Filenews 30 November 2021
The signatures of 13,700 citizens calling for the annulment of the relaxation of the law on vine birds were handed over today by BirdLife Cyprus to the Speaker of the Parliament, Annita Demetriou.
Almost a year ago, BirdLife Cyprus launched an online petition in response to the amendment of the law on the protection and management of wild birds passed by the overwhelming majority of the Plenum of the Parliament on December 10, 2020. With the amendment of the law, the extrajudicial fine for the offence of illegal killing (with a shotgun or lime) of up to 50 birds from a list that includes 14 protected non-huntable species was reduced from €2000 to just €200. These species "happen" to be the main target of trappers and poachers, also known as ampelopoulia, over time. This is a development that amounts to a serious relaxation of the law, since now the fine is very low and not at all deterrent. Already from Birdlife Cyprus's field recordings for autumn 2021, there has been a clear increase in trapping levels, both with nets and limes.
Through the online request, signed by more than 13,700 citizens, BirdLife Cyprus asks for the immediate cancellation of the shameful amendment and the restoration of the fine to €2000, both for lime and shotgun, and for all species without exception, as provided for the rest of the poaching offences by the relevant law on the protection of wild birds.
A request for the cancellation of the amendment was also sent by the European Commissioner for the Environment in a recent letter to the Government of Cyprus dated 12 October 2021. In his letter, the Commissioner points out, among other things, that the practical application of the law is questionable, due to the difficulty of identifying these 14 species, and calls for the abolition of the extrajudicial fine of €200 so that the penalties amount to €2000 for all items.
The signatures were handed over by the Honorary President of BirdLife Cyprus, Mr. Anastasios P. Leventis, inviting Mrs. Demetriou to take action to increase the fine and to prevent Cyprus from being brought before the European Court of Justice on this matter. With the signatures, a letter was also delivered by BirdLife International, co-signed by 22 other Partners of BirdLife in Europe, who express their concern and call on the Speaker of the Parliament to take action to protect our common natural heritage.
