The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) has condemned the hunting of migratory and protected birds in private farms. Bird hunting is a popular sport in Saudi Arabia, but lately hunters have been resorting to new techniques where property owners rent their farms to hunters as a source of income. The result: […]
Tag: birdlife international
World’s largest protected marine area to shelter millions of penguins
As the only continent not permanently inhabited by humans, Antarctica is home to some of the most pristine ecosystems on the planet. Attracted by its fish-rich waters, some 46 species of birds, from skuas to storm petrels, have spread their wings to this largely barren, but far from lifeless, icy continent. But even on this […]
POLL: What should drive conservation action: morals or money?
In the debate, we explore the two sides of top conservation issues through articles written by leading experts in the field. In today’s debate, our experts discuss Moral value vs. Dollar value in nature conservation. Morality, not economics should be the basis for conservation By Tris Allinson, Global Science Officer at BirdLife International. […]
Wings over Israel: conservation challenges and second chances
Israel is one of the most important bird migration bottlenecks in the world. Twice a year, when the call of warmer climes springs nature into action, an estimated 500 million birds make their spectacular odyssey: amongst them, the entire global populations of Lesser Spotted Eagles (~100,000) and Levant Sparrowhawks (~60,000), the entire European population of […]
Mongoose on the loose in Tonga
For island habitats where the indigenous flora and fauna evolved in the absence of mammalian predators the threat of invasion is an ever present danger. There are numerous examples in Oceania where the sudden arrival of rats and other species saw a rapid decline in the indigenous flora and fauna and numerous extinctions. This nightmare […]
Iceland: Volcanoes, glaciers, hot springs and seabirds
Close to the Arctic Circle, the mid-Atlantic ridge emerges from the ocean depths onto land, creating a country full of geological wonder and amazing wildlife. If you want adventure combined with beautiful scenery and 24-hour daylight, Iceland should be your destination this summer! Iceland is revered by marine biologists around the world for its biodiversity, […]
POLL: Should France enforce the law protecting the Ortolan Bunting?
The French population of the Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana) has declined by 50-75% in the last 30 years. This, despite hunting of the species being forbidden by law since 1979. It was even made a protected species in 1999. However, each year, about 30.000 Ortolan Buntings are illegally trapped and killed during the autumn migration […]
POLL: Should the Golden Eagle continue to be protected in Norway?
Vigorous debate has erupted in Norway around a potential change in the protection provided to the country’s magnificent Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). A new proposal is due to be voted on in the Norwegian Parliament next week. Norwegian law has protected these and other birds of prey since 1968. The new proposal seeks to reduce […]