The RSPB on Club Together

Ash, can you let us know what extra pressure can be brought against Malta and Cyprus (see thread on Turtle Doves). How can they thumb their noses at EU legislation in this way? Obviously the RSPB is involved in monitoring and helping local wildlife organisations but perhaps you could enlighten us further as to whether any progress is being made because it doesn't seem like it.

Hi Wherenext, apologies for the delay in response - I had an extended Easter break!

Unfortunately the Malta/Cyprus case is a very difficult one, as the delecacy causing the hunting is very much ingrained in local culture and I beleive was subject to Malta's negotiation into the EU. There is a lot of lobbying going on as we speak and although estimated numbers of caught birds were still unbelieveably high recently, they are on the decline, so progress is being made - this is largely due to the efforts going on around the British armed force bases to remove any shrubs/trees which attract the birds; preventing the gangs from setting up any lime glue in suitable places.

Unfortunately, as I'm sure you're aware, lobbying/legal efforts can take a long time before progress is made. But it is very much on the RSPB's agenda.  

I'll have to check out the Turtle Dove post!

Ash, can you let us know what extra pressure can be brought against Malta and Cyprus (see thread on Turtle Doves). How can they thumb their noses at EU legislation in this way? Obviously the RSPB is involved in monitoring and helping local wildlife organisations but perhaps you could enlighten us further as to whether any progress is being made because it doesn't seem like it.

Write your comments here...Any chance of a reply, Ash?

Essentially we are working very closely with BirdLife Malta, helping to monitor EU hunting legislation to ensure Malta complies with them. Furthermore, the RSPB supports BirdLife Malta to continue and build on its enhanced efforts to ensure that EU legislation is enforced and to stop illegal bird trapping and shooting.

The one thing that does stand out,is the way eu regulations,it seems ,on a lot of mainland europe are ignored/flouted where as we in the uk tend to go ott to implement them  

The one thing that does stand out,is the way eu regulations,it seems ,on a lot of mainland europe are ignored/flouted where as we in the uk tend to go ott to implement them  

It is indeed very difficult, but I do beleive the EU bird/nature legislations are very useful. Imagine if the EU did not exists, I'm sure there would be many nations not regulating nature/environment much at all. So it is certainly better than nothing. But you are right, it does need tightening up!

The one thing that does stand out,is the way eu regulations,it seems ,on a lot of mainland europe are ignored/flouted where as we in the uk tend to go ott to implement them  

I'm sure there would be many nations not regulating nature/environment much at all. So it is certainly better than nothing.

I don't think you need look much further than our own Government for evidence of that. 

The one thing that does stand out,is the way eu regulations,it seems ,on a lot of mainland europe are ignored/flouted where as we in the uk tend to go ott to implement them  

I'm sure there would be many nations not regulating nature/environment much at all. So it is certainly better than nothing.

I don't think you need look much further than our own Government for evidence of that. 

I'm afraid I need to stay politically impartial twitch , so can't comment! All we can do is lobby for saving & enforcement of the nature directives. 

Keep up the good work 'RSPB', yes its so easy to stray into the political arena, your presence is appreciated

The answer is for all Europeans to boycott Malta and Cyprus and holiday elsewhere

Great to see an RSPB presence here (I'm an ex staff member)

The answer is for all Europeans to boycott Malta and Cyprus and holiday elsewhere

Write your comments here...Exactly what we do, Oneputt, although I could be considered slightly hypocrtical as we still holiday in France and Spain which still have a long way to go. At least in those countries they do have more enlightened people and there is some sort of brake on mass extinction of birds just for the sake of it. I'm afraid curtailing the activities of the Knuckle-draggers in Malta and Cyprus is going to be a long and arduous job, and I applaud RSPB for trying to do something. The local enviromentalists need all the help and advise we can give them.