UPDATE on illegal bird trapping activity in Cyprus

Moreover, in 1988, Cyprus ratified the 1979 Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, adopting a long list of birds as protected, including the Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), hence prohibiting the killing (hunting) and consumption of Blackcaps (Blackcaps are the main target species of illegal bird trapping in autumn in Cyprus). [...] The surveillance programme follows a ‘Bird Trapping Monitoring Protocol’ that was developed by BirdLife Cyprus and the RSPB, in consultation with the Cyprus Game & Fauna Service and the British Sovereign Base Area (SBA) police at the start of the programme. [...] Finally, BirdLife Cyprus would like to thank the volunteers that helped in the monitoring survey and the gathering of the field data in spring 2023. [...] Moreover, we call upon the Cyprus authorities to increase the fines for limestick trapping in Autumn, to abolish the list of 14 ‘less protected’ species and to increase fines for the killing of all birds to 2,000 Euros per bird, as it was previously. [...] Position paper presented at the Committee of Environment of the Cyprus House of Parliament during a discussion to change the legislation on the protection and management of wild birds and game species.