Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Conservation Measures for the Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola was concluded on April 30, 2003 in Minsk (Belarus), under the auspices of the Convention of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention.  Annexed to the Memorandum is the detailed Aquatic Warbler Species Action Plan, which identifies threats faced by the species and ways to address these threats. 

The Minsk Declaration of the Meeting to Finalise the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Action Plan called for the first meeting of the Signatories to be held no later than three years after the MoU’s entry into effect in order to asses the implementation of the Memorandum and review the Memorandum and the Action Plan.

In line with Minsk declaration, the first meeting of the Range States of the MoU took place on June 24-27, 2006 in Criewen (Germany). The meeting was hosted by Brandenburg Government and supported by the Flemmish Community (Belgium) and CMS. The meeting was preceded by Scientific Symposium which discussed contemporary issues in conservation of the Aquatic Warbler and provided significant input to the Meeting. 

As of July 2006, the Memorandum has been signed by 12 Aquatic Warbler Range Countries and 2 International Organizations: Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Senegal, Spain, Ukraine and United Kingdom as well as BirdLife International and CMS. Three countries originally identified as Aquatic Warbler Range States - France, the Netherlands, Russian Federation - hasn't yet joined the MoU

View MoU documents

Read Global and National Species Action Plans

Aquatic Warbler MoU Meeting in Minsk (2003)

Photo:  Lyle Glowka