 Under the patronage of the Ministry of the Environment, represented by Lara Samaha, Head of Department of Conservation of Nature Wealth, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon and the Middle East Sustainable Hunting Center, in partnership with their local and international partners Sayd Magazine, Bioland, Birdfair and BirdLife International, launched the exhibition “Spring Photo-Shoot” exhibition, in Ras Maska Al Koura in Badr Hassoun Ecovillage.  The Ministry of the Environment has today made a statement confirming the court summons of a citizen charged on two counts for infringements of the newly implemented Hunting Laws in Northern Lebanon: illegal killing of 217 nightjars (non-game birds) and proudly posted a video online showing the kill on the bonnet of his vehicle.  Richard Porter (BirdLife’s Middle East Advisor) the co-author of a new book titled “Birds of the Middle East” alerted Dr Ralf Speth, CEO, Jaguar Land Rover about the illegal killing of 217 nightjars (non-game birds), which was proudly posted online by a Lebanese poacher showing the kill on the bonnet of his Land Rover vehicle.  The international team of ‘Bird Guards’ (1) from the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) and Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) witnessed the shooting down of over 70 protected birds of prey and discovered 25 dead protected birds on Mount Lebanon near Beirut. An injured Marsh Harrier shot on the wing was also found by the conservationists.   We believe through collaborative efforts involving all sectors of society that we can make a real change not only for birds but the reputation of the country we love. Meet SPNL’s VolunteersVolunteers are welcome from around the world with strong educational backgrounds, passion for nature, previous experience in the conservation and community field is a plus. SPNL is looking for Volunteers that are ready to dedicate time for the love of nature. Past volunteers have included biologists, eco-tourism specialists, anthropologists, writers, graphic designers, and students.  “Being part of SPNL gave me hope that the environment and nature in lebanon are not forgotten. A lot of people care and fight everyday to protect the diversity and richness of our land and I am proud to be part of it.”  On 31 August 2017, Lebanon ratified the Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Mediterranean (ICZM). This protocol aims at reinforcing the implementation of the law to protect Lebanon’s environment (244/2002) which stipulates safeguarding our coast and our marine resources against pollution, as the Lebanese coastal line is subjected to myriad violations tampering with its water, its fisheries, its shores, its air, its natural sites and thus its cultural heritage.  Hurricane Irma has transported numerous species of birds far from their normal haunts. Significant storms like this (for example, Irene in 2011, or Harvey last month) often trap (or ‘entrain’) birds in their circulation, depositing them far from where they originated. We still do not fully understand many of the mechanisms involved in birds getting ‘entrained’ and then deposited by storms, which is one reason why Team BirdCast (and many others) are interested in sightings associated with these storms.  Approximately every 18 months a total solar eclipse is visible somewhere on the surface of the Earth. During previous total solar eclipses, numerous observers have reported interesting animal behavior—especially describing birds.  By Gui-Xi Young 5 countries, 11 partners (including 4 BirdLife partners, 4 governmental organisations and an energy company), 3.5 million EUROS and one enigmatic bird of prey – PannonEagle LIFE is an ambitious 5 year conservation project to keep the Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca soaring through the skies of ancient Pannonia. |
