Trends of wintering waterbirds in the EU 2025
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Biodiversity - Flyways
The European Union (EU) remains a critical wintering area for numerous waterbird species, many of which breed outside the EU. Monitoring these populations is essential for fulfilling obligations under the EU Birds Directive, the Ramsar Convention, and the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA).
This 2025 update, based on data from the International Waterbird Census (IWC), provides long-and short-term EU population trends for 33 selected species, including Annex I and Annex II Birds Directive species, as well as non-listed species.
Positive trends among Annex I species suggest that EU conservation measures under the Birds Directive are effective for many priority species. Declines in Annex II huntable species highlight urgent concerns for sustainable harvest management and adaptive conservation strategies.
