Most Mediterranean countries, including parts of Europe, North Africa, and West Asia, are falling short of their commitment to cut illegal bird killing, taking, and trade (IKB) in half by 2030, according to a new study called The Killing 3.0: Progress on Eradicating Illegal Killing of Birds in the Mediterranean and Europe, which BirdLife International and EuroNatur released. The report confirms that Mediterranean countries are failing on the pledge to halve illegal bird killing, despite international agreements.

Under the Bern Convention and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), governments agreed to the Rome Strategic Plan 2020–2030. Nevertheless, the analysis discovered that 38 of the 46 evaluated nations—including 22 Mediterranean nations—are not on pace, with just five years remaining. Conditions have gotten worse in several countries, especially in the 10 to 15 countries that account for about 90% of all IKB cases.

Along migratory pathways, excessive levels of IKB in one nation might negate improvements in others, according to Barend van Gemerden, Global Flyways Program Coordinator at BirdLife International. He advocated for more cross-border collaboration and cautioned that achieving the 2030 objective is difficult.

Threatened Species Facing Severe Regional Pressures

The report cautions that particular bird species may become extinct without immediate action. The Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), the European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur), and the European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) are some of the species most impacted.

Every spring, hundreds of thousands of turtle doves are unlawfully shot in the western Greek Ionian Islands. Poisoned bait, which frequently targets other wildlife, poses a danger to the breeding population of Egyptian Vultures in the Balkans. Population losses are a result of the European Goldfinch’s widespread entrapment in North Africa and some regions of the Mediterranean for the illicit cage-bird trade.

According to BirdLife International, millions of birds are killed unlawfully each year due to overexploitation, including IKB, which is the second most significant cause of bird extinction worldwide after habitat loss.

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Bright Spots and the Need for Decisive Action

The report points to Spain and the Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus as instances of significant advancement despite the generally dismal situation. These locations show that sufficient funding, well-coordinated planning, and strong political will make change possible.

Still, Mediterranean countries are failing on the pledge to halve illegal bird killing, and experts warn that without immediate implementation of existing tools and guidance from the Rome Strategic Plan, more species could face irreversible loss.

Justine Vansynghel, project manager for EuroNatur, emphasized that although the first part of the Rome Strategic Plan created several instruments and strategies, the moment has come for their resolute execution to prevent additional ecological harm.

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