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The vast majority of countries in the Mediterranean littoral across Europe, North Africa and West Asia are failing to deliver on their pledge to halve the illegal killing, taking, and trade of birds (IKB) by 2030, a new study has found.
The study, titled The Killing 3.0: Progress on Eradicating Illegal Killing of Birds in the Mediterranean and Europe, has been brought out by BirdLife International and EuroNatur.
Bird populations have plummeted at shocking rates in recent decades. “Overexploitation, including IKB, is a leading driver of global bird extinctions, second only to habitat loss. Every year, millions of birds are illegally shot, trapped, or poisoned across Europe and the Mediterranean, undermining conservation efforts along the flyway,” a statement by BirdLife International noted.
Governments had pledged coordinated action under the Bern Convention and the Convention on Migratory Species’ (CMS) Rome Strategic Plan 2020-2030. But, with just five years left to reach the goal of the Rome Strategic Plan to halve IKB by 2030, progress is severely lagging, according to the study
The study warned that unless urgent action was taken, some species of birds could be wiped out forever.
These include the European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur), the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) and the European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis).
Tens of thousands of European turtle doves are illegally shot each spring on the Ionian Islands in western Greece. The Balkan breeding population of the Egyptian vulture is under severe threat from poisoning, often linked to the illegal use of poisoned bait targeting other wildlife.
Meanwhile, the European Goldfinch is declining in many regions. It is widely trapped across North Africa and the Mediterranean for the illegal cage bird trade.
The study assessed 46 countries, including 22 Mediterranean ones where illegal killing is particularly rampant.
They found 38 countries are not on track to meet their 2030 commitments. In many of the worst-affected countries, responsible for around 90 per cent of illegal killings, little to no progress has been made. In some cases, the situation has worsened.
According to Barend van Gemerden, Global Flyways Programme Coordinator at BirdLife International, the illegal killing of birds continues to threaten birds across entire migratory routes.
High levels of illegal killing in one country can wipe out conservation successes in another. “We urgently need stronger, coordinated, cross-border action across the full flyway. Reaching the 2030 goal is a tough challenge, but not an impossible one,” the statement quoted van Gemerden.
The study also noted that locations like Spain and the Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus were bright spots and showed that progress is possible with strong political will, coordinated planning, and proper resourcing.
“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. During the first half of the Rome Strategic Plan’s 10-year lifespan plenty of tools and guidance were developed to support national authorities. Now, it’s time to use them decisively to prevent further devastation,” said Justine Vansynghel, project manager at EuroNatur.