Pre-congress event to the 53rd CIC General Assembly

30 April 2006, Limassol

Akrotiri Lake

 

The CIC Migratory Bird Day – as part of the World Migratory Bird Day concept – was organised by the CIC Migratory Birds Commission in partnership with CMS (Convention on Migratory Species), AEWA (Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds), Cyprus Game Fund, FACE (Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the E.U.) as well as BirdLife and was attended by more than 150 people.

 

During the morning session a number of presentations were shared between organisations that many would regard as potential adversaries – hunters and bird protectionists. Niels Kanstrup, President of the CIC Migratory Bird Commission emphasized: “The overall goal of the event is to highlight all aspects of bird conservation. Migratory birds are a shared resource and in many regions they are under pressure from human society. It is our responsibility to safeguard birds and secure their conservation and sustainable use – a shared responsibility, so to say – just like the motto of the 53rd General Assembly of the CIC.” This spirit was kept during the meeting and it was sent as a signal for the following General Assembly.

 

The programme gave interesting information about Cyprus as an important stopover for many migratory bird species using the island as a step stone between breeding and wintering grounds.

 

The speakers highlighted the importance of international cooperation and the role of international institutions such as the AEWA having focus on awareness and education programmes, sustainable use and, more particularly, on the phasing out of toxic shot for waterbird hunting.

 

The European Sustainable Hunting Initiative – set up between BirdLife, FACE and the European Commission to safeguard the sustainability of bird hunting in the European Union – had also been presented.

 

Moreover, the meeting had special emphasis on the situation of avian influenza and gave a status of the present distribution of the disease, the role of migratory birds in the spread, and not least the need of systems of early warning and qualification of information. The connection between the development of avian influenza and hunting was highlighted, and it was stated, that hunting plays no role in the spreading of avian influenza. Hunters should be seen as partners in the monitoring and control of the disease, just as it was recommended that measures to regulate hunting is only taken after consultation with the hunters’ community. The lecturers expressed worry about schemes of culling of wild birds and eradication of habitats in the cause of controlling avian influenza. Such practices are most likely counter-productive and cannot be supported.

 

Often we are blamed that we put to much focus on migratory waterbirds and forget about the other taxons – connected to dry biotops – be that the birds of prey, the pigeons and doves, the thrushes, the passerines etc. Being in a region where the dry-land species are very important avifauna, the program reflected also the importance of these taxa.

 

In the afternoon, following a lunch at the Limassol Hunting Club, the participants visited the Akrotiri Lake, a RAMSAR site nearby Limassol and the most important migratory stopover on the island including a variety of wetlands with freshwater and brackish. More than 20 bird species could be watched e.g. ibis, stilt, harrier, bee-eater, ruff and sandpiper.

TIME	THEME	SPEAKER
10:00	Welcome / Introduction	Niels KANSTRUP, President CIC Migratory Birds Commission
10:10	Migratory Birds in Cyprus and the East Mediterranean area	Michalis MILTIADOUS, BirdLife Cyprus & Nicolaos KASSINIS, Cyprus Game Fund
10:25	Migratory Waterbirds and their conservation	Bert LENTEN, Executive Secretary AEWA
10:40	Sustainable use of migratory birds: the European Sustainable Hunting Initiative	Clairie PAPAZOGLOU, BirdLife International & Baron Gilbert de TURCKHEIM, President FACE
11:00	In the focus: Avian Influenza	Robert HEPWORTH, Executive Secretary CMS
11:15	Avian Influenza and waterbird hunting	Dr. Evgeny SYROECHKOVSKIY Jr., Vice-President CIC Migratory Birds Commission
11:30	“Vormsi, the Island of Woodcocks” - video presentation	Avv. Giovanni BANA, Head of CIC Italian Delegation & Massimo MARRACCI, CIC Italian Delegation
11:45	Panel Discussion	Convenor: Kai WOLLSCHEID, CEO CIC
12:00	Concluding Remarks and Summary	Niels KANSTRUP
12:30	Lunch & Excursion to Akrotiri Salt Lake