The Intergovernmental Task Force on Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in the Mediterranean (MIKT) has been convened by the CMS Secretariat in conjunction with the Secretariat of AEWA, the Raptors MOU Coordinating Unit and the African-Eurasian Migratory Landbirds Action Plan (AEMLAP) Working Group. It brings together governmental representatives of CMS Parties around the Mediterranean, including the European Union and other interested parties. Representatives from non-CMS Parties as well as relevant international organizations and networks are also part of MIKT as observers.
The Task Force has been established under CMS COP Resolution 11.16 (Rev. COP12) on the illegal killing, taking and trade of migratory birds to facilitate international cooperation as well as the implementation of the existing guidelines and action plans in particular the Tunis Action Plan 2013-2020 for the Eradication of Illegal Killing, Trapping and Trade of Wild Birds. It will also consider whether any new guidelines, action plans or other recommendations to respond to specific problems are necessary. Moreover, it will enable the exchange of information, training and education, law enforcement, deterrence and prevention to reduce the mortality rate among migratory birds.
The first Meeting of this Intergovernmental Task Force was held from 12 to 15 July 2016 in Cairo, Egypt. During these days, Governments and observers agreed on the need for stricter penalties, increased surveillance and improved law enforcement, committing to a zero tolerance approach to curb the massive slaughter of migratory birds in the Mediterranean. As a result, the Cairo Declaration on Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in the Mediterranean Region as well as a detailed Programme of Work (PoW) until 2020 were adopted. A scoreboard was prepared to measure the progress of the PoW. The scoreboard was adopted as Annex 1 to Resolution 11.16 (Rev. COP12) during CMS COP 12 in 2017.
Ensuring that national legislation is effective in addressing national challenges and it is properly implemented and enforced represents a key component of the MIKT Programme of Work. With this aim, prosecutors and investigators working on environmental legislation were invited to a groundbreaking Workshop for Government Prosecutors on the Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade (IKB) of Migratory Birds in the Mediterranean Region.
The workshop was organized in cooperation with the European Network of Prosecutors for the Environment (ENPE) at Valsaín, Segovia, Spain, from 9 – 11 May 2018. The training covered presentations on the research into the size and extent of the problem, the various motives of offenders, the techniques and equipment used in IKB, the expertise and international assistance available, the EU Wildlife Trade (CITES) Regulations and, most importantly, case studies of significant prosecutions and investigations into IKB from different countries, mainly from the Mediterranean Region. An article published on the CMS website provides further information.
While the specific measures needed to tackle bird crime will vary for each country, the Task Force has agreed to strengthen three key areas focusing on immediate measures from a legal perspective, continuous monitoring and conservation actions as well as increased awareness campaigns and educational schemes. MIKT is working as a catalyst to gather the information scattered amongst diverse international organizations, and helping experts coordinate their work, offering amongst other things a remote online workspace.
The Mediterranean basin is currently a hotspot for illegal killing and trapping and MIKT is the first Pan Mediterranean Task Force to be developed, having a distinctly regional focus and aiming to be replicated for other parts of the world.
The European Commission were recognized as Champion Plus for their generous support and commitment towards addressing Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in the Mediterranean for the period 2015-2018. This activity has been funded with the contribution granted by the European Commission under the Migratory Species Champion Programme and through the Global Public Goods and Challenges (GPGC Programme) Cooperation Agreements with UNEP.
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MEMBERS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN INTERGOVERNMENTAL TASK FORCE ON ILLEGAL KILLING, TAKING AND TRADE OF MIGRATORY BIRDS |
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1. Albania |
Mr Ermal Halimi |
Biodiversity Directorate and Protected Areas, Ministry of Environment |
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2. Algeria |
Mr. Mohamed Hadjeloum
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Chef de bureau de la Gestion et de la Protection de la Faune Sauvage Direction Generale des Forets |
| 3. Croatia |
Ms. Maja Polic |
Nature Protection Inspector, Directorate for Inspection, Ministry of Environment and Nature Protection |
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4. Cyprus |
Mr. Pantelis Hadjijerou |
Head of Game and Fauna Department, Ministry of the Interior |
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5. Egypt |
Mr. Luay El Sayed |
Coordinator of Wildlife Programme Nature Conservation Sector Environmental Affairs Agency |
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6. European Union |
Ms Marita Arvela |
European Commission, |
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7. France |
Mr. François Lamarque
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Chargé de mission pour les actions européennes et internationales en faveur de la faune et de la flore sauvage, Ministère de l’Environnement, de l’Enérgie et de la Mer |
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8. Greece |
Mr. Nikolas Bokaris
Ms. Helen Giakoumi |
Head of the Department Wildlife Management and Hunting General Directorate of Development and Protection of Forests Ministry Environment and Energy
Head of Department of Forest Protected areas and forest Recreation General Directorate of Development and protection of Forests Ministry Environment and Energy
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9. Israel |
Mr Simon Nentzov
Ms Ayelet Rosen |
Wildlife Ecologist and Coordinator of International Treaties, Israel Nature and Parks Authority Director, Division of Multilateral Environmental Agreements |
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10. Italy |
Mr. Claudio Marrucci
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Ufficio per la Cooperazione Internazionale Comando Generale dei Carabinieri |
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11. Libya |
Dr. Abdalbaset Hassan Abushiba Massoud |
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12. Malta |
Ms. Jessica Fenech
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Scientific Coordinator, Birds Regulation Unit, Parliamentary Secretariat for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights |
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13. Monaco |
Mr Ludovic Aquilina |
Chef de Section, Direction de l’Environment |
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14. Montenegro |
Ms. Marina Spahic |
Head of the Directorate of the Nature Protection Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism |
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15. Morocco |
Ms. Hayat Mesbah |
Chef de Service de la Conservation |
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16. Slovenia |
Mr. Andrej Bibic (CMS Focal Point) |
Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning |
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17. Spain |
Ms. Barbara Soto-Largo |
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MAGRAMA) |
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18. Syrian Arab Republic |
Eng. Ahmad Aidek |
Biodiversity, Land and Nature Reserves Directorate, Ministry of State for Environment Affairs |
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19. Tunisia |
Mr. Jamel Tahri |
Ingénieur principal a la Direction Générale des Forêts au Ministere de l’Agriculture, des Ressources Hydrauliques et de la Peche |
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20. United Kingdom |
Ms. Kate Brickett |
Head of Wildlife Management and Crime, Natural Environment Policy, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs(DEFRA) |
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OBSERVERS |
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Interested Parties [1] |
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1. Germany |
Mr Oliver Schall |
Division of Species Protection, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) |
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2. Portugal |
Mr. Joao Loureiro |
Head of Unit - Institute of Nature Conservation and Forests |
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3. Jordan
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Nomination pending | |
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Non-Parties |
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1. Bosnia-Herzegovina |
Ms Nada Mlinar
Ms. Vanda Medic |
Executive assistant for International Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Nada.Mlinar@mvteo.gov.ba |
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2. Lebanon |
Mr. Jeff Gerges |
Environment Specialist at the Ministry of Environment |
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3. Palestine |
Nomination pending |
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4. Turkey |
Mr Fehmi Arikan |
Expert - Department of Game Management GD of Nature Conservation and National Parks Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs |
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MEA Secretariats & networks |
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1. AEWA Secretariat |
Mr. Sergey Dereliev |
Technical Officer |
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2. Bern Convention Secretariat |
Ms. Iva Obretenova |
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3. CITES Secretariat |
Mr. Barend Van Rensburg |
Chief of Enforcement Support |
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4. CMS Secretariat |
Mr. Borja Heredia |
Head Avian Unit, CMS Secretariat |
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5. Task Force Coordinator |
Ms. Carmen Naves |
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6. Raptors MOU |
Mr. Nick Williams |
Head of Coordinating Unit |
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7. INTERPOL |
Ms. Cindy Chimal |
Environmental Security INTERPOL General Secretariat |
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8. UNEP |
Ms Lobna Ben Nakhla
Mr Harald Egerer |
UNEP MAP Regional Activity Centre, Tunisia Head of the Secretariat of the Carpathian Convention, UNEP's Regional Office for Europe |
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9. UNODC |
Ms. Olga Kuzmianok |
Programme manager of Global Programme for Combating Wildlife and Forest Crime |
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10. UNDP
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Mr. Yves de Soye |
Regional Technical Advisor, Ecosystems & Biodiversity, Global Environmental Finance Unit, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support |
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11. EU Forum of Judges for the Environment (EUFJE) |
Mr. Jan Van den Bergue |
Vice-president Court of First Instance, East-Flanders/ High Council of the Judiciary |
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12. European Network of Prosecutors for the Environment (ENPE) |
Mr. Angus Innes |
Senior Lawyer (Team Leader) Legal Services Reading |
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13. Europol / EnviCrimeNet |
Mr. Igor Jakupic |
Seconded National Expert (SNE) Environmental Crime Europol O24 |
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Advisory Bodies |
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1. CMS Standing Committee |
Mr. Øystein Størkersen |
Chair – CMS Standing Committee oystein.rune.storkersen@miljodir.no |
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2. Scientific Council CMS |
Mr. Fernando Spina |
Chair Scientific Council |
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3. AEWA Technical Committee |
Mr. Imad Cherkaoui |
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4. Raptors MOU Technical Advisory Group |
Mr. Andre Botha |
Chair Technical Advisory Group |
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5. Landbirds Working Group |
Mr. Olivier Biber |
Chair Landbirds Working Group |
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6. Flyways Working Group |
Mr. Taej Mundkur |
Chair Flyways Working Group |
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7. Tour du Valat
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Ms. Laura Dami |
Project Leader - Waterbirds monitoring in the Mediterranean region |
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8. CMS Preventing Poisoning Working Group
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Mr. David de la Bodega
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Coordinator (interim)
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| NGOs | ||
| 1. BirdLife International | Ms. Nicola Crockford |
International Policy Officer |
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2. CABS (Committee against Bird Slaughter) |
Ms. Andrea Rutigliano | Enforcement Officer cabs.italia@komitee.de |
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3. EURONATUR |
Mr. Stefan Ferger |
Project Management |
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4. FACE (European Hunter's Federation) |
Mr. David Scallan | Director of Conservation (acting) david.scallan@face.eu |
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5. IMPEL (European Enforcement Network) |
Mr. John Visbeen |
Board Member |
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6. IUCN |
Ms. Catherine Numa | Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation, Málaga Catherine.numa@iucn.org |
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7. NABU |
Mr. Lars Lachmann | Birds Officer Lars.Lachmann@nabu.de |
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8. TRAFFIC (Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network) |
Ms. Vinciane Sacré |
EU-TWIX Administrator
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| 9. IAF (International Association for Falconry and Conservation of Birds of Prey) | Mr. Gary Timbrell |
Executive Officer
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[1] Terms of Referenceof MIKT states that representatives of Parties elsewhere in the African-Eurasian Flyway and beyond that wish to support the work of the Task Force can also be invited to contribute to the Task Force.
- Bonn Convention Text
- Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA)
- Plan of Action to Address Bird Trapping Along the Mediterranean Coasts of Egypt and Libya
- UNEP/CMS Resolution 11.16 (Rev. COP 12): The Prevention of Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds
- Resolution 11.16 (Rev. COP12) Annex 1: Scoreboard to Assess the Progress in Combating Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Wild Birds (IKB)
- Resolution 11.16 (Rev. COP12) Annex 2: Terms of Reference of the Intergovernmental Task Force to Address Illegal Hunting, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in Asian-Australasian Flyway
- Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MOU)
- Bern Convention Recommendation No. 164 (2013) of the Standing Committee on the implementation of the Tunis Action Plan 2013-2020
Another milestone in the action against illegal killing is the “Tunis Action Plan” of the Bern Convention. Following the principle of the “zero tolerance”, CMS and the Bern Convention are working closely to fill the gaps in their common and complementary actions against the illegal killing and trade of birds. - Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds (Birds Directive)
- Directive 2008/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on the protection of the environment through criminal law
- Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (Habitats Directive)
- EC Roadmap towards eliminating illegal killing, trapping and trade of birds
- Communication on the EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
- Cairo Declaration
- The Killing
The BirdLife Partnership presents this review based on the first ever comprehensive scientific study to quantify the scale and scope of illegal killing across the Mediterranean region. The results are gruesome. Despite legal protection, illegal bird killing is taking place at quite extraordinary and unsustainable levels. While many turn a blind eye, an estimated 25 million birds are being illegally massacred annually. - Illegal Use of Poisoned-baits. Legal Analysis and Investigation
- Legal Recommendations to eliminate illegal killing and taking of birds
This document provides recommendations from the experts attending the I European Workshop on Environmental Crime focused on illegal killing and taking of birds. This workshop was held in Madrid on 11th February 2015 under the project for the creation of a European Network against Environmental Crime (ENEC) coordinated by SEO/BirdLife and the RSPB and funded by the Criminal Justice Support Programme of the European Union. - Preliminary assessment of the scope and scale of illegal killing and taking of birds in the Mediterranean.
Bird Conservation International / Volume 26 / Issue 01 / mars 2016, pp 1-28 - Study on the implementation of Directive 2008/99/EC on the protection of the environment through criminal law
- ICCWC Wildlife and Forest Crime Toolkit [English] / [French] / [Spanish]
- The Massacre of Europe's Songbirds [Newsweek]
- The Balkans Bird Mafia [Birdlife]
- Bird Trapping in Egypt and Libya – Plan of Action Put in Place
- International Coordination Meeting Agrees on a Plan of Action to Address the Issue of Bird Trapping Along the Mediterranean Coasts of Egypt and Libya
- Bird Trapping in Egypt and Libya - Background, Methods, Scale and Legal Status of Bird Trapping
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Useful Links
- Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP
- Bradnee Chambers, Executive Secretary of UNEP/CMS [WMBD2016] [WED2016]
- Braulio Ferreira De Souza Dias, Executive Secretary of UNEP/CBD
- Jacques Trouvilliez, Executive Secretary of UNEP/AEWA
- Patricia Zurita, CEO of Birdlife International
- INTERPOL
- EUFJE
- George Aman, President of CIC
- Fernando Spina, Chair of Scientific Council of UNEP/CMS
