Migration-unlimited
The migration-unlimited working group is an international network for the protection of migratory birds in the Mediterranean region. In the network, individuals and organizations from all over Europe work on various projects in Malta , Cyprus and southern Italy . In Germany, the network is supported as a federal working group within NABU .
Projects
Northern Cyprus
In October 2005, the BAG (Federal Working Group) migration-unlimited began to set up a new cooperation for the protection of migratory birds in Cyprus. In the Greek-Cypriot south of the island there are already intensive project contacts between the RSPB and Birdlife Cyprus, and migratory bird protection is promoted through official and voluntary activities. In the north, protection of migratory animal species is in its infancy. In cooperation with the North Cypriot organization KUSKOR, migration-unlimited wants to advance the nature conservation and political process for the protection of migratory birds in the coming years. Above all, the regulation of the hunt is an important point of the work. Hunting takes place with firearms, nets and liming rods . The North Cypriot hunting law dates back to 1965 and was established by the English. The hunting season begins in November and ends in April - this means that animals can be captured during the bird migration season. Huntable species are primarily birds. It is estimated that up to three million animals fall victim to the hunt every year.
Migration-unlimited wants to achieve an amendment to hunting law and the designation of protected areas. In addition, a task force is to be set up to control the hunt with police means.
Malta
During the autumn migration in particular, numerous birds of prey fly over the island of Malta and become victims of illegal hunting here. migration-unlimited supports the Birdlife Malta camps, which have been taking place since 2000 , where volunteer workers monitor the train and document uncontrolled hunting and thus partially prevent it.
Southern Italy
Since the mid-1980s, NABU has been actively involved in the organization and implementation of camps to protect migrating birds of prey and storks on the Strait of Messina .
In April and May as well as in August and September, thousands of migratory birds fly over the strait between the Italian mainland ( Calabria region ) and the island of Sicily . In spring the birds come from North Africa and fly towards their breeding areas in northern Europe, in autumn the animals come from northern Europe and are on their way to their wintering areas in Africa.
The problem of illegal hunting has been almost completely contained in two decades of active conservation efforts. today scientific questions are in the foreground of observations. Careful data collection has been important since 2006 in order to be able to better assess the possible effects of the planned bridge construction. The NABU supports the local partners in their efforts to prevent the construction project.
Cooperation and funding
The work of the BAG migration-unlimited is supported by the Heinz Sielmann Foundation . On a project-specific basis, migration unlimited partly cooperates with the Committee against Bird Murder , for example in southern Italy.