The war on birds in southern Europe continues, and so does our support for the organisations (and brave individuals) who put themselves in the way of the morally-bankrupt hunters and trappers who so clearly act OUTSIDE of European law. We’ve highlighted illegal hunting on Malta (eg here and here), then illegal trapping on Cyprus, returned to Malta this autumn, and now it’s back to Cyprus…

Martin Hellicar, the superb executive-manager of BirdLife Cyprus (whom we interviewed in April this year on the problems of illegal trapping of birds to produce ambelopoulia, a so-called ‘local delicacy’ consisting of pickled warblers and thrushes), has sent us a copy of a letter he has written to the Bern Convention Standing Committee.

Martin is allowing us to publish his letter in full to help highlight just how many birds are dying illegally in this part of the world. The statistics are shocking (while being wearily familiar), and I would urge any reader looking for more information to please go back and follow the links in the opening two paragraphs of this post.

Nicosia, 30th September 2009

Update to the Bureau of the Bern Convention Standing Committee on Illegal trapping, killing and trade of birds in Cyprus

Report by BirdLife International (represented by BirdLife Cyprus and the RSPB – BirdLife in the UK) and Terra Cypria.

With reference to Recommendation No. 90 (2001) on the Catching, killing or trading of protected birds in Cyprus (appended below)

 

The situation on the ground in the Autumn of 2009 looks very bad, first results from the ongoing BirdLife monitoring project show. The Spring 09 migration season seemed to provide some grounds for hope - with a reduction in mist netting activity compared to the spring of 08. But now that the main, Autumn trapping season has arrived, the trappers are back in force, particularly with limesticks.

Levels of limestick use detected in the main trapping areas during the four-week period August 31st to September 25th were almost double (83% increase) those detected in the Autumn of 08. BirdLife also found greatly increased evidence of limestick manufacture in September 09, often on a big scale. In mid-September, following a BirdLife tip-off, a Larnaca area villager was arrested with almost 1,000 limesticks in his garden “workshop”. The day after his arrest, the man was back making limesticks in his garden - indicating a strong market for his illegal produce. This points to a growing tolerance of limestick use, which, though illegal and highly damaging, is still perceived as “traditional” by a large sector of Cyprus society.

Mist netting levels in the first part of the Autumn 09 season were slightly higher than in the Autumns of 08 and 07. It should be noted here that netting levels in the Autumns of 07 and 08 were the highest recorded for five years – representing a serious reverse in the enforcement effort. Mist net use is taking place on a massive scale in the Pyla Range area, within the British Sovereign Base area (SBA). Up to three years ago, trapping had been minimised within the SBAs, but now seems to be making an unwelcome comeback. In the Republic areas, detection of trapping activity (with nets or limesticks) is increasingly hampered by the fact that trappers are now mostly active within enclosures (which BirdLife observers do not enter). This could be leading to an underestimation of trapping levels in some areas.

Enforcement efforts by the Cyprus Game Fund, the new Cyprus Police anti-poaching unit and the SBA Police continue, often in the face of violent reactions from the trappers. The SBA Police distributed anti-trapping information leaflets (prepared by BirdLife Cyprus and the Game Fund) to communities in the Eastern SBA this September. But limited resources mean all three authorities are seriously stretched. Political decisions are urgently needed both within the UK and Cyprus governments to throw more manpower into anti-trapping enforcement. UK government plans to use British Army personnel (under SBA Police supervision) to clear trapping paraphernalia (poles, pole bases, carpeting, etc) from the Pyla Range area in early October are a very welcome decisive action.

The Cyprus government needs to seriously and decisively tackle the problem of restaurants serving trapped birds as expensive ambelopoulia delicacies. This illegal practice – which has become more widespread and open over the last 3 years – provides the financial incentive for trappers.

The Standing Committee has an important role to play in maintaining political pressure on the Cyprus and UK governments over this persistent and intractable problem. We are at a crucial juncture in the battle to end the trapping, with the enforcement gains associated with the Island’s accession to the EU (an 80% reduction in trapping levels) now in serious danger of being reversed. Hundreds of thousands of migrant (and other) birds – including many threatened species - are still being killed by Cyprus trappers each year.

 

Appendix

Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats
Recommendation No. 90 (2001) on the catching, killing or trading of protected birds in Cyprus (adopted by the Standing Committee on 30 November 2001)

The Standing Committee of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, acting under the terms of Article 14 of the Convention;

Having regard to the aims of the Convention to conserve wild fauna and its natural habitats;

Recalling that Article 1, paragraph 2 of the Convention requires Parties to give particular emphasis to the conservation of endangered and vulnerable species, including endangered and vulnerable migratory species;

Recalling that Article 6 compels Parties to take the necessary and administrative measures to ensure the special protection of the wild fauna species specified in Appendix II, prohibiting in particular all forms of deliberate capture and keeping, and deliberate killing, as well as the possession and internal trade in these animals, alive or dead;

Recalling its Recommendation No. 5 (1986) on the prosecution of persons illegally catching, killing or trading in protected birds, which encouraged Parties to ensure the prosecution of persons illegally catching or killing birds or establishments commercialising live or protected birds;

Noting with satisfaction that since that recommendation was adopted by the Committee, many Parties took decisive measures to eradicate the illegal killing and trading of birds, resulting in a much more effective enforcement of the provisions of the Convention;

Noting with regret that, although Cyprus and the United Kingdom Sovereign Base Areas took some initiatives in that respect, enforcement of the legislation on killing and trading of protected birds is still poor, and sale and offering for sale of protected birds is still common,

Recommends Cyprus and the United Kingdom to:

1. fully implement without delay the obligations of Article 6 concerning protected birds;

2. put into practise, as a matter of urgency, the actions suggested in Recommendation No. 5 (1986) of the Standing Committee, paying particular attention to the following items:

• increase of the penalties for these offences, so that they may become dissuasive;
• increase of wardening in areas where birds are illegally caught;
• regular and frequent control of restaurants selling protected birds, ensuring prosecution of owners;
• prevention of importation of mistnets and prohibition of their possession without license, imposing heavy fines for their illegal possession and use;
• strict control of illegal capture, killing, possession, trade, sale and offering for sale of protected birds;

3. launch a wide information campaign to the general public on the illegal catching, killing and trade of protected birds, as well as on the need to conserve birds and their habitats.

BirdLife Cyprus is a registered non-governmental organization (NGO) that dedicates itself to the conservation of wild birds and their habitats in Cyprus. It was formed in 2003 through the merger of the two Cyprus Ornithological Societies and now has offices in Strakka, Nicosia.

BirdLife Cyprus is the Cyprus representative of BirdLife International – a globally active conservation organization that operates in over 100 countries and territories worldwide and is the recognized global authority on birds.
BirdLife Cyprus aims to promote the study and protection of the birds of Cyprus and their habitats, and to enable the citizens of Cyprus and other countries to play their part in achieving this goal.

The organization runs a number of campaigns and monitoring projects to ensure it can fight against activities that threaten wild birds, such as illegal hunting and trapping, and the destruction and degradation of habitats, with a particular focus on Important Bird Areas (IBAs).

Website: http://www.birdlifecyprus.org/

For a very well-written post explaining what limesticks are go to Dan Rhoad’s excellent Migrations blog.