Campaign for the protection of migratory birds in Lebanon
13.10.2021
To celebrate #WorldMIgratoryBirdDay 2021, nature enthusiasts gathered at the Horsh Ehden Reserve Bird Observatory to watch birds and remind everyone of the importance of joined efforts to protect birds and their habitats in Lebanon.
The gathering was organized in the frame of the WMBD 2021 and implemented in collaboration with ABCL, Lebanon Birdwatching Tours, Horsh Ehden Reserve, the Municipality of Zgharta-Ehden and Global Green Grants Funds.
The event was joined by the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland, Mr Przemyslaw Nieslolowski, Attaché of the Embassy of Austria, Mr Harold Zankl, delegate from UNSCOL, Mr. Michał Cygan, Major Ismat Yassine (ISF) representing Major General Imad Othman, Mr.Chady Yammine (Municipality of Zgharta-Ehden) and Mrs. Sandra Koussa (Director, Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve).
The territory of Lebanon is on the main route of bird migration from Europe to Africa and Africa to Europe. Due to the mountainous terrain of this country, migrating birds are an easy target for poachers. One of the reasons for this is that large birds need thermal air currents to fly. You only get thermals over land, so this funnels many species round the coast of the Mediterranean and over Lebanon while they travel to their breeding lands. It has been estimated that over 2.6 million birds are illegally killed in Lebanon every year affecting 192 species. For such a small country, it is almost the worst level worldwide.
Polish and Lebanese ecologists, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Lebanon, have been taking active steps to protect migrating birds for many years. For this purpose, we have organized several lectures at schools, implemented pro-ecological projects and held talks with representatives of the Lebanese authorities in order to signal the importance of the problem. The many years of efforts of the Polish facility in Beirut and local partners have brought tangible results. It is estimated that the percentage of killed birds in Lebanon is slowly decreasing.
We commend all the efforts over past years of Lebanese and international bird activists as well as of Lebanese Authorities especially His Excellency Michel Aoun, the President of the Republic, consecutive Ministers of Environment, Defence, Internal Affairs, Education and all members of security services involved in protection of migratory birds, the wonder and treasure of nature.
