The AEWA Award 2005 goes to…
Mr David A. Stroud in the Individual Category and the Government of the Netherlands, represented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) in the Institutional Category were the winners chosen to receive the AEWA Waterbird Conservation Award 2005, which was presented at the opening ceremony of the 3rd Session of the Meeting of the Parties on 23 October 2005 (Dakar, Senegal). The award is for their outstanding contributions to the development and implementation of the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement, as decided by the Standing Committee at its meeting on 4-5 July 2005. In addition, Dr Gerard C. Boere was declared Honorary Patron of AEWA for his crucial role in the process of drafting and negotiating the Agreement.
Promoting public awareness is an essential element of conservation work and an area in which ASCOBANS has an important role to play. Unless people are convinced that porpoises are present in their local waters, that these creatures are worth saving, and that the animals’ existence is threatened, they are not likely to support recovery efforts.