Latest bird trapping report highlights urgency for removal of ‘alternative plan’ and the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan

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BirdLife Cyprus completed its report with the latest findings of the on-going and systematic surveillance programme on illegal bird trapping for the autumn 2015 season. Based on the analysis of the survey data, 19km of net rides were active during the autumn season of 2015 within the survey area covering Larnaca – Famagusta and Ayios Theodoros – Maroni areas and more than 5,300 limesticks were confiscated by enforcement agencies. Based on the data gathered, BirdLife Cyprus estimates that over 2 million birds could have been killed across the whole of Cyprus in autumn 2015 from this illegal activity. Mist netting activity for autumn 2015 has decreased by 13% compared to 2002, a positive outcome comparing to the record breaking levels recorded in autumn 2014. 

Regarding the ‘alternative plan’ for the ‘selective hunting of blackcaps by derogation’ which was included in the Strategic Action Plan adopted by the Cyprus Government in May 2015, the European Commission has responded to the Republic of Cyprus stating that it cannot be justified according to the EU legislation. Dr Clairie Papazoglou, Executive Director of BirdLife Cyprus, stated “The European Commission has already asked a number of times for the removal of the ‘alternative plan’ from the Strategic Action Plan. The Minister of Interior committed himself in the Parliament to respect the decision of the European Commission. The Republic of Cyprus must finally withdraw the ‘alternative plan’ and implement the rest of the Strategic Action Plan immediately”.

The results from autumn 2015 show that the annual increases of the last five years in the levels of illegal bird trapping in the SBAs have been stopped. This is an important start which BirdLife Cyprus hopes will be the start of a significant decline in the near future. Significant efforts were undertaken during 2015 to tackle industrial scale illegal bird trapping, such as the acacia removal programme at Cape Pyla and the designation of SACs. Dr Tim Stowe, the RSPB’s (BirdLife in UK) International Director, said: “The SBA Administration is to be congratulated for taking important steps to tackle illegal bird killing. Approximately one third of the invasive acacia trees in the designated Special Area of Conservation in Cape Pyla, planted to attract migrant birds, have now been removed. Sadly, the number of birds illegally trapped remains unacceptably high and actions must continue to put an end to this illegal practice”.

Scientists from BirdLife International made shocking discoveries. A recent report The Killing published in August 2015 by BirdLife International revealed that 25 million birds are illegally killed in the Mediterranean every year. In this report the Famagusta area in Cyprus is shown to be the single worst area in the Mediterranean. The paper Preliminary assessment of the scope and scale of illegal killing and taking of birds in the Mediterranean published two weeks ago in the scientific journal Bird Conservation International presents a detailed analysis of the numbers and species of impacted birds, the 20 worst locations and why different species are targeted in each country.

These 20 places are found in just four countries, which include the Famagusta area in Cyprus. This indicates the urgency for a consistent zero tolerance policy and the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan Against Illegal Bird Killing, with no derogations. 

For the press release in PDF format please click εδώ.

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