Rapid Fire
Illegal Killing of Migratory Birds
- 16 May 2025
- 2 min read
A study highlights that millions of birds across the Mediterranean littoral spanning Europe, North Africa, and West Asia continue to be illegally killed despite commitments to halve such activities by 2030.
- Key Species at Risk: European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur), Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), and European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis).
- Widespread Non-Compliance: 38 out of 46 countries assessed are not on track to meet the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) Rome Strategic Plan.
- CMS Rome Strategic Plan: It aims to eradicate illegal killing, trapping, and trade of birds (IKB) in Europe and the Mediterranean.
- It targets a 50% reduction in illegal activities by 2030 compared to 2020 levels. The Plan builds on the previous Bern Convention.
- Bern Convention (1979): It is the first international treaty to protect both species and habitats, promoting coordinated conservation across Europe and parts of Africa.
India and Bird Conservation
- The National Action Plan for the Conservation of Migratory Birds (2018–2023) focuses on protecting migratory species along the Central Asian Flyway (areas between the Arctic and Indian Oceans).
- Under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, rare and endangered birds are included in Schedule-I for the highest protection.
- India has also signed non legally binding MOU with CMS on the conservation and management of Siberian Cranes (1998), Marine Turtles (2007), Dugongs (2008) and Raptors (2016).
| Read more: Convention on Migratory Species |
