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TWENTY MILLION BIRDS ARE ILLEGALLY TRAPPED OR SHOT EVERY YEAR ON CYPRUS - IT'S TIME TO PUT A STOP TO THIS!

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A SAD STORY

"Sing a song of Cyprus, where songbirds go to die,

Four and twenty migrants, destined for the pie,

Tavern cash-tills jingle, and profit reigns - alack,

Twenty million birds a year who never make it back!"

(From the Proact 21st Century Collection of Cruel Nursery Rhymes)

Pickled Birds [Ambellopoulia]
...now you see them...

Pickled Birds

click ...now you don't!

Cyprus Map

[Zoom in bottom right-hand corner]

The information below and the links on the left provide comprehensive background on this grave problem. For those who consider themselves fully informed go direct to the .....

PROACT CYPRUS CAMPAIGN

..... otherwise read on.

THE SITUATION

Despite the harmonisation of, inter alia, hunting and environmental legislation in preparation for entry into the European Union, some 12.5 million birds were illegally trapped in the year 2000 - mainly for consumption as delicacies - and a further 7.5 million birds were shot. Almost all of these birds are protected species, some of them rare, and the illegal trapping and shooting is at its worst during spring and autumn migration periods.

With legislation in place what is the problem?

As in other Mediterranean countries the problem is a combination of lack of political will (corruption, fear of losing hunters' votes, inefficiency and disinterest in a fringe problem); strong traditions based originally on diet supplementation - the proverbial 'Manna from Heaven'; poor or deficient environmental education; and, inevitably, powerful financial interests. The (black market and therefore tax-free) annual turnover is estimated to be between $US12 and 20 million.

The problem is well documented and, for those interested in further details, the 'More Info' page (link on the left) provides a small but varied selection of information.

THE PROACT CAMPAIGN

Proact has been approached by local conservationists, principally the Cyprus Conservation Foundation (CCF), to assist in tackling the problem. Our role is to:

a. Mobilise our birding and conservation contacts worldwide - and encourage them to pass on the word.

b. Maximise publicity of the problem in the rest of Europe and the world.

c. Increase the external pressure on the Cyprus Government to initiate robust and effective implementation of current legislation.

d. Remind the Cyprus Government of the need to move rapidly towards introduction of, and ensure compliance with, full European environmental legislation: The Bird Directive.

e. Put pressure on the British Government to play its part by initiating, through its diplomatic and military representatives on Cyprus, cooperation with the Cyprus authorities to stop massive flouting of the law within the British Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs).


A number of texts for letters of protest or support are available, with addresses or contact details, at .....

PROACT CYPRUS CAMPAIGN

PROACT MAIN

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