The Secretariat of the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (UNEP/AEWA) and the Secretariat of the Convention on Migratory Species (UNEP/CMS) are glad to announce the countdown for World Migratory Bird Day 2008. This two-day awareness raising campaign will take place globally for the third consecutive year from 10 – 11 of May 2008. The theme for next year’s celebration is Migratory Birds - Ambassadors for Biodiversity.

Birds are some of the best indicators for the status and trends of wider biodiversity. They are important for monitoring changes in the environment as they are virtually inhabitants of all ecosystems in the world.

Many sites – identified as the key sites for birds, host numerous other threatened species of plants and animals. Therefore areas important for birds represent hot spots for other biodiversity as well.

All through their annual cycle, migratory birds cross many countries and continents, some of them from the tundra to the tropics, linking different ecosystems. By conserving them and their environment we ensure the conservation of biodiversity on a wider scale.

World Migratory Bird Day was launched two years ago when the AEWA and CMS Secretariats saw the need for a global awareness campaign to inspire people to take action for the conservation of migratory birds.

Building upon the two very successful campaigns in 2006 and 2007, preparations for WMBD 2008 are now underway! Both the theme and the timing of WMBD 2008 coincide with the upcoming 9th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Biodiversity (CBD) to be held in Bonn, Germany next year. In this context the organisers hope to use WMBD to help spread the idea of migratory birds as messengers for the conservation of biodiversity worldwide.

We encourage national authorities, NGOs, clubs and societies, universities, schools and individuals worldwide to celebrate WMBD 2008 by organizing awareness-raising programs, festivals or other related events on the weekend of 10 -11 May 2008.

The Secretariats of AEWA and CMS are happy to be able to now officially announce WMBD 2008 and invite everyone to participate and look forward to another successful and global celebration with you!