United for Flyways: The CREAF Project Side Event at the AEWA Meeting of Parties

The Common Wadden Sea Secretariat (CWSS) participated in the 9th Session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP9) to the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA), held from 11-14 November in Bonn, Germany. Under the theme “United for Flyways”, AEWA Parties gathered to reaffirm their shared commitment to protecting and conserving migratory waterbirds and their habitats across Africa and Eurasia. The theme resonated strongly with the objectives of the recently launched Climate Resilient East Atlantic Flyway (CREAF) project, which was introduced during a dedicated side event.

The side event, titled “Building Climate Resilience along the Flyway: Considering Migratory Waterbird Conservation in Management and Policy”, began with a contextual framing Kristine Meise, CWSS's Programme Officer for Flyway and Biodiversity, who highlighted how improved monitoring, stronger policy integration, and adaptive management are needed to respond effectively to the impacts of climate change. Reflecting on the discussions at MOP9, she noted: 

“As conditions along the flyway change, management approaches must evolve with them. Strong monitoring and science are essential, but they only make a difference when they reach policy and guide decisions on the ground. MOP9 showed not only challenges but also the willingness of Parties to strengthen these connections.”

Djibril Ly (Mauritania) provided an overview of the threats facing coastal wetlands and migratory waterbirds in Mauritania. His presentation highlighted the urgency of addressing pressures such as habitat change, overexploitation of resources and the accelerating impacts of climate change which are central to the CREAF project’s focus on climate resilience.  

Finally, CREAF’s project aims were presented, highlighting the flyway-level approach to strengthen long-term monitoring, enhance resilience at key sites through nature-based approaches, support national policy processes, and advance community engagement and support sustainable, climate-resilient livelihoods. These points set the stage for an interactive session with all participants.

The session was moderated by Abdoulaye Ndiaye (Senegal), whose long-standing leadership in flyway conservation ensured a dynamic and engaging exchange among the countries present. His ability to connect policy priorities, bring forward real-world challenges and highlight opportunities for strengthened international cooperation contributed greatly to the discussion.

AEWA Focal Points Abdoulaye Ndiaye (Senegal) and Umar Idris Mukhtar (Nigeria) also contributed national perspectives to the discussion, reflecting on the challenges countries face in bridging monitoring, management, and policy. Their insights highlighted shared needs across the flyway, including stronger institutional capacity, improved access to data, and clearer routes for integrating scientific evidence into national decision-making.

In the wider meeting, delegates’ attention was brought to the Slender-billed Curlew, recently declared extinct, with a specimen from the 1930s displayed to remind Parties of the biodiversity crisis and the urgent need to collaborate to prevent further losses.

“The loss of the Slender-billed Curlew reminds all Parties along the flyway – from the North to the South – that the time to work together is now to prevent species loss and improve habitats and outcomes for waterbirds and for people,”

said Rebecca Stewart, CWSS's Climate-resilient East Atlantic FlywayProject Officer, reflecting on the wider message of AEWA MOP9.