A Sandwich tern approaches its offspring with fish in a wetland near Binz, Ruegen, Germany. This species is covered by the AWEA treaty. Photo by H. OsadnikTHE HAGUE, The Netherlands, June 17, 2010 (ENS) – One-third of the critical wetlands that migratory waterbirds need when traveling between Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Central Asia are entirely unprotected, according to the first survey using a new online information tool. As a result, 42 percent of these waterbird species are in decline, bird experts warn.

The online tool was unveiled Monday at an International Waterbird Conservation Symposium taking place in The Hague to mark the 15th anniversary of the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement, AEWA. The international wildlife treaty aims to conserve migratory waterbirds which use the African-Eurasian Flyway. “The Critical Site Network Tool will provide an unprecedented level of access to information for all waterbird species covered by the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement,” said AWEA Executive Secretary Bert Lenten. The CSN tool provides comprehensive information on 294 waterbird species from 3,020 sites. Click here to use the new tool. … Migratory waterbirds, such as waders, terns and geese, need an unbroken chain of wetlands to complete their annual life cycles, but they are threatened by expanding aquaculture, agriculture and energy developments. …

Wetlands Loss Endangers Birds on African-Eurasian Flyway