CABS urged Cyprus parliament to support fight against poaching
In Cyprus, the conservation organisation CABS called on lawmakers to strengthen wildlife protection and support cooperation between non-governmental organisations, the police and state services in combating poaching. This was reported by Cyprus Mail ahead of a meeting of the parliamentary environment committee.
Dispute over activists' participation
The CABS statement followed comments by ELAM MP and committee chair Linos Papayiannis. He said he would not invite representatives of the anti-poaching group to an upcoming discussion because, in his view, their conduct had gone beyond acceptable limits.
Papayiannis accused the activists of reporting hunters who, he said, had valid licences and were hunting legally. He also claimed that in some cases activists stood in front of armed hunters, obstructing them.
CABS rejected these claims and stressed that its volunteers act within the legislation of the Republic of Cyprus while monitoring compliance with the EU Birds Directive. The organisation believes that yielding to pressure from ELAM and hunting associations could damage Cyprus' international reputation and nullify achievements in combating wildlife crimes.
Operation results and party positions
CABS president Karl-Heinz Kreutzer said that joint operations involving game wardens, police and non-governmental organisations have for many years been the foundation of the fight against poaching on the island. According to the organisation, its reports contributed to the conviction of 55 poachers.
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CABS also said that last autumn, as part of such measures, 1,621 bird-trapping glue sticks, 139 nets and 89 electronic bird-luring devices were confiscated. In addition, 1,286 live birds entangled in nets or stuck to glue sticks were released.
The organisation called on lawmakers to formalise and expand institutional support for anti-poaching operations, as well as strengthen ties between non-governmental organisations, the police and local authorities.
ELAM's initiative to discuss environmental activists and related phenomena was supported by the DIKO and DISY parties. AKEL MP Marina Nicolaou said that ELAM had initially proposed wording about the uncontrolled activities of activists, but withdrew it after AKEL's objections. In her view, the committee should focus on poaching rather than those who expose it.
DIKO spokesperson Panicos Leonidou defended the committee's right to hold a discussion, noting that not all such organisations are the same. The Animal Party called for a protest outside parliament on the day of the meeting, while Alma said the wording of the agenda item could predetermine the outcome of the debate.
