The RSPB on Club Together
Comments
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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!
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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.0 -
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!0 -
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.
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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.0 -
Great to see an RSPB presence here (I'm an ex staff member)
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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.0 -
Not the RSPB's fault, Ash, but quite frankly why Malta were allowed to demand continuation of their barbarcy as a condition of joining the EU is beyond me. What were they going to do if the EU said no? Organisations like the EU have to use their muscle to
protect wildlife and in this case and Cyprus they failed. This is not meant to take the discussion into a political sphere as CT can't go there either merely an observation of wildlife has been failed by those who could have protected them.0 -
The answer is for all Europeans to boycott Malta and Cyprus and holiday elsewhere
I agree, and we don't visit those countries, I wouldn't be happy there.
But, is the U.S.A. much better regarding conservation?
If we only travelled to countries whose conservation / human rights policies we agreed with, our travel options would be severely limited.
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Malta held a referendum to ban hunting in 2015, the vote went against by just over 2000 and this was regarded as a narrow margin. Lets hope the pressure can be kept up to succeed, it's a big cultural change in these countries. I expect we destroyed a lot
of species here in the past.0 -
Don't we live in a country that permits the shooting of threatened species such as Grey Partridge, Snipe and Woodcock? Are we not a country that has obliterated wildlife from most of its farmed land?
The RSPB and other wildlife organisations do some wonderful work to set an example both here and abroad but unfortnately the destructive forces are far greater.
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Couldn't agree more with last 3 posts. At least we do have strong representation here which was born out of the need to protect and 100 years later we're a lot further down the road than countries like Malta and Cyprus. We can only hope that they eventually
see sense. This won't stop the slaughter just like here but any brake on it is welcome. Small steps etc0 -
Not the RSPB's fault, Ash, but quite frankly why Malta were allowed to demand continuation of their barbarcy as a condition of joining the EU is beyond me. What were they going to do if the EU said no? Organisations like the EU have to use their muscle to
protect wildlife and in this case and Cyprus they failed. This is not meant to take the discussion into a political sphere as CT can't go there either merely an observation of wildlife has been failed by those who could have protected them.You are right Wherenext. I think it was largely wanted parts of the legislation relaxed on the grounds of a historical/cultural habit. However, they have clearly taken advantage of the situation.
May I point out that it is not to do with the Maltese/Cypriot governments, but of groups (gangs) trying to make the most of what is an expensive cultural custom - much like shark fin soup is in Asia. Saying that, not much has been done by those governments
to prevent it.0 -
Although we technically can gain free entry to RSPB reserves by being members of the CC we still pay our membership to both organisations as both give us immense joy.
Ash, can you do me a favour though. Ask your reserve managers to stop maintenance work when we're due a visit. We'll let you have a timetable of prospective visits if it helps!
Try across the bird nesting season (Mar - Aug), any maintenance work has to wait until after, you can thank the birds for that
Good tip Ash. We've been life members for more years than I care to remember & always try & visit a site when out & about.
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Hi Everyone,
Hope everyone's been out and about enjoying themselves this summer.
I just thought I'd let you all know that I will be leaving the RSPB in a months time, so get your wildlife related questions in before then!
But, don't worry! As we'll have another RSPB staff member joining the Club Together pages to get involved with the member's discussions.Ash
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We are looking forward to welcoming our new RSPB officer in the New Year. In the meantime, please remember to feed the birds in your garden this winter and don’t forget about the RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch which is taking place 28-30 January. Find
out more here https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatchLaura
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We are looking forward to welcoming our new RSPB officer in the New Year. In the meantime, please remember to feed the birds in your garden this winter and don’t forget about the RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch which is taking place 28-30 January. Find
out more here https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatchLaura
Write your comments here...Yes we are already doing our bit to feed the birds in our garden and protect them from slaughter by uncontrolled cats.
Cheers...............K
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Apologies for not making the link live, still getting used to the CT interface!
Absolutely right Micky, your Caravan Club membership cards allow one adult entry to our reserves. Would be brilliant to see any discussions/stories and of course, experiences that you all may have of our reserves/wildlife you encounter.
Write your comments here...Hj all thganks for that infro I was not aware I could visit RSPB reserves with my membership card. Cheedrs Colin H
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We are looking forward to welcoming our new RSPB officer in the New Year. In the meantime, please remember to feed the birds in your garden this winter and don’t forget about the RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch which is taking place 28-30 January. Find
out more here https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatchLaura
Write your comments here...Yes we are already doing our bit to feed the birds in our garden and
protect them from slaughter by uncontrolled cats.Cheers...............K
Just be careful of them thar Scottish Wildcats K & I don't mean any of those delightful kilted Ladies either !
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Hello everyone!
I hope you are all well and looking forward to the weekend. Don’t forget about RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch which is taking place 28-30 January. Find out more here https://goo.gl/2GFJsY
Happy birdwatching
Laura
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