Malta Pages - How The Situation in Italy Has Been Improved
Most illegal killing of birds of prey has now been stopped in Italy. This has been achieved mostly through the actions of determined voluntary conservationists who have organised annual scientific counts of the raptors passing migration bottlenecks and have reported illegal killing to the police.
The campaigns have involved education and lobbying Italian Government at high level who responded by appointing an efficient unit of the Forestali (Forest Guard) to the task.
A festival has been started in southern Italy which celebrates the passage of migrating raptors and this has been incorporated into local culture. After a few, highly effective years' service, the Forestali may now be withdrawn and it is essential that regression be prevented.
The campaigns have involved education and lobbying Italian Government at high level who responded by appointing an efficient unit of the Forestali (Forest Guard) to the task.
A festival has been started in southern Italy which celebrates the passage of migrating raptors and this has been incorporated into local culture. After a few, highly effective years' service, the Forestali may now be withdrawn and it is essential that regression be prevented.
The situation has been changed by an intense combination of law enforcement and education over two decades supported and led by a variety of organisations both within and outside Italy.
In 1989 the Italian Government deployed a specialised heavily armed force, Corpo Forestale dello Stato, to boost local police. Operating from several vehicles including a helicopter, their effectiveness has been truly heartening to the conservationists.
In 1989 the Italian Government deployed a specialised heavily armed force, Corpo Forestale dello Stato, to boost local police. Operating from several vehicles including a helicopter, their effectiveness has been truly heartening to the conservationists.
This has been matched by an effective education programme run by Fondazione Mediterranea Falchi (FMF). FMF organises spring and autumn raptor protection camps and a spring festival to celebrate the migration. This festival has won acceptance by local people and been instrumental in changing traditions. Since 1997 the killing of raptors in southern Italy has declined dramatically.
FMF are supported by the Hawk and Owl Trust and other European partners through a cooperative project, 'Migration Unlimited'.
Hundreds of birds of prey are still killed or injured in Italy each year. If the Corpo Forestale are withdrawn there might be a return to large scale killings. So a window of opportunity exists to establish a tourist industry around the migration spectacle in beautiful surrounds.
It is vital for both Malta and Italy that we act on this chance to demonstrate that tourism can work. Please support this conservation effort and have a wonderful holiday at the same time.
To join the camps in Calabria or Sicily this spring please contact Dr Stefania Horne on derosa@care4free.net or phone 07957 611909 (FMF website: www.migrazione.it).
FMF are supported by the Hawk and Owl Trust and other European partners through a cooperative project, 'Migration Unlimited'.
Hundreds of birds of prey are still killed or injured in Italy each year. If the Corpo Forestale are withdrawn there might be a return to large scale killings. So a window of opportunity exists to establish a tourist industry around the migration spectacle in beautiful surrounds.
It is vital for both Malta and Italy that we act on this chance to demonstrate that tourism can work. Please support this conservation effort and have a wonderful holiday at the same time.
To join the camps in Calabria or Sicily this spring please contact Dr Stefania Horne on derosa@care4free.net or phone 07957 611909 (FMF website: www.migrazione.it).
