoter
Melanitta fusca                        Velvet Scoter
Bucephala clangula                     Common Goldeneye
Mergellus albellus                     Smew
Mergus senator                         Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus merganser                       Goosander
GRUIDAE
Grus leucogeranus                     Siberian Crane
Grus virgo                            Demoiselle Crane
Grus paradisea                        Blue Crane
Grus carunculatus                     Wattled Crane
Grus grus                             Common Crane
RALLIDAE
Sarothrura boehmi                     Streaky-breasted Flufftail
Porzana parva                         Little Crake
Porzana pusilla                       Baillon's Crake
Porzana porzana                       Spotted Crake
Aenigmatolimnas         marginalis    Striped Crake
Fulica atra (Black Sea/Mediterranean) Common Coot
DROMADIDAE
Dromas     ardeola                    Crab Plover
                                      àt
 ---pagebreak---                                                          HO
RECURVIROSTRIDAE
Himantopus       himantopus      Black-winged Stilt
Recurvirostra     avosetta       Pied Avocet
GLAREOLIDAE
Glareola   pratincola            Collared Pratincole
Glareola   nordmanni             Black-winged Pratincole
CHARADRIIDAE
Pluvialis ap ricana              Eurasian Golden Plover
Pluviajis squatarola             Grey Plover
Charadrius hiaticula             Common Ringed Plover
Charadrius dubius                Little Ringed Plover
Charadrius pecuarius             Kittlitz's Plover
Charadrius tricollaris           Three-banded Plover
Charadrius forbesi               Forbes' Plover
Charadrius pallidus              Chestnut-banded Plover
Charadrius alexandnnus           Kentish Plover
Charadrius marginatus            White-fronted Plover
Charadrius mongolus              Mongolian Plover
Charadrius     leschenaultii     Greater Sandplover
Charadrius asiaticus             Caspian Plover
Eudromias morinellus             Eurasian Dotterel
Van el/us vanellus               Northern Lapwing
Vanellus spinosus                Spur-winged Plover
Vanellus albiceps                White-headed Lapwing
Vanellus senegallus              Senegal Lapwing
Vanellus lugubris                Wattled Lapwing
Vanellus melanopterus            Black-winged Lapwing
Vanellus coronatus               Crowned Lapwing
Vanellus superciliosus           Brown-chested Lapwing
Vanellus gregarius               Sociable Plover
Vanellus leucurus                White-tailed Plover
SCOLOPACIDAE
Ga Hin ago media                 Great Snipe
Gaffinago gaf/inago              Common Snipe
Lymnocryptes       minimus       Jack Snipe
Limosa limosa                    Black-tailed Godwit
Limosa lapponica                 Bar-tailed Godwit
                             3?>
 ---pagebreak---                                                        L,S
Numenius phaeopus              Whimbrel
Numenius        tenuirostris   Slender-billed Curlew
Numenius arqua ta              Eurasian Curlew
Tringa erythropus              Spotted Redshank
Tringa totanus                 Common Redshank
Tringa stagna tili s           Marsh Sandpiper
Tringa nebularia               Common Greenshank
Tringa ochropus                Green_ Sandpiper
Tringa glareola                Wood Sandpiper
Tringa cinerea                 Terek Sandpiper
Tringa hypoleucos              Common Sandpiper
Arenaria interpres             Ruddy Turnstone
Calidris tenuirostris          Great Knot
Calidris canutus               Red Knot
Calidris alba                  Sanderling
Calidris minuta                Little Stint
Calidris temminckii            Temminck's Stint
Calidris maritima              Purple Sandpiper
Calidris alpina                Dunlin
Calidris ferruginea            Curlew Sandpiper
Limico/a falcine/lus           Broad-billed Sandpiper
Philomachus pugnax             Ruff
Phalaropus lobatus             Red-necked Phalarope
Phalaropus fulicaria           Grey Phalarope
LARIDAE
Larus     leucopthalmus        White-eyed Gull
Larus    hemprichii            Sooty Gull
Larus    audouinii             Audouin's Gull
Larus    armenicus             Armenian Gull
Larus     ichthyaetus          Great Black-headed Gull
Larus   genei                  Slender-billed Gull
 Larus    melanocephalus       Mediterranean Gull
 Sterna    ni/otica            Gull-billed Tern
 Sterna    caspia              Caspian Tern
 Sterna    maxima              Royal Tern
 Sterna     bengalensis        Lesser Crested Tern
 Sterna    bergii              Great Crested Tern
 Sterna     sandvicensis       Sandwich Tern
 Sterna    dougallii            Roseate Tern
 Sterna    hirundo              Common Tern
 Sterna    paradisaea           Arctic Tern
 Sterna     albifrons           Little Tern
                             39
 ---pagebreak--- Sterna saundersi       Saunders' Tern
Sterna balaenarum      Damara Tern
Sterna repressa        White-cheeked Tern
Chfidonias leucopterus White-winged Tern
Chlidonias niger       Black Tern
                         *3C
 ---pagebreak---                                                  Annex 3
                                             ACTION PLAN
1.    Field of Application
1.1   The Action Plan is applicable to the populations of migratory waterbirds listed in
      Table 1 to this Annex (hereafter referred to as Table 1").
1.2   Table 1 forms an integral part of this Annex. Any reference to this Action Plan
      includes a reference to Table 1.                                                    -
2.    Specie's Conservation
2,1   Legal measures
2.1.1 Parties with populations listed in column A of Table 1 shall provide protection to
      those populations listed in accordance with Article III, paragraph 2(a), of this
      Agreement. Such Parties shall in particular and subject to paragraph 2.1.3 below:
      (a)     prohibit the taking of birds and eggs of those populations occurring in their
              territory;
       (b)    prohibit deliberate disturbance in so far as such disturbance would be
              significant for the conservation of the population concerned; and
       (c)    prohibit the possession or utilization of, and trade in, birds or eggs of those
              populations which have been taken in contravention of the prohibitions laid
              down pursuant to subparagraph (a) above, as well as the possession or
              utilization of, and trade in, any readily recognizable parts or derivatives of such
              birds and their eggs.
       By way of exception for those populations listed in Categories 2 and 3 in Column
      A only and which are marked by an asterisk, hunting may continue on a sustainable
       use basis where hunting of such populations is a long-established cultural practice.
      This sustainable use shall be conducted within the framework of special provisions
       of a species action plan at the appropriate international level.
2.1.2  Parties with populations listed in Table 1 shall regulate the taking of birds and eggs
       of all populations listed in column B of Table 1. The object of such legal measures
       shall be to maintain or contribute to the restoration of those populations to a
      favourable conservation status and to ensure, on the basis of the best available
       knowledge of population dynamics, that any taking or other use is sustainable.
       Such legal measures, subject to paragraph 2.1.3 below, shall in particular:
       (a)    prohibit the taking of birds belonging to the populations concerned during their
              various stages of reproduction and rearing and during their return to their
                                                 36
 ---pagebreak---             breeding grounds if the taking has an unfavourable impact on the conservation
            status of the population concerned;
      (b)   regulate the modes of taking;
      (c)   establish limits on taking, where appropriate, and provide adequate controls
            to ensure that these limits are observed; and
      (d)   prohibit the possession or utilization of, and trade in, birds and eggs of the
        -   populations which have been taken in contravention of any prohibition laid
            down pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph, as well as the possession
            or utilization of, and trade in, any parts of such birds and their.eggs.
2.1.3 Parties may grant exemptions to the prohibitions laid down in paragraphs 2.1.1 and
      2.1.2, irrespective of the provisions of Article III, paragraph 5, of the Convention,
      where there is no other satisfactory solution, for the following purposes:
      (a)   to prevent serious damage to crops, water and fisheries;
      (b)   in the interests of air safety or other overriding public interests;
      (c)   for the purpose of research and education, of re-establishment and for the
            breeding necessary for these purposes;
      (d)   to permit under strictly supervised conditions, on a selective basis and to a
            limited extent, the taking and.keeping or other judicious use of certain birds in
            small numbers; and
      (e)   for the purpose of enhancing the propagation or survival of the populations
            concerned.
      Such exemptions shall be precise as to content and limited in space and time and
      shall not operate to the detriment of the populations listed in Table 1. Parties shall
      as soon as possible inform the Agreement secretariat of any exemptions granted
      pursuant to this provision.
2.2   Single Species Action Plans
2.2.1 Parties shall cooperate with a view to developing and implementing international
      single species action plans for populations listed in Category 1 of Column A of Table
      1 as a priority and for those populations listed with an asterisk in Column A of Table
      1. The Agreement secretariat shall coordinate the development, harmonization and
      implementation of such plans.
2.2.2 Parties shall prepare and implement national single species action plans for the
      populations listed in Column A of Table 1 with a view to improving their overall
      conservation status. This action plan shall include special provisions for those
      populations marked with an asterisk. When appropriate, the problem of accidental
                                      ^
 ---pagebreak---       killing of birds by hunters as a result of incorrect identification of the species should
      be considered.
2.3   Emergency Measures
      Parties shall, in close cooperation with each other whenever possible and relevant,
      develop and implement emergency measures for populations listed in Table 1, when
      exceptionally unfavourable or endangering conditions occur anywhere in the
      Agreement Area.
2.4   Re-establishments
      Parties shall exercise the greatest care when re-establishing populations listed in
      Table 1 into parts of their traditional range where they no longer exist. They shall
      endeavour to develop and follow a detailed re-establishment plan based on
      appropriate scientific studies. Re-establishment plans should constitute an integral
      part of national and, where appropriate, intemational single species action plans.
      A re-establishment plan should include assessment of the impact on the
      environment and shall be made widely available. Parties shall inform the
      Agreement secretariat, in advance, of all re-establishment programmes for
      populations listed in Table 1.
2.5   Introductions
2.5.1 Parties shall, if they consider it necessary, prohibit the introduction of non-native
      species of animals and plants which may be detrimental to the populations listed in
      Table 1.
2.5.2 Parties shall, if they consider it necessary, require the taking of appropriate
      precautions to avoid the accidental escape of captive birds belonging to non-native
      species.
2.5.3 Parties shall take measures to the extent feasible and appropriate, including taking,
      to ensure that when non-native species or hybrids thereof have already been
      introduced into their territory, those species or their hybrids do not pose a potential
      hazard to the populations listed in Table 1.
3.    Habitat Conservation
3.1   Habitat Inventories
3.1.1 Parties, in liaison where appropriate with competent intemational organizations, shall
      undertake and publish national inventories of the habitats within their territory which
      are important to the populations listed in Table 1.
3.1.2 Parties shall endeavour, as a matter of priority, to identify all sites of international
                                            ^
 ---pagebreak---        or national importance for populations listed in Table 1
3.2   Conservation of Areas
3.2.1  Parties shall endeavour to continue establishing protected areas to conserve
      habitats important for the populations listed in Table 1, and to develop and
      implement management plans for these areas.
3.2.2 Parties shall endeavour to give special protection to those wetlands which meet
      internationally accepted criteria of intemational importance.
3.2.3 Parties shall endeavour to make wise and sustainable use of all of the wetlands in
      their territory. In particular they shall endeavour to avoid degradation and loss of
      habitats that support populations listed in Table 1 through the introduction of
      appropriate regulations or standards and control measures. In particular, they shall
      endeavour to:
      (a)    ensure, where practicable, that adequate statutory controls are in place,
             relating to the use of agricultural chemicals, pest control procedures and the
             disposal of waste water, which are in accordance with international norms, for"
             the purpose of minimizing their adverse impacts on the populations listed in
             Table 1; and
      (b)    prepare and distribute information materials, in the appropriate languages,
             describing such regulations, standards and control measures in force and their
             benefits to people and wildlife.
3.2.4 Parties shall endeavour to develop strategies, according to an ecosystem approach,
      for the conservation of the habitats of all populations listed in Table 1, including the
      habitats of those populations that are dispersed.
3.3   Rehabilitation and Restoration
      Parties shall endeavour to rehabilitate or restore, where feasible and appropriate,
      areas which were previously important for the populations listed in Table 1.
4.    Management of Human Activities
4.1   Hunting
4.1.1 Parties shall cooperate to ensure that their hunting legislation implements the
      principle of sustainable use as envisaged in this Action Plan, taking into account the
      full geographical range of the waterbird populations concerned and their life history
      characteristics.
4.1.2 The Agreement secretariat shall be kept informed by the Parties of their legislation
      relating to the hunting of populations listed in Table 1.
                                              ^>«3
 ---pagebreak---  4.1.3   Parties shall cooperate with a view to developing a reliable and harmonized system
         for the collection of harvest data in order to assess the annual harvest of
         populations listed in Table 1. They shall provide the Agreement secretariat with
         estimates of the total annual take for each population, when available.
 4.1.4   Parties shall endeavour to phase out the use of lead shot for hunting in wetlands
         by the year 2000.
 4.1.5   Parties shall develop and implement measures to reduce, and as far as possible
         eliminate, the use of poisoned baits.
-4.1.6   Parties shall develop and implement measures to reduce, and as far as possible
         eliminate, illegal taking.
 4.1.7   Where appropriate, Parties shall encourage hunters, at local, national and
         international levels, to form clubs or organizations to coordinate their activities and
         to help ensure sustainability.
 4.1.8   Parties shall, where appropriate, promote the requirement of a proficiency test for
         hunters, including among other things, bird identification.
 4.2     Eco-tourism
 4.2.1   Parties shall encourage, where appropriate but not in the case of core zones of
         protected areas, the elaboration of cooperative programmes between all concerned
         to develop sensitive and appropriate eco-tourism at wetlands holding concentrations
       - of populations listed in Table 1.
 4.2.2   Parties, in cooperation with competent intemational organisations, shall endeavour
         to evaluate the costs, benefits and other consequences that can result from eco-
         tourism at selected wetlands with concentrations of populations listed in Table T.
         They shall communicate the results of any such evaluations to the Agreement
         secretariat.
 4.3     Other Human Activities
 4.3.1   Parties shall assess the impact of proposed projects which are likely to lead to
         conflicts between populations listed in Table 1 that are in the areas referred to in
         paragraph 3.2 and human interests, and shall make the results of the assessment
         publicly available.
 4.3.2    Parties shall endeavour to gather information on the damage, in particular to crops,
         caused by populations listed in Table 1, and report the results to the Agreement
          secretariat.
 4.3.3    Parties shall cooperate with a view to identifying appropriate techniques to minimize
         damage, or to mitigate the effects of damage, in particular to crops, caused by
          populations listed in Table 1, drawing on the experience gained elsewhere in the
         world.
                                             H°
 ---pagebreak--- 4.3.4 Parties shall cooperate with a view to developing single species action plans for
      populations which cause significant damage, in particular to crops. The Agreement
      secretariat shall coordinate the development and harmonization of such plans.
4.3.5 Parties shall, as far as possible, promote high environmental standards in the
      planning and construction of structures to minimize their impact on populations listed
      in Table 1. They should consider steps to minimize the impact of structures already
      in existence where it becomes evident that they constitute a negative impact for the
      populations concerned.             . -
4.3.6 In cases where human disturbance threatens the conservation status-of waterbird
      populations listed in Table 1, Parties should endeavour to take measures to limit the
      level of threat. Appropriate measures might include, inter alia, the establishment of
      disturbance-free zones in protected areas where public access is not permitted.
5.    Research and Monitoring
5.1   Parties shall endeavour to carry out survey work in poorly known areas, which may
      hold important concentrations of the populations listed in Table 1. The results of
      such surveys shall be disseminated widely.
5.2   Parties shall endeavour to monitor the populations listed in Table 1. The results of
      such monitoring shall be published or sent to appropriate international organizations,
      to enable reviews of population status and trends.
5.3   Parties shalf cooperate to improve the measurement of bird population trends as a
      criterion for describing the status of such populations.
5.4   Parties shall cooperate with a view to determining the migration routes of all
      populations listed in Table 1, using available knowledge of breeding and non :
      breeding season distributions and census results, and by participating in coordinated
      ringing programmes.
5.5   Parties shall endeavour to initiate and support joint research projects into the
      ecology and population dynamics of populations listed in Table 1 and their habitats,
      in order to determine their specific requirements as well as the techniques which are
      the most appropriate for their conservation and management.
5.6   Parties shall endeavour to undertake studies on the effects of wetland loss and
      degradation and disturbance on the carrying capacity of wetlands used by the
      populations listed in Table 1 and on the migration patterns of such populations.
5.7   Parties shall endeavour to undertake studies on the impact of hunting and trade on
      the populations listed in Table 1 and on the importance of these forms of utilization
      to the local and national economy.
5.8   Parties shall endeavour to cooperate with relevant international organisations and
      to support research and monitoring projects.
                                        H«
 ---pagebreak--- l ô - tiy __95_FK1 l»»:4ti FAA -4i» 22b  «5435mi       „ „ , , , , ,. | U b d
                                                                                                           ^1
          6.       Education and Information
          6.1      Parties shall, where necessary, arrange for training programmes to ensure that
                   personnel responsible for the implementation of this Action Plan have an adequate
                   knowledge to implement it effectively.
          6.2      Parties shall cooperate with each other and the Agreement secretariat with a view
                   to developing training programmes and exchanging resource materials.
          6.3      Parties shall endeavour to develop programmes, information materials and
                   mechanisms to improve the level of awareness of the general public with regard to
                   the objectives, provisions and contents of this Action Plan. In this regard, particular
                   attention shall be given to those people living in and around important wetlands, to
                   users of these wetlands (hunters,fishermen,tourists, etc.) and to local authorities
                   and other decision makers.
          6.4      Parties shall endeavour to undertake specific public awareness campaigns for the
                   conservation of the populations listed in Table 1.
          7,       Implementation
          7.1      When implementing this Action Plan, Parties shall, when appropriate, give priority
                   to those populations listed in Column A of Table 1.
          7.2      Where, in the case of populations listed in Table 1, more than one population of the
                   same species occurs on the territory of a Party, that Party shall apply conservation
                   measures appropriate to the population or populations that have the poorest
                   conservation status.
          7.3      The Agreement secretariat, in coordination with the Technical Committee and with
                   the assistance of experts from Range States, shall coordinate the development of
                   conservation guidelines in accordance with Article IV, paragraph 4, of this
                 . Agreement to assist the Parties in the implementation of this Action Plan. The
                   Agreement secretariat shall ensure, where possible, coherence with guidelines
                   approved under other international instruments. These conservation guidelines shall
                   aim at introducing the principle of sustainable use. They shall cover, inter alia:
                   (a)    single species action plans;
                   (b)    emergency measures;
                   (c)    preparation of site inventories and habitat management methods;
                   (<j)   hunting practices;
                    (e)   trade in waterbirds;
                    (f)   tounsm;
                    (g)   reducing crop damage, and
                    (h)   a waterbird monitoring protocol.
          7.4      The Agreement secretariat, in coordination with the Technical Committee and the
                    Parties, shall prepare a series of international reviews necessary for the
                                                       n
 ---pagebreak---     implementation o' this Action Plan, including:
    (a)    reports on the status and trends of populations;
    (b)    gaps in information from surveys;
    (c)    the networks of sites used by each population, including reviews of the
           protection s:atus of each site as well as of the management measures taken
           in each case;
    (d) pertinent hunting and trade legislation in each country relating to the species
        " listed in Annex 2 to this Agreement;
    (e) the stage of preparation and implementation of single species action plans:
    (f)    re-establishment projects; and
    Cg) the status of introduced non-native waterbird species and hybrids thereof.
7.5 The Agreement secretariat shall endeavour to ensure that the reviews mentioned
    in paragraph 7.4 are updated at intervals of not more than three years.
7.6 The Technical Committee shall assess the guidelines and reviews prepared under
    paragraphs 7.3 and 7.4, and shall formulate draft recommendations and resolutions
    relating to their development, content and implementation for consideration at
    sessions of the Meeting of the Parties.
7.7 The Agreement secretariat shall regularly undertake a review of potential
    mechanisms for providing additional resources (funds and technical assistance) for
    the implementation of this Action Plan, and shall make a report to each ordinary
    session of the Meeting of the Parties.
                              Mi
 ---pagebreak---                                            Table 1
            STATUS OF THE POPULATIONS OF MIGRATORY WATERBIRDS
KEY TO CLASSIFICATION
The following key to Table 1 is â basis for implementation of the Action Plan:
Column A
Category 1:       (a) Species which are included in Appendix I to the Convention;
                 (b) Species which are listed as threatened in the 1994 lUCN Red List of
                      Threatened Animals (Groombridge 1993): or
                  (c) Populations which number less than around 10,000 individuals.
Category 2:      Populations numbering between around 10,000 and around 25,000
individuals.
Category 3:      Populations numbering between around 25,000 and around 100,000
                 individuals and considered to be at risk as a result of:
                 (a) concentration onto a small number of sites at any stage of their annual
                      cycle;
                 (b) dependence on a habitat type which is under severe threat;
                 (c) showing significant long-term decline; or
                 (d) showing extreme fluctuations in population size or trend.
For species listed in Categories 2 and 3, above, see paragraph 2.1.1 of this Annex.
Column B
Category 1:      Populations numbering between around 25,000 and around 100,000
                 individuals and which do not fulfil the conditions in respect of Column A, as
                 described above.
Category 2:      Populations numbering more than around 100,000 individuals and
                 considered to be in need of special attention as a result of:
                 (a) concentration onto a small number of sites at any stage of their annual
                      cycle;
                 (b) dependence on a habitat type which is under severe threat;
                 (c) showing significant long-term decline; or
                 (d) showing large fluctuations in population size or trend.
                                           MH
 ---pagebreak--- Column C
Category 1 :      Populations numbering more than around 100,000 individuals which could
                 significantly benefit from international cooperation and which do not fulfil the
                 conditions in respect of either Column A or B, above.
REVIEW OF JTABLE 1
This Table shall be:
(a)   reviewed regularly by the Technical Committee in accordance with Article VII.
      paragraph 3(b), of this Agreement; and
(b)   amended as necessary by the Meeting of the Parties, in accordance with Article VI,
      paragraph 9(d) of this Agreement, in light of the conclusions of such reviews.
KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS
bre;  breeding
win:  wintering
N:    Northern
6:    Eastern
S:    Southern
W:    Western
NE:   Northeastern
NW:   Northwestern
SE:   Southeastern
SW:   Southwestern
1
 :    Population status unknown. Conservation status estimated.
•:    See "paragraph 2.1.1
NOTES
      The population data used to compile Table 1 as far as possible corresponds to the
      number of individuals in the potential breeding stock in the Agreement Area. The
      status is based on the best available published population estimates.
      Suffixes (bre) or (win) in population listings are solely aids to population identification.
      They do not indicate seasonal restrictions to actions in respect of these populations
      under this Agreement and Action Plan.
                                   ^
 ---pagebreak---                                                A       B    c
Mycteria ibis
Entire population                                       i \
Ciconia nigra
W Africa/W Europ«                              lc
Centnl/E Europe (bre)                          2
Ciconia episcopus
Tropical Africa (C. c. raicroscclu)                1   •
Ciconia ciconia
S Africa (C. c. ciconia)                       lc
NV.' Africa/W Europ« (bre) (C. c. ..iconia)    3b
Ccntral/E Europe (bre) (C. c. ciconia)                 2c
W Asia (bre) ( C c. ciconia)                   3b
Megadh faicutetlus
Subtaharaa Aûrica (P. f- falcineliu:)                       I1
W Africa/Europe (P. f. falcinellus)                     1
E Africa/SW Asia (P. f. faiciueUus)            2»
Gennticus eremha
Morocco                                        la
SW Ana                                         la
Threskiomis aethiopicus
Subaahareo Africa (T. a. aethiopicus)                        1
Iraq/Iran (T. a. aethiopicus)                  lc
piataUa Uuco/vdia
E Atlantic (P. 1. leucorodia)                   lc
Central/SE Europe (bre) (P, I. leucorodia)      2
Red Se* (P. 1. areberi)                         lc
SW/S Aiia (win) (P. 1. major)                   2
PiataUa alba
Entire population                              2»
Dendrocygna bicoior
Africa                                                       1
Dendrocrena viduata
                                                             1
Africa                                               .
                                            Hb
 ---pagebreak---  ThaUnsonus Uuconolus
E/S Africa (T. 1. leuconouis)
W Africa (T. 1 leucoootus)                  lc
Oxyura leucoctphala
W Mediterranean                             la
E Mediterraoean/W Asia                      la
Cygnus olor
NW Europe                                         2d
Black Sea (win)
Caspian Sea (win)                              2» & 2d
Cygnus cygnus
Iceland (bre)
NW Europe (win)
Black Sea (win)
W Asia (win)                               2'
Cygnus coLunbianus
Europe (win) ( C c. bewickii)
Caspian Sea (win) (C. c. bewickii)         lc
Anser brachyrhynchus
Iceland (bre)                                    2a
Svalbard (bre)
Anser /abolis
W Taiga (bre) (A. f. fabalt*)
W Tundra (bre) (A. f. rossicus)
Anser albifrons
NW Europe (win) (A. a. albifrons)
Central Europe (win) (A. a. albifrons)           2c
Black Sea (win) (A. a. albifrons)
Caspian Sea (win) (A. a. albifrons)
Greenland (bre) (A. a. flavirostri.)      3a
Anser erythropus
Black Sea/Caspian Sea (win)                lb
A nser anser
Iceland (bre) (A. a. anser)
                                       ^y
 ---pagebreak---                                              A    B  c
N Europe/W Mediterranean (A. a. anser)               1
Central Europc/N Africa (A. a. anser)        2*
Black Sea (win) (A. a. anser)                      l -
W Siberia/Caspian Sea (A. a. anser)      - -       t
Branla leucopsis
Greenland (bre)                                    i
Svalbard (bre)                               2           -
Russia (bre)                                         1
Branla bemicla
Siberia (bre) (B. b. bemicla)                     2b   -
Svalbard (bre) (B- b. hrou)                  lc
Ireland (win) (B. b. hrou)                    2
Branta mficoUis
Entire population                            lb
Aicpocken aegypriacui
Entire population                                    r
Tadorna ferruguteo
W Mediterranean                              lc
E Mediterranean/Black Sea                    2
SW Asia                                            I
Tadoma cana
Enure population '                                 I
Tadoma tadoma
NW Europe                                         2a
W Mediterranean                               2
Black Sea                                          1
Caspian Sea                                        I
Plectrvpterus gambensis
W Africa Ç?. g. gambensis)                           i
S Africa (P. g. niger)                             1
                                                •
Sariidiomis melanotos
Africa (S. m. mclaootos)                             il
Neuapus auritus
W Africa                                     lc
                                       l\%
 ---pagebreak---  S/E Africa
Anas ptneLtpe
NW Europe (win)
 Black Sea/Mediterranean (win)                       2c
SW Asia (win)
Anas strtpera
NW Europe (win) (A. s. itrepera)
Black Sea/Mediterranean (win) (A s. strepera)
SW Asia (win) (A. s. strepera)
Anas erccca
NW Europe (win) (A. c. erccca)
Black Sea/Mediterranean (win) (A. c. erccca)
SW Asia (win) (A. c. crecca)                         2c
Anas capensis
Entire population
A nos plaryrhynekos
NW Europe (win) (A. p, platyriivnchos)
Black Sea/Mediterranean (win)                        2c
(A. p. platyrhynchos)
SW Asia (win) (A. p. platyrbynclios)
Anas undutata
S Africa (A. u. undulata)
Anas acuta
W Africa (win)
NW Europe (win)
Black Sea/Mediterranean (win)                        2c
SW Aiia/E Africa (win)
Anas trylhrorhyncha
S/E Africa
Anas hotteniota
W Africa                                         lc'
S/E Africa
Anas querquedula
W Africa (win)
                                              M4
 ---pagebreak---                                                  A      B  c
 E Africa/Asia (win)                                        1
                                                   ..
Anas dypeato
NW Europe (win)                                         i
W Mediterranean (win)                                  2a
Black Sea/Mediterranean (win)                              1
SW Asia (win)                                              I  "
Marmcrvnetta angusânstris
W Mediterranean                                 lb
E Mediterranean                                 lb
SW Asia                                         lb
Netto rufuia
SWCentral Europe                                2*
SE Europe                                       3c
SW Asia                                                    1
Setta erythrophthaUna
S/E Africa (N, e. brunnea)                    -           1«
Aythya jerina
NW Europe (win)                                       2c
Black Sea/Mediterranean (win)                         2c
SW Asia (win)                                         2c1
Aythya nyraca
Africa (win)                                    lc
Europe (win)                                    3c
SW Asia                                         lc
Aythya fuligula
NW Europe (win)                                            1
Black Sea/Mediterranean (win)                              I
SW Asia (win)                                              1
Aythya. mariJa
£ Atlantic (win) (A.m. marila)                             1
Black Sea/Caspian Sea (win) (A. m. marila)             1
Somateria moUissima
Europe (S. m. moUissima)                                   I
Somateria spectabüis
                                           ^o
 ---pagebreak---  NE Europe
~ ~ — — — ~ — * — — •    -
 Potysûcta steilen
 NE Europe (win)"
 Clangula hyemaks
 Iceland/Greenland (bre)                                2c
 NW Europe (win)
 Caspian Sea (win)                                 le
 Melanitta nigra
 NW Europe (win) (M. n. nigra)                          2a
 Melanitta fusca
 NW Europe (win) (M. f fiisca)                          2a
 Black Sea/Caspian Sea (win) (M. f. fusca)         lc
 Bueepkala clangula
 NW Europe (win) (B. c. clangula)
 Black Sea/Mediterranean (win) (E c. clangula)
 Caspian Sea (win) (B. c clanguU)
 McrgeUus albeOsa
 NW Europe (win)                                   3a
 Black Sea/Mediterranean (win)
 SW Asia (win)                                        - I
 Mergus semdor
NW Europe (win) (M. s. serTator)
 Black Sea/Mediterranean (win) (tf s. Jerraior)
 SW Asia (win) (M. s. senator)                     lc
Mergus merganser
NW Europe (win) (M. m- merganser)
 Black Sea/Medilerranean (win)                     lc
(M. m. merganser)
 SW Asia (win) (M- m. merganser)
                                                ^A
 ---pagebreak---                                                                                              /i'M
                                      DECLARATIONS
                              DECLARATION O F BELGIUM
The Belgian delegation is particularly pleased with the fact that the representatives of the
Range States have successfully concluded their work and will thus be able to sign the
Final Act of the Negotiation Conference.
The Draft Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds
covers questions for which the Regions are mostly, but not exclusively, competent under
the Belgian Constitution and Law. Insofar as they are competent, the Regions are able to
commit themselves on matters governed by international law. Furthermore, they are duly
represented within the Belgian delegation.
If the Agreement is signed by Belgium, the Belgian Government will ensure that the said
competence of the Regions to commit themselves on international matters is formalized in
the appropriate manner.
                             DECLARATION O F DENMARK
The Danish delegation wishes to draw attention to the fact that there still remain some
outstanding problems concerning a few species in Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The
Danish Government will try to solve these questions in collaboration with the Greenland
Home Rule and the Faroese Home Rule in order that no reservations or declarations
concerning single species will be necessary for the whole or parts of the territory of
Denmark at the time of the Danish ratification, acceptance or approval of the Agreement.
Our acceptance to adopt the text of the Agreement should be seen in this light.
                               DECLARATION O F FRANCE
France would like to remind the Meeting of its wish to integrate, in the light of the
knowledge available, population evolution trends which are an essential source of
information for determining the intensity of hunting that is compatible with the principle
of sustainable use. Such integration would be an enrichment of the content of the Action
Plan.
                           DECLARATION OF SWITZERLAND
Following the modification of the operative part of Table 1 of the Action Plan, which
introduces the additional possibility of continuing to take species that enjoy strict
protection in accordance with Article III, paragraph 2(a), of the Agreement, the Swiss
delegate made a statement to the following effect:
                                       fl
 ---pagebreak--- This proposition reveals a certain lack of logic in the categorization of populations,
because it mixes protected species and species that may be hunted. In addition, the
provisions of the Agreement and of the Action Plan will be applied differently by Parties,
since the exceptional taking of these species shall only take place "where hunting is a
traditional cultural activity".
Consequently, this provision contravenes the desired harmonization of the provisions and
will make it harder to implement the Agreement.
Finally, it is unfortunate that in a brand new Agreement it should be necessary to consider
exceptions to the general norms on top of the usual general waiver provisions that already
appear in the Agreement and the Convention.
The Swiss delegation nevertheless sides with the general feeling of the meeting and will
not oppose the acceptance of the proposed text in order not to jeopardize the chances of
success of the proposed Agreement.
(The Hague, 15 June 1995; Raymond Pierre Lebeau)
                                DECLARATION OF ZIMBABWE
Mr. Chairman, Dear Ministers, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and
Gentlemen,
On behalf of the African Ministers for Environment and other heads of delegations from
Africa, I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Dutch Government for the warm
welcome accorded to the delegations since their arrival a few days ago. I also wish to
thank the host Government for the wonderful facilities that have been put at our disposal
during the conference to ensure its success.
Mr. Chairman, I also take this opportunity to thank the Secretariat of the Bonn Convention
and the officials of the Dutch Government who have put a lot of efforts in organising this
meeting from the beginning to its successful completion. This meeting, as we all know,
started from a humble beginning and is now reaching its maturity stage. The commitment
of the Range States from Africa to have this Agreement on the Conservation of African-
Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds concluded is well demonstrated by the high level
representation and large of number of delegates present during this meeting.
Mr. Chairman, the delegates present here have negotiated an agreement involving very
delicate species of our biological diversity, I say delicate species, because the migratory
waterbirds do change their habitats at given intervals and it is during these changes that
they face greatest dangers in their migratory patterns. This Agreement will enlighten the
intemational community and in particular the parties to this agreement, on issues related to
the protection, conservation and sustainable use of the migratory waterbirds.
Mr. Chairman, this agreement once it becomes operational, will require a number of things
to be done. One such thing is the collection of proper and representative data of the
                                        ^3
 ---pagebreak---                                                                                               A?
  migratory waterbirds from all the member states to this agreement. Mr. Chairman, it is
  clear that such data is not readily available in Africa and it is my sincere hope that the
  African countries will be assisted to carry out researches on migratory waterbirds in order
  to update the existing data Mr. Chairman, Africa is a home to various species of
  waterbirds which have co-existed with different communities for centuries. These
  communities deserve to be congratulated for their sustainable use of these waterbirds.
 Mr. Chairman, since the conclusion of the Rio Summit in June 1992, a number of-
 conventions have been signed to protect the. environment One such convention which is
 related to this agreement is the convention on biological diversity. I am happy to note that
 this agreement is being negotiated under the auspices of Bonn Convention which will co-
 locate the secretariat of the agreement. Mr. Chairman, we are equally happy and grateful
 to the Dutch Government for their offer to host the interim secretariat for three years and
 to host the first Meeting of the Parties once the agreement comes into force.
 Mr. Chairman, it is well known that Africa and other countries of the South provide over
 80% of the biological diversity. It is therefore very important that the South is folly
 involved in all matters related to biological diversity. Countries of the South are ready to
 play their rightful role in such matters, as in this agreement. As I have indicated above
 that the South provides 80% of all biological diversity. Mr. Chairman, Africa will continue
to preserve, conserve and protect its biological diversity for the benefit of present and
 future generations.
Mr. Chairman, once again allow me to profoundly thank the Dutch Government for all it
is doing in various fields of environment protection. Thank you.
(Presented to AEWA 16/06/95 at The Hague by Chen Chimuntengwende, MP and Minister
of Environment and Tourism of Zimbabwe)
           JOINT DECLARATION OF ETHIOPIA, NAMIBIA, SOUTH AFRICA,
               SUDAN, SWAZILAND, UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA,
                                  ZAMBIA AND ZIMBABWE
Controlled hunting is regarded as potentially beneficial to the conservation of species and
sustainable human development in many rural areas in Africa. Hunting and other forms of
sustainable use provide revenue which is in turn re-invested in conservation of the
respective species and in rural development.
The provisions of paragraphs 2.2.1. and 2.2.2. of the Action Plan are therefore not
interpreted as a prohibition of controlled hunting if there is no reason to suspect that such
hunting would be detrimental to the conservation of any species.
                                              ^
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