UPDATE on illegal bird trapping activity in Cyprus

BirdLife Cyprus calls upon the Government of Cyprus to implement the following recommendations: 1) The Cyprus Parliament to reverse amendments to the law "Protection and Management of Wild Birds and Game Species" and to restore the fine for the offenses of possession and use of limesticks and hunting of 14 protected, non-game species from 200 for up to 50 birds to 2000 euros for one bird. [...] The resources of the above-mentioned enforcement bodies are as follows: • Game and Fauna Service, the responsible body for the implementation of the Birds Directive and the equivalent bird national legislation, has around 210 game wardens in total across the whole of island. [...] Another issue is that, as seen from the on-the-spot fine data provided to BirdLife Cyprus for the period of July 2017 to December 2023 by the Game and Fauna Service, it seems that the higher the fine, the less chance there is of it being paid by the offender. [...] They were calling for various amendments to the law, including the reduction of fines for the use of calling devices when in use for hunting, the re-opening of the Spring turtle dove hunting season, and the legalisation of limestick trapping. [...] 31 Recommendations BirdLife Cyprus calls upon the Government of Cyprus to implement the following recommendations: 1) The Cyprus Parliament to reverse amendments to the law "Protection and Management of Wild Birds and Game Species" and to restore the fine for the offenses of possession and use of limesticks and hunting of 14 protected, non-game species from 200 for up to 50 birds to 2000 euros for.