Global Partnerships and Multilateral Agreements

Collaboration with our regional and global partners happens via various fora and working groups, including: 

• African Site Casework and Emerging Threats Taskforce (ASCET) & Joint Advocacy Action Task Team 
• Regional Wetlands Task Team 
• Global Flyways Policy Expert Working Group Meeting 

Regional and global engagement with key Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) is an important area of collaboration. Environmental Conventions and Agreements that the South African government is party to are also an important source of national law and policy. Our Policy and Advocacy Team and other staff, are a valuable partner to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) for preparation of positions, constitution of working groups, species action and implementation plans that are required in fulfilment of national commitments under key Conventions and Agreements, including the following: 

• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): BirdLife South Africa staff are involved in integrating Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) into international policy and championing nature-positive actions within the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
• Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS): provide vital data for international flyway conservation, working closely on frameworks like the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) and specific raptor MoUs to protect migration routes.
• Ramsar Convention on Wetlands: BirdLife South Africa staff are experts on wetland conservation and advises Partners globally on implementing the treaty’s mandate.
• IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Birdlife is designated as the official Red List Authority for birds. Our Science and Innovation Programme staff are responsible for assessing the extinction risk of South Africa bird species for the Red List, directly informing global treaties and environmental agreements