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Mr. David Conlin
Proact Coord International
Marathonallee 16,
D 14052 Berlin
Germany
Dear Mr. Conlin,
GAME FUND
4 February 2002
1 am referring to your letter dated 13th December 2001, and forwarded to us due to competence.
1 would like to thank you for your letter regarding illegal bird trapping in Cyprus and the issues you raised. The following is a reply regarding different points you mentioned.
Legislation in place in Cyprus regarding the protection of wildlife and in particular trapping and liming.
Through the statutes of legislation the framework of hunting policy is set and measures include monitoring of game reserve areas (no hunting areas), managing the game species and protected species, patrolling to combat poaching, protecting and maintaining of biotopes, banning alllarge scale or nonselective methods of taking, setting bag limits, setting hunting permits (minimum legal age over 21), controlling hunting guns (only single or double shot allowed) etc.
According to the Cyprus legislation (Law no. 39/74, Article 15 and 158/1990) the use of nets, lime sticks, lights, traps, poison baits, tape recorders, electrical devices, artificial light sources, motor vehicles and any nonselective method of taking is strictly prohibited in Cyprus and violators are prosecuted to the Court. The game wardens and the police have been instructed to combat this illegal action and to prosecute all criminals.
New, more enforceable and strict legislation is under way to fully transpose the EU environmental acquis into Cypriot law. Measures will include higher penalties, fines on the spot for minor offenses, hunter education and public awareness and a more comprehensive approach in habitat protection.
The enforcement of legislation.
The Cyprus Game Fund Service assures that illegal trapping of birds is a major concern. in the last five years (19962000) the Game Fund Service has reported 1.070 cases of poaching including illegal trapping operations. Only in the year 2000, 241 cases of poaching were reported and prosecuted to the Court. Nets have been confiscated and destroyed by the Authorities. The people involved will be prosecuted to the Court. Seventysix (76) of these involved illegal trapping, liming, and netting. Within year 2001 326 cases of poaching have been reported, and 132 of these involved illegal taking with nets, lime sticks and tape recorders. (See attached sheet).
Harmonization with the European Environmental Acquis
Cyprus is now in the process to formally transpose the EU environmental acquis correctly and completely into Cyprus law, as well as to implement it in practice. Cyprus places great emphasis on the transposition of the two most important legislation regarding nature protection: The Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and the Birds Directive (79/409/EEC). Work regarding these two Directives is well in progress and preliminary "Natura 2000" sites have been proposed to the European Commission. Cyprus' proposals include all Important Bird Areas (IBAs) identified by BirdLife International in their latest publication (No. 8 Important Bird Areas in Europe: Priority sites for conservation by M F. Heath and MI. Evans, 2000, Vol. 2: Southern Europe).
No hunting areas (Game reserves)
Among other measures game management and wildlife management in Cyprus is set with the designation of Game Reserve areas (no hunting areas). Other sustainability measures include the monitoring of bag limits, regulation of the hunting season, etc. Game Reserves (no hunting areas) are well interspersed all over the hunting areas to ensure sustainability objectives. The total area designated as Game Reserves amounts to about 35% of the Government controlled surface area.
It is recognized that a problem with illegal trapping of birds does exist. The situation though is handled as a major concern by the Republic and we perceive to eliminate this illegal activity. We also believe that harmonization with the EU will act as a catalyst to fully stop this practice. New, more enforceable and strict legislation is under way to fully transpose the EU environmental acquis into Cypriot law. Measures will include higher penalties, fines on the spot for minor offenses, hunter education, public awareness and a more comprehensive approach in habitat protection.
Signed
for Director of the Game Fund Service
Poaching and illegal trapping cases reported by
the Game Fund Service (Ministry of Interior)
in Cyprus for the years 2000 and 2001 (to 11.11.2001)
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A/A
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Year
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District
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Total poaching
cases
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Cases involving illegal trapping, netting, liming or use of illegal devices
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1
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2000
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Lefkosia (Nicosia)
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52
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16
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2
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Lemessos (Limassol)
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50
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7
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3
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Larnaca
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62
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25
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4
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Ammochostos (Famagusta)
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18
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15
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5
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Paphos
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59
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13
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|
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Total
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241
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76
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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1
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2001
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Lefkosia (Nicosia)
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52
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9
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2
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Lemessos (Limassol)
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57
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10
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3
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Larnaca
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97
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53
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4
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Ammochostos (Famagusta)
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50
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46
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5
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Paphos
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70
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14
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Total
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326
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132
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Proact comments: Reports from Cyprus are usually full of praise for the Game Fund; less so for their political masters who are not as forthcoming with their backing as they claim in statements for foreign consumption. The votes of the traditional conservative hunters play a major role here. As on Malta a public debate, with more participation by the younger, more environmentally conscious generation, would be of great help to the campaign.
YOUR LETTERS WILL HELP!
David Conlin
Proact International
23 February 2002
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