Illegal killing, trapping and trade of birds

1. Illegal killing, trapping and trade of birds 14 October 2011 • Still a matter of concern • Open file in the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention for > 15 years (11/2009) • Illegal trapping, killing, trade, egg-picking, poisoning, stuffing… • International dimension • Primarily a responsibility for MSs • Law enforcement issue • But action at international level relevant • Migratory species, international trade… • Co-operation with the Bern Convention • Dialogue with FACE and BirdLife International • International conference organized by the Secretariat of the Bern Convention in Cyprus (07/2011)

2. Illegal killing, trapping and trade of birds 14 October 2011 • International Conference (Cyprus, 06-08/2011) • Attended by Contracting parties, Nature conservation and hunting organizations, experts, enforcement agencies… • Objective: Identifying the extent of the problem and priorities, providing an overview of the enforcement mechanisms, examining options to improve compliance, sharing best practices… • “Positive focus” aimed at solving problems • Presentations from CY, ES, FR, IT, MT, SK,UK… • Constructive atmosphere

3. Illegal killing, trapping and trade of birds 14 October 2011 • Main conclusions of the conference: • Encouraging experiences but still a lot of important concerns (e.g. poisoning, illegal trapping and trade) • Often more related to organized crime than to an old tradition • Multi-dimensional problem with ecological, legal, economic, social… aspects • Adverse impact on conservation, legal hunting, tourism… • No one-fits-all solution • Zero tolerance stance shared by everybody • Collaboration with NGOs can help • Need for “soft” measures: • awareness-raising, training, information sharing, political support, dialogue with stakeholders… • monitoring and reporting systems for illegal activities, prioritize action in hotspots… • Need for “hard” measures: strengthen law enforcement at each stage of the “crime chain” • Strong deterrent sanctions needed => Awareness-raising of judges and prosecutors needed

4. Illegal killing, trapping and trade of birds 14 October 2011 • Larnaca declaration: • Measures to tackle illegal killing urgently required • Need for law enforcement, education and political support • Call on involved parties to pledge for a zero tolerance and to act proactively • Draft recommendation to be submitted to the 31st meeting of the Standing committee: • General: • Develop communication strategies promoting dialogue between all concerned parties • Legal aspects • Apply a zero tolerance approach • Strengthen enforcement at each stage of the “bird crime chain”, including “end-users” • Co-ordinate efforts between concerned parties to streamline enforcement at all levels • Biological aspects • Improve the knowledge base • Establish a systematic monitoring and reporting system of illegal activities • Prioritise action in hotspots and break down the link between the demand for birds and the supply • Ensure the effective management of protected areas • Social/cultural/educational aspects • Strengthen the capacity of the enforcement and judicial authorities

5. Illegal killing, trapping and trade of birds 14 October 2011 • Which action at EU-level (in addition to MSs’ action)? • Better characterize the issue and get MSs’ views => on-going contract • Collect and share best practices => on-going contract • EU-TWIX tool (EUTrade in WildlifeInformation eXchange) = internet-based tool to facilitate information exchange and co-operation between law enforcement officials. Are MSs interested? • LIFE+ projects (already good examples) • Awareness-raising, capacity building and sharing best practices: • Topic proposed to the EU Forum of Judges for the Environment for their annual conference • Training session for judges co-organized by EC with EIPA on Criminal Law in environmental issues (2012). “Illegal killing” = one of the items to be addressed. • Topic to be possibly proposed to the EU network of prosecutors for a future seminar