Australia announces vital funds for waterbird work at COP15
The Australian government announced today at the Convention on Wetlands COP15 in Zimbabwe that it was investing AUS$2.25 million in the protection and conservation of wetlands, through improved data collection, shared information and engagement support.
This contribution includes AUS$200,000 for the Global Waterbird Estimates Partnership to update the Waterbird Population Estimates.
Speaking at the conference in Victoria Falls, Coenraad Krijger, CEO, Wetlands International welcomed this vital donation:
“The protection of waterbirds and their wetlands has always been a cornerstone of the Wetlands Convention – and critical to global conservation efforts. Australia’s generous contribution is critical to ensure the flow of reliable information, which underpins the identification of wetlands of international importance based on waterbird criteria, by providing the funds needed to kick-start the long overdue update of the Waterbird Population Estimates and the establishment of the global Waterbird Estimates Partnership. As one of the leading partners in these initiatives, Wetlands International thanks Australia for this very timely donation and urges other countries to come forward to fill the remaining funding gap.”