Side event details

Designating and management of Ramsar Sites is dependent on up-to-date information on waterbird populations, especially for Ramsar Criterion 6. Besides that, there are other really important uses of up to date population estimates. It is essential information for international species action plans, enabling improved national bird population management approaches and an important driver to identifying monitoring gaps across the network/flyway for any particular species/group of species.
Parties adopted Resolution XIV.18 on the Waterbird Population Estimates (WPE) and have called for a mechanism to provide regular updates of the estimates. Over the last triennium, the STRP (through priority task 1.1c.) has developed a proposal and draft resolution to establish a new global Waterbird Estimates Partnership (gWEP) to oversee development of WPE updates. This partnership brings together other MEAs, Flyway initiatives, (national and) International NGOs and willing partners with support of Contracting Parties and will demonstrate practical (and financial) synergies to implement priorities of the Convention on Wetlands, and meet the needs and priorities of multiple other actors (e.g. those described above). The Partnership aims to be fully operational by COP16 and to deliver an update of the Waterbird Population Estimates by 2027. The gWEP is to be initiated at COP15 as a high-profile opportunity to spotlight global synergy of Contracting Parties of the convention on Wetlands, other relevant MEAs and their sub-agreements and other partners.
The programme of this side event is proposed to cover:
- The current DR on gWEP and WPE2027 and its background: Agreement on the need for Partnership and its funding for the long-term futurei and challenges (Suggested speaker: Hugh Robertson, STRP)
- Perspectives of stakeholders (Parties, MEA’s, NGO’s) (Suggested speaker: several speakers tbc)
- The link with the International Waterbird Census; Announcing the initiative towards celebrating its 60th anniversary (IWC60) (Suggested speaker: Wetlands International)
- Waterbird Population Estimates and Flyway Work (Suggested speaker: tbc)
- Potential announcements of voluntary financial contributions to gWEP/WPE2027 (subject to successful resource mobilization efforts): tbc