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Nature

SILVER JUBILEE FOR ‘WASTELAND’

B Y JAMES CLARKE, PIC TURES B Y MARY BRO ADLEY

The United Nations Environmental Programme (Unep) is celebrating thousands to spend days refuelling before

its 25-year-old international campaign to encourage efforts to continuing their ights. The geographical
range covered by the transcontinental bird
preserve the wetlands between the Cape and the Arctic. It views routes crosses 119 countries.
the wetlands as essential to the health of the environment and the Many of the birds are annual visitors
survival of wildlife - especially the millions of migratory birds that use to South Africa and all are ecologically

them as staging posts. dependent on the wetlands for at least part
of their annual cycle. Some species, when
they arrive here, have little or no need for

wenty- ve years ago several herons, cranes, storks, gulls, terns and other wetlands in South Africa, yet all depend on
national governments throughout species – 255 species in all – have their the chain of wetlands to get here.
Africa, Europe and the Russian favoured routes. Some end in the Middle
T Federation signed an agreement East, many go all the way to the Cape. Aewa was formalised under the United
to safeguard wetlands ranging from the Nations Environmental Programme (Unep)
Arctic Circle to South Africa. The main The chain of wetlands – estuaries, lakes and in June 1995 at The Hague in Holland, and its
motive? To ensure migrating water birds marshes – are the birds’ resting places where most recent convention was held in Durban
have somewhere to land on their hazardous some species congregate in their tens of a couple of years ago. It became clear at
journeys as they fly down to Africa – and

then, roughly six months later, y back.

Some y, with their o spring, 15 000

kilometres from their breeding grounds to
summer in Southern Africa. The spectrum
of the countries whose governments
signed the agreement range from the
polar regions of the Northern Hemisphere
to Cape Agulhas. The birds’ various routes
form what is called the African-Eurasian
Flyway.

The treaty, known as Aewa – the African-
Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement –
is dedicated to safeguarding the stopping-
o places along the migration routes.

Eighty nations are now pledged to protect
these wetlands.

Tens of millions of migrating geese, grebes,
pelicans, cormorants, spoonbills, ibises, Flamingos rely on the chain of wetlands stretching from eastern Africa down to the Cape.

Fourways Gardens • 28 • August 2020