Illegal Bird Hunting in the Mediterranean Region

Five years before this deadline expires, a newly conducted study now assesses whether governments are on track to meet the RSP targets.

The authors also provide concrete recommendations.

Ten years ago, BirdLife International published a widely noted study showing that approximately 25 million birds are illegally killed per year in the Mediterranean region. After intensive land use, hunting and poaching thus represent the second greatest threat to birdlife. In 2019, numerous countries in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East therefore committed, under the Bern Convention and the «Rome Strategic Plan» (RSP) of the Bonn Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), to pursuing a zero-tolerance policy regarding poaching and to reducing the illegal killing of birds by at least 50% by 2030.

At the halfway point of the «Rome Strategic Plan» (RSP), a survey of national NGOs and experts coordinated by BirdLife International and EuroNatur now shows that 83% of the 46 assessed countries are currently doing too little to achieve the RSP target. Concretely, this means that these countries will likely be unable to reduce the illegal killing of wild birds by 50% by 2030 — a commitment they made themselves. At the same time, progress is visible in some countries: in twelve countries, poaching has been reduced slightly to significantly over the past five years.

The study evaluated 46 countries, including a more detailed assessment of 22 Mediterranean countries where bird poaching is highest. Information was gathered using a two-part questionnaire completed by experts from national conservation NGOs, colleges and universities engaged in poaching research. The first part assessed national progress across six key thematic strategies for reducing poaching (political will and cooperation, monitoring, legislation, enforcement, prosecution and sentencing, communication and prevention), while the second part collected narrative responses on the main challenges and recommendations for combating poaching in each country. The analysis compared progress between 2015–2019 and 2020–2024, identifying trends and challenges for different types of poaching (shooting, trapping and poisoning) as well as for different geographic regions. 

The Situation in Switzerland

Although poaching is a less significant problem in Switzerland than in other countries, and the report therefore gives Switzerland a positive assessment, the issue must not be underestimated here either. Birds of prey have repeatedly fallen victim to dangerous poisonings by pigeon breeders. In recent years, several cases of trapping protected songbirds — for example using limed sticks — have come to light. Endangered species remain legally huntable in Switzerland. Finally, it should be noted that politicians and lobby groups are making efforts to weaken the hunting law, for instance by seeking to reclassify protected species as huntable. Taken together, the inadequate level of protection in Switzerland means that the country's Red Lists are proportionally longer than those of all its neighbouring countries. 

Efforts Must Be Intensified

The conclusion of the BirdLife International and EuroNatur report: «To achieve a change of course in the remaining five years, a clear and sustained strengthening of political will, greater investment and stricter enforcement on the part of many national governments will be required.» 

Dr. Barend van Gemerden, Coordinator of the Global Flyways Programme at BirdLife International, states: «The illegal killing of birds is not only a crime, but a tragedy that threatens birds across entire migratory routes. A high level of illegal killing in one country can undo the conservation achievements of another country. We urgently need stronger, coordinated and cross-border measures along the entire migratory route. Reaching the 2030 target is a great challenge, but not an impossible one.»