Millions of migratory birds are lost each year as a result of illegal killing, taking and trade (IKB), numbers that are totally unsustainable and which alongside other pressures such as habitat loss and climate change are leading to many species being threatened with extinction.
IKB refers to those activities that deliberately contravene national, regional and international laws. These criminal acts include a wide range of illegal actions such as shooting, trapping, poisoning, netting and liming. All the flyways across the world are affected.
Illegal activities are being practised worldwide undermining the sustainable use of natural resources and threatening biological diversity. The main incentives are subsistence uses, recreational activities, organized crime and traditional practice. The main aim of illegal trade of live specimens is use as cage-birds or decoys. At the international level, these criminal acts involve violations of intergovernmental treaties such as the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the African-) Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA), the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Under CMS COP Resolution 11.16 on the illegal killing, taking and trade of migratory birds, the Inter-governmental Task Force on Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in the Mediterranean (MIKT) was created in 2016 under CMS to tackle the issue of IKB and to facilitate international cooperation. It aims to be a practical tool assisting countries to take action to reduce or eliminate the problem of illegal killing based on a “zero tolerance” approach. In addition, MIKT enables the exchange of information, training and education, law enforcement, deterrence and prevention to reduce the mortality rate among migratory birds.
Roadmap towards eliminating illegal killing, trapping and trade of birds
(European Comission, rev 2017)