Alright, let’s dive into this report about how European countries are not doing so hot when it comes to reducing illegal bird killings by 2030. I mean, come on guys, get it together!
So, apparently, a bunch of countries signed up for the Rome Strategic Plan 2020 – 2030, which aimed to cut illegal bird killings in half by 2030 compared to 2020 levels. Seems like a good plan, right? Well, according to The Killing 3.0 report from BirdLife International and EuroNatur, most of these countries are totally off track. Like, not even close.
Out of the 46 countries analyzed in the report, only eight are actually on target to reduce illegal bird killings by 50% by the end of the decade. And get this, in nine countries, things have actually gotten worse since 2020. Seriously, what’s going on, guys?
Barend van Gemerden from BirdLife International is not messing around when he says, “The illegal killing of birds is not just a crime, it’s a tragedy that continues to threaten birds across entire migratory routes.” He’s calling for stronger, coordinated action across borders to tackle this issue. It’s a tough challenge, but he’s not giving up hope just yet.
The report points out that birds like the European turtle dove, Egyptian vulture, and European goldfinch are suffering because of these illegal killings. It’s not a pretty picture, folks. In fact, a study found that a whopping 38% of deaths of large migratory landbirds were due to illegal killings, often through poisonings. Shooting birds down is another big problem. Millions of birds are dying every year around Europe and the Mediterranean region because of these illegal activities. It’s a sad state of affairs, to say the least.
But hey, it’s not all doom and gloom. Some countries are actually making progress. Take the British Eastern Sovereign Base Area in Cyprus, for example. They managed to slash illegal bird trappings by nearly 90% in 2023. And Spain? They saw a 62% decrease in illegal bird killings from 2019 to 2021 compared to the previous decade. They even focused on stopping illegal wildlife poisonings, which helped boost the number of breeding pairs of Spanish imperial eagles. That’s some good news right there.
For countries that are lagging behind, the report suggests a bunch of actions they can take. Things like creating national action plans, forming task forces with enough resources, enforcing penalties, raising awareness, improving monitoring systems, and working together internationally to reach the common goal. It’s time to step up and take action, people.
Justine Vansynghel from EuroNatur is not messing around when she says, “The number of birds killed illegally each year remains unacceptably high. For many migratory birds, it spells death before they can even reach their breeding grounds.” It’s a serious issue that needs to be addressed urgently. Let’s hope that countries can come together and make a real difference in protecting our feathered friends.
