CELEX: 51995PC0444
Language: es
Date: 1995-09-26
Title: Propuesta de DECISION DEL CONSEJO relativa a la firma por parte de la Comunidad Europea del Acuerdo sobre la conservación de aves acuáticas migratorias de África y de Eurasia

COMISIÓN DE LAS COMUNIDADES EUROPEAS
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                                                  Bruselas, 26.09.1995
                                                  COM(95)444 filial
                                     Propuesta de
                             12iiLlSiiM.DËl,-CONSEJO
             relativa a la firma por parte de la Comunidad Europea
        del Acuerdo sobre la conservación de aves acuáticas migratorias
                               de África y de liurasia
                             (presentada por la Comisión)
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                               Imposition de motivos
La Comunidad es Parte contratante del Convenio sobre la conservación de especies
migratorias de la launa silvestre (Convenio de Bonn).*
1-1 artículo IV del Convenio de Bonn prevé la conclusión de acuerdos regionales, que
para las especies contempladas en el anexo II (cuyo estado de conservación es
desfavorable) deberían celebrarse lo antes posible.
Las aves acuáticas que utilizan las rutas migratorias de África y de Eurasia, que son
especies del anexo II, merecen una atención inmediata para mejorar su estado de
conservación y para recoger información que permita tomar decisiones de geíítión bien
fundamentadas.
La resolución 1.6 de la primera reunión de la Conferencia de las Partes del Convenio
de Bonn preconizaba la preparación de un Acuerdo para las anatidae de la región
paleartica occidental. De 1988 a 1991, el Gobierno de Holanda, actuando de acuerdo
con la Comisión y en colaboración con la Secretaría del Convenio, la UICN, un grupo
de trabajo del Consejo Científico del Convenio de Bonn y el Buró Internacional para el
Estudio de las Aves Acuáticas, elaboró un proyecto de Acuerdo, que incluía un plan de
acción para las anatidae y un programa de gestión. Seguidamente, la Secretaría del
Convenio presentó una iniciativa que condujo a un nuevo proyecto de Acuerdo de
mayor amplitud que incluía a otras especies de aves migratorias.
Se celebró una reunión negociadora extraoficial en Nairobi, del 12 al 14 de junio,
después de la 4 a reunión de la Conferencia de las Partes del Convenio de Bonn, que
tuvo lugar también en Nairobi, del 7 al 11 de junio de 1994. A dicha reunión asistieron
representantes de la Comisión.
La Secretaría del Convenio preparó un proyecto revisado de Acuerdo y lo presentó en
la reunión negociadora que se celebró en La Haya, del 12 al 16 de junio de 1995, para
servir como punto de pallida de las negociaciones. Este Acuerdo fue finalmente
adoptado por consenso por sesenta y ties listados del área de distribución de las
especies y por la Comunidad Europea. El Acuerdo estará abierto a la firma a partir del
 16 de octubre de 1995.
  ¡>Ov- I. ; i ( ) . ik- Vt.ttl l«>K7. I> II)
 ---pagebreak--- La finalidad de dicho Acuerdo es proporcionar un marco legal para una política de
conservación concertada entre los Estados del área de distribución de las especies y
poblaciones de aves acuáticas migratorias, sin distinción de su estado de conservación
actual, algunos de cuyos individuos emigran a la región paleártica occidental y a
África.
Este Acuerdo cubrirá:
   alrededor de 170 especies;
   una zona de 60 millones de kilómetros cuadrados que comprende a los 116 Estados
del área de distribución y la totalidad de los continentes africano y europeo, así como
parte de Asia.
El texto del Acuerdo incluye tres anexos.
- un mapa que muestra la zona geográfica cubierta por el Acuerdo,
   una lista de familias de aves migratorias cubiertas por el Acuerdo,
   un plan de acción.
Dicho Acuerdo requiere, en particular, la adopción de medidas coordinadas para
conseguir y mantener un estado favorable de conservación para las aves acuáticas
migratorias de África y de Eurasia. El artículo 111 de este Acuerdo establece las
medidas de conservación que deberán adoptarse. El anexo III (plan de acción)
determina las actuaciones que las Partes acometerán con respecto a las especies
prioritarias, de conformidad con las medidas generales de conservación establecidas en
el artículo III del Acuerdo.
El Acuerdo está principalmente relacionado con cuestiones que entran dentro de las
competencias comunitarias, que a nivel interno están reglamentadas por la Directiva
79/409/CEE del Consejo relativa a la conservación de las aves silvestres^ y por la
Directiva 92/43/CEE del Consejo relativa a la conservación de los habitats naturales y
de la fauna y llora silvestres \
Por otra parte, la Comunidad es Parte del Convenio de Berna relativo a la conservación
de la vida silvestre y del medio natural de Europa"* y del Convenio de Barcelona para
?
*~ D O n " I    1 0 1 . ilt- ?."> M l<>79, |>   I
•   I X ) i." 1 .'(K). üi- .'.' 0 /  l<W.>, | .   /
4
    DO n" I IK, .!<• 10 0.' \'W.           |.   I
 ---pagebreak--- la prolección de mar Mediterráneo contra la contaminación^, así como de sus
protocolos, en particular el protocolo sobre zonas especialmente protegidas.6
Por consiguiente, se considera conveniente que la Comunidad firme el Acuerdo sobre
la conservación de las aves acuáticas migratorias de África y de Eurasia, bajo reserva
de su posterior ratificación.
  DO n" I, 740. iW \*i I » . 1 9 / / , |> 3
  DO n" I 0 8 . üc HI 01 l«MM, |» M>
 ---pagebreak---                                         Propuesta de Decisión del Consejo
                            relativa a la firma por parte de la Comunidad Europea
                 del Acuerdo sobre la conservación de aves acuáticas migratorias
                                             de África y de Eurasia
EL CONSEJO DE LAS COMUNIDADES EUROPEAS,
Visto el Tratado constitutivo de la Comunidad Europea,
Vista la propuesta de la ('omisión,
(Considerando que la (Comunidad es Parle contratante del Convenio sobre la
conservación de especies migratorias de la fauna silvestre (Convenio de Bonn)7;
(Considerando que el artículo IV del Convenio de Bonn prevé la conclusión de
acuerdos regionales, que para las especies cuyo estado de conservación es desfavorable
(especies contempladas en el anexo II) deberían celebrarse lo antes posible;
(Considerando que las aves acuáticas que utilizan las rutas migratorias de África y de
Eurasia, que son especies del anexo II, merecen una atención inmediata para mejorar
su estado de conservación y para recoger información que permita tomar decisiones de
gestión bien fundamentadas;
(Considerando que la primera reunión de la Conferencia de las Partes del Convenio de
Bonn preconizaba la preparación de un Acuerdo para la conservación de las anatidae
de la región paleártica occidental; y que ulteriormente se elaboró un proyecto de
Acuerdo que incluía a otras especies de aves acuáticas migratorias;
(Considerando que la conservación de aves acuáticas migratorias se encuentra
principalmente dentro de las competencias comunitarias, de conformidad con la
Directiva 79/409/CEE del Consejo, de 2 de abril de 1979, relativa a la conservación de
las aves silvestres^, modificada en último lugar por la Directiva 94/24/CE^, y por la
Directiva 92/43/CEE del (Consejo, de 21 de mayo de 1992, relativa a la conservación
de los habitats naturales y de la fauna y flora silvestres^;
Considerando que la (Comisión participó en nombre de la Comunidad en la reunión
negociadora que se celebró del 12 al 16 de junio de 1995 en La Haya, de conformidad
con las directrices de negociación aprobadas por el Consejo el 7 de junio de 1995; y
7
  DO ii" 1.210. «Je 19.07 198?, p. 10
  DO n» I lOT. «lc?.V(M.I979, |> I
9
  D O n " I. IO», «le H)(X, 1994, |. 9
  '  DO il» I. 200, Uc 22.07.199?. |> 7
 ---pagebreak--- que en dicha reunión se adoptó por consenso el Acuerdo sobre la conservación de las
aves acuáticas migratorias de África y de Eurasia (el Acuerdo);
('Considerando que dicho Acuerdo se hallará abierto a la firma a partir del 16 de octubre
de 1995;
Considerando que es conveniente que la Comunidad firme dicho Acuerdo, bajo reserva
de su posterior ratificación,
DECIDE
                                       Artículo único
Por la presente, el Presidente del (Consejo queda autorizado para designar a la persona
o personas habilitadas para firmar el Acuerdo sobre la conservación de aves acuáticas
migratorias de África y de Eurasia, en nombre de la (Comunidad y bajo reserva de su
ratificación, y para conferirles los poderes necesarios a tal fin.
                                                                   Hecho en Bruselas, el
                                                                   Por el Consejo
                                                                    El Presidente
 ---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 spifit 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;
                              G-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 as Waterfowl Habitat, 1 9 7 1 ;
      RECOGNIZING 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 not 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---                                       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 with those bodies
       listed in Article IX. paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Agreement,
       concerned with habitat conservation;
 (d)   coordinate their efforts to ensure that a network of suitable habitats
       is maintained or. where appropriate, re-established throughout the
       entire range of each migratory waterbird species concerned, in
       particular where wetlands extend over the area of more than one Party
      to this Agreement;
(e)    investigate problems that are posed or are likely to be posed by human
      activities and endeavour to implement remedial measures, including
       habitat rehabilitation and restoration, and compensatory measures for
      loss of habitat;
(f)   cooperate in emergency situations requiring international concerted
      action and in identifying the species of migratory waterbirds which are
      the most vulnerable to these situations as well as cooperate in
      developing appropriate emergency procedures to provide increased
      protection to these species in such situations and in the preparation of
     .guidelines to assist individual Parties in tackling these situations;
(g)   prohibit the deliberate introduction of non-native waterbird species into
      the environment and take all appropriate measures to prevent the
      unintentional release of such species if this introduction or release
      would prejudice the conservation status of wild flora and fauna; when
      non-native waterbird species have already been introduced, the Parties
      shall take all appropriate measures to prevent these species from
      becoming a potential threat to indigenous species;
(h)   initiate or support research into the biology and ecology of migratory
      waterbirds including the harmonization of research and monitoring
      methods and, where appropriate, the establishment of joint or
      cooperative research and monitoring programmes;
                                         M
 ---pagebreak---       (i)  analyze their training requirements for, inter alia, migratory, waterbird
           surveys, monitonng, 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.
                                       .sit.
 ---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.
                                                                                     i
      4.   The Conservation Guidelines shall be submitted to the Meeting of the    - i
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.
                                           ^2>
 ---pagebreak---             (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 shall.be 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,
                                         JLf
 ---pagebreak---   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    i
  to do so, such sessions should be held in conjunction w i t h the ordinary meetings i
 of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention.                                  !
       3.    On the written request of at least one third of the Parties, the         j
 Agreement secretariat shall convene an extraordinary session of the Meeting of       i
                 -                                                                    ¡
 the Parties.
       4.    The United Nations, its Specialized Agencies, the International Atomic
 Energy Agency, any State not a Party to the Agreement, and the secretariats of
 international conventions concerned inter alia with the conservation, including
 protection and management, of migratory waterbirds may be represented by
observers in sessions of the Meeting of the Parties. Any agency or body
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 t o vote w i t h 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 wee 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.   At its first session, the Meeting of the Parties shaft:
 ta)  adopt its rules of procedure by consensus;
 (b)  establish an Agreement secretariat within the Convention Secretariat       !
                                                                               • i
      to perform the secretariat functions listed in Article VIII of this        j
      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
     well 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;
                                     Ab
 ---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
                                  ARTICLE VII                                        !
                               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 (CIC); 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
                                         W
 ---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 t o
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) to 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;
                                        J<5
 ---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 w o r k of the secretariat and on
    the implementation of the Agreement;
(i) to administer the budget for the Agreement a n d , 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 w i t h
                     Migratory Waterbirds and their Habitats
The Agreement.secretariat shall consult:
(a) o n a regular basis, the Convention Secretariat a n d , where appropriate,
    the bodies responsible for the secretariat functions under Agreements
    c o n c l u d e d pursuant to Article      IV, paragraphs 3 and 4 , of               the
    C o n v e n t i o n which are relevant to migratory w a t e r b i r d s , the Convention
    o n Wetlands of International Importance, especially as W a t e r f o w l
    Habitat, 1 9 7 1 , the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
     Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, 1 9 7 3 , the African Convention on the
    Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, 1 9 6 8 , the Convention
                                           go
 ---pagebreak---                                                                                     =nl
           on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, 1979,
           and the Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992, with a view to the
           Meeting    of the Parties cooperating       with  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 irrthe 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 oí 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 ope«?ng 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 commenis, communicate to the Parties all comments
submitted by that day.
                                               St*
 ---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 torce 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.
                                            ft
 ---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 ths 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 with 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 with Article XIII of this Agreement.
     2.    For any Range State or regional economic integration organization
which has:
                                             #'V
 ---pagebreak---                                                                                       'I!
       (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             i
            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
                                                                                        il
            first day of the third month following the signature              without
            reservation, or deposit, by thaï 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
                                                                                      i
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 réservation has been withdrawn.
                                               £ï
 ---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
° u s s i a n languages, each version being equally authentic, shall be deposited with
me 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 ta 75*N; thence east and southeast
through Viscount MelviHe Sound, Prince Regent Inlet, the Gulf of Boothia,- Foxe
Basin, Foxe Channel and Hudson Strail to a point in the northwest Atlantic at
60°N, 60°W; thence southeast through the northwest Atlantic to a point at 50*N,
30°W; thence south along the 30°W line of longitude to 10°N; thence southeast
" Î 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
ISO* 160»  170' 180* 170C  160*  ISO*
                                                          1140»
                                                           130*
                                                           120*
                                                           110*
                                                          100*
                                                          70* .
                                              SO* 60' 70«
                         ^S
 ---pagebreak---                                    Annex 2
              Waterbird Species to which this Agreement Applies
GAVIIDAE
Gavia stellata .                       Red-throated Diver
Gavia árctica                          Black-throated Diver
Gavia immer                            Great Northern Diver
Gavia adamsii                          White-billed Diver
PODICIPEDIDAE
Podiceps grisegena                     Red-necked Grebe
  jdiceps auritus                      Slavonian Grebe
PELECANIDAE
Pe/ecanus onocrotatus                  Great White Pelican
Pelecanus crispus                      Dalmatian Pelican
PHALACROCORACIDAE
Phalacrocorax pygmaeus                 Pygmy Cormorant
Phalacrocorax nigrogularis             Socotra Cormorant
ARDEIDAE
Egretta vinaceigu/a                    Slaty Egret
Ardea purpurea                         Purple Heron
 lasmerodius albus                     Great Egret
Ardeola idae                           Madagascar Pond-Heron
Ardeola rufiventris                    Rufous-bellied Heron
Ixobrychus minutus                     Little Bittern
Ixobrychus sturmii                     Dwarf Bittern
Botaurus ste/fart's                    Great Bittern
CICONUDAE
Mycteria ¡bis                          Yellow-billed Stork
Ciconia nigra                          Black Stork
Ciconia episcopus                      Woolly-necked Stork
Ciconia ciconia                        White Stork
                                       io
 ---pagebreak--- THRESKIORNITHIDAE
Plegad is fa le in ellus         Glossy Ibis
Geronticus eremita               Waldrapp
 Threskfornis     aethiopicus    Sacred Ibis
Plata le a leucorodia            Eurasian Spoonbill
Plat alea alba                   African Spoonbill
PHOENICOPTERIDAE
Phoenicopterus        ruber      Greater Flamingo
Phoenicopterus        minor      Lesser Flamingo
ANATIDAE
Dendrocygna        bicolor       Fulvous Whistling-Duck
Dendrocygna        viduata       White-faced Whistling-Duck
Thalassornis      leuconotus     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 sis              Barnacle Goose
Bran ta berniela                 Brent Goose
Bran ta ruiico/lis               Red-breasted Goose
Alopochen       aegyptiacus      Egyptian Goose
Tadorna ferruginea               Ruddy Shelduck
Tadorna cana                     South African Shelduck
Tadorna tadorna                  Common Shelduck
Plectropterus      gambensis     Spur-winged Goose
Sarkidiomis *<dañotos            Comb Duck
Nettapus auritus                 African Pygmy-goose
Anas penelope                    Eurasian Wigeon
Anas strepera                    Gadwall
Anas crecca                      Common Teal
Anas capensis                    Cape Teal
Anas      piatyrhynchos          Mallard
Anas undula ta                   Yellow-billed Duck
                              3W
 ---pagebreak--- Anas acuta                              Northern Pintail
Anas erythrorhyncha                     Red-billed Duck
Anas hottentota                        Hottentot Teal
Anas querquedula                       Garganey
Anas clypeata                          Northern Shoveler
Marmaronetta angustirostris            Marbled Teal
Netta rutina                           Red-crested Pochard
Netta erythrophthalma                  Southern Pochard
Aythya ferina                          Common Pochard
Aythya nyroca                          Ferruginous Pochard
Aythya fulígula                        Tufted Duck
Aythya manía                           Greater Scaup
Somateria mollissima                   Common Eider
Soma feria spectabilis                 King Eider
Polysticta stelleri                    Steller's Eider
Clangula hyemalis                      Long-tailed Duck
Melanitta nigra                        Common Scoter
Melanitta fusca                        Velvet Scoter
Bucephala c/angula                     Common Goldeneye
Mergellus albellus                     Smew
Mergus senator                         Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus merganser                       Goosander
GRUIDAE
Grus  feucogeranus                     Siberian Crane
Grus  virgo                            Demoiselle Crane
Grus  parad/sea                        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
Fúlica atra (Black Sea/Mediterranean)  Common Coot
DROMADIDAE
Dromas ardeola                         Crab Plover
                                      it
 ---pagebreak--- RECURVIROSTRIDAE
Himantopus      himantopus    Black-winged Stilt
Recurvirostra    avosetta     Pied Avocet
GLAREOLIDAE
Clareóla   pratíncola         Collared Pratincole
Glareola   nordmanni          Black-winged Pratincole
CHARADRIIDAE
Pluvialis apricaria           Eurasian Golden Plover
Pluvialis squatarola          Grey Plover
Charadrius hiaticuia          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 alexandrinus       Kentish Plover
Charadrius marginatus         White-fronted Plover
Charadrius mongolus           Mongolian Plover
Charadrius    leschenaultii   Greater Sandplover
Charadrius asiaticus          Caspian Plover
Eudromias morinellus          Eurasian Dotterel
Vanellus vaneflus             Northern Lapwing
Vane/fus spinosus             Spur-winged Plover
Vanellus a/biceps             White-headed Lapwing
Vanellus senegallus           Senegal Lapwing
Vanellus lugubris             Wattled Lapwing
Vanellus melanoptems          Black-winged Lapwing
Vanellus coronatus            Crowned Lapwing
Vanellus superciliosus        Brown-chested Lapwing
Vanellus ¿regarías            Sociable Plover
Vaneflus feucurus             White-tailed Plover
SCOLOPACIDAE
Gallinago media               Great Snipe
Gallinago gallinago           Common Snipe
Lymnocryptes      minimus     Jack Snipe
Limosa limosa                 Black-tailed Godwit
Limosa lapponica              Bar-tailed Godwit
                            ^
 ---pagebreak---                                                  1-tA
Numenius phaeopus       Whimbrel
Numenius tenuirostris   Slender-billed Curlew
Numenius arqua ta       Eurasian Curlew
Tringa erythropus       Spotted Redshank
Tringa totanos          Common Redshank
Tringa stagna tilt's    Marsh Sandpiper
Tringa nebularia        Common Greenshank
Tringa ochropus         Green Sandpiper
Tringa glareola         Wood Sandpiper
Tringa cinérea          Terek Sandpiper
Tringa hypoleucos       Common Sandpiper
Arenería interpres      Ruddy Turnstone
Calidris tenuirostris   Great Knot
Caiidris canutus        Red Knot
Calidris alba           Sanderling
Calidris minuta         Little Stint
Calidris temminckii     Temminck's Stint
Calidris marítima       Purple Sandpiper
Calidris alpina          Dunlin
Calidris ferruginea      Curlew Sandpiper
Limicola falcinellus     Broad-billed Sandpiper
Philomachus pugnax       Ruff
Phalaropus loba tus      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 nilotica          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
                      3c,
 ---pagebreak---                                           mi ^
Sterna saundersi       Saunders' Tern
Sterna balaenarum      Damara Tern
Sterna repressa        White-cheeked Tern
Chltdonias feucopterus White-winged Tern
Chltdonias niger       Black Tern
                         •JC
 ---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.    Spedes 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.keçping 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 intemational
      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 intemational 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.
                                             Vo
 ---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 intemational organizations,
      to enable reviews of population status and trends.
5.3   Parties shall" 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 monitonng projects.
                                        H^
 ---pagebreak--- 1 5 , U 8 ^ M . F R I _ l ¡ L L 4 « Ï.M  - 4 9 22* 95435o,,    U ü ^ c„,6 d
          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 ot 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 intemational instruments. These conservation guidelines shai'
                       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;
                       (d)        hunting practices;
                       (e)        trade in waterbirds;
                       (f)        tourism;
                       (g)        reducing crop damage; and
                       (h)        a waterbird monitoring protocol.
          74           The Agreement seaetahat, in coordination with the Technical Committee and the
                       Parties, shall prepare a series of international reviews necessary for the
                                                               it
 ---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 ol preparation and implementation of single species action plans;
    (f)    re-establish Tient projects: and
    (g)   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 oroviding 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.
                               i\h
 ---pagebreak---                                            Table 1
             STATUS OF THE POPULATIONS OF MIGRATORY WATERBIRDS
KEY TO CLASSIFICATION
The following key to Table 1 is a 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 IUCN 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.
                                           M4
 ---pagebreak--- Column C
Category 1:      Populations numbering more than around 100,000 individuals which could
                 significantly benefit from intemational cooperation and which do not fulfil the
                 conditions in respect of either Column A or B, above.
REVIEW OF .TABLE 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
E:    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.
                                   Hi
 ---pagebreak---                                                          B
Hyctaña Urn
Eat»» population
Ciconia nigra
W Africa/W Europe                               lc
Central/E Europe (bre)
Cieitmia cpucopus
Tropic»! Africa (C. c. raicroicelu)
Ciconia ciconia
S Africa (C. c. cicopia)                        lc
NV,' Africa/W Europe (bre) (C. c. dconia)      3b
Central/E Europe (bre) (C. c. ciconia)                  2c
W AaU (bet) ( C c. ciconia)                     3b
PUgada     fdcuuUtu
Subtaharao Africa (P. f. falclnellut)
W Africa/Europe (P. f. falcincllut)
£ Aírici/SW Alia (P. f. iaicûellut)
Gtronticus «remka
Morocco                                         la
SW A>ia                                         la
Tkrtskiomts OMthicptcus
Subsahtru Africa (T. a. actbiopicui)
Iraq/Iras (T. a. aethiopicus)                   lc
plasaUa Uucorodia
E Atlantic (P. 1. leucorodia)                   lc
Cantral/SE Europe (bre) (P. 1. leucorodia)
Red Sea (P. I. arcberi)                         lc
SW/S Alia (win) (P. 1. major)
Piálale* alba
Entire population
                                            • iMimi—ata
Dendrocygna bicolor
Africa
Dendrocygna viduata
Africa
                                           ^6
 ---pagebreak---  Th+tmxomiÊ Uuconotvs
 E/S Africa (T. 1. leucooouj»)
W Afriea (T. 1. toucoootui)                 lc
 Oxymra btucoctpkmla
 W Mediierranean                            la
 E Mediterranean/W Ati*                     la
 Cygnus olor
NW Europe
 Black Sea (win)
Caipian Sea (win)                              2a & 2d
Cygnus cygnus
Icelaad (bra)
KW Europe (win)
Black Sea (win)
W Asia (win)
Cygnus Columbians
Europe (win) (C. c. bewwkii)
Caspian Sea (win) (C. c. bewjcki»)         lc
Anstr bnchyrhynchus
Iceland (bre)
Svalbard (bre)
Anstr fabaiia
W Taifi (bre) (A. f. fabaiia)
W Tundra (bra) (A. f roiíiaií)
Anstr otblfronx
KW Europe (win) (A. t. aibifrons)
Central Europe (win) (A. a. albifron»)            2c
Black Sea (win) (A. a. albifrom)
Caspian Sea (wia) (A. a. albifroiii)
Greenland (bre) (A. a fUviro«im)          3a
Anser trythropus
Black Sea/Ca»pien Sea (win)                lb
A raer anser
Iceland (bre) (A. a. anter)
                                       ^y
 ---pagebreak---  N Europe/W Mediterranean (A. a. anaer)
 Central Europe/N Africa (A. a. anaer)
 Blaok Sea (win) (A. a- anaer)
 W Siberia/Caspian Sea (A. a. anaer)
 B ranta ieucopsis
 Greenland (bre)
 Svalbard (bre)
 Russia (bre)
Brouta bemicla
 Siberia (bre) (B. b. bemicla)
 Svalbard (bre) (8 b. h rota)                 le
Ireland (win) (B. b. brou)
Brouta mficoUis
Entire population
Alopocktn aegyptiaevs
Entire population
Tadorna ferntginea
W Mediterranean                               lc
E Mediterranean/Black Sea
SW A m
Tadorna cana
Entire population *
                                        In
Tadorne, tadorne
KW Europe                                        2a
W Mediterranean
Blaok Sea
Caspian Sea
Ptecttvpterus gambensis
W Africa (P. g. gambensis)
S Africa (P. g. niger)
Sariidiomis mtUmotos
Africa (S. m. mclaaoto»)
Nettapus aurvus
W Africa                                      lc
                                           H%
 ---pagebreak---  S/E Africa
 Anas ptnelope
 NW Europe (win)
 Black Sea/M«diterranean (win)                         2c
 SW Asia (win)                                         2c
A mm striper*
NW Europe (win) (A. ». itrepera)
Black Sea/Mediterranean (win) (A s. itrepera)
 SW Asi» (win) (A. ». strepera)
Anas enteca
NW Europe (win) (A. c erecca)
Black Sea/Mediterranean (win) (A. c. erecca)
 SW Asia (win) (A. c. erecca)                          2c
A nos capensis
Entire population
A nos piety my nchos
NW Europe (win) (A. p. platyrbyncho*)
Black Sea/Mediterranean (win)                          2c
(A. p. platyrhynchos)
SW Asia (win) (A. p. platyrhynoliot)
Anas undulate
S Africa (A. u. undulata)
Anus acute
W Africa (win)
NW Europe (win)
Black Sea/Mediterranean (win)                          2c
SW Asia/E Africa (win)
A nut erythromyncha
S/E Africa
Anas kottemota
                                                     1    I
W Africa                                         lc'
S/E Africa
Anas queroujtdula
W Africa (win)
                                              M4
 ---pagebreak---  E Africa/Asia (win)
Anrn ciypeau
 NW Europe (win)
 W Mediterranean (win)                             2a
 Blank Sea/Mediterranean (win)
 SW Asia (win)
Marmaronetta angustirostris
W Mediterranean                                lb
£ Mediterranean                                lb
SW Alia                                        lb
Netta refina
$W/C«ûtral Europe
SE Europe                                      3c
SW Asia
Setta arythrophthabna
S/E Africa (N. e. brunnea)
Aythya /trina
NW Europe (win)                                   2c
Black Sea/Mediterranean (win)                     2c
SW Asia (win)                                     2c'
Aythya nyroea
Africa (win)                                   lc
Europe (win)                                   3c
SW Alia                                        lc
Aythya jfuiigul*
NW Europe (win)
Black Sea/Mediterranean (win)
SW Alia (win)
Aythya móvil*
E Atlantic (win) (A. m. marila)
Black Sea/Caapian Sea (win) (A- m. mattia)
Someterte moUissima
Eu rope (S. m. mollinima)
Samotana sptctabiUs
                                           -Sb
 ---pagebreak--- y NE Europe
   Potystieta steOeh
   NE Enrope (win)'
   Clmmguia hyemoms
   Iceland/Greenland (bre)                            2c
   NW Europe (win)
  Caspian Sam (win)                                lc
  Melunbxe nigra
  NW Europe (win) (M. n. nigra)
  Melunbtta fusee
  NW Europe (win) (M. f Aisca)                        2a
  Black Sea/Caipian Sea (win) (M. f. ruaca)        lc
  Bueepkula elungula
  NW Europe (win) (B c. clangula)
  Blaok Sea/Mediterranean (win) (Ï c. dangula)
  Caspian Sam (wig) (B. c. clanguli)
  MergtlLts atbeUus
  NW Europe (win)                                  3a
  Blank Sea/Mediterranean (win)
  SW Asia (win)
  Mergus sermtor
  NW Europe (win) (M. i. senator)
  Black Sea/Mediterranean (win) (M i. lerraior)
  SW Asia (win) (M. t. senator)                    lc
  Mergus merganser
  NW Europe (win) (M. m. merganser)
  Blaok Sea/Medlierranean (win)                    lc
  (M. ffl. merganier)
  SW Asia (win) (M. m. merganser)
                                                €4
 ---pagebreak---                                                                                               A'JA
                                       DECLARATIONS
                              DECLARATION OF 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 OF 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 OF 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 mat 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
international 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
                                        53
 ---pagebreak---                                                                                               Ao
  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 ray 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 fiilly
 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 Chitnuntengwende, 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.
                                               S^
 ---pagebreak---                                                                    ISSN 0257-9545
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