Lebanon: a Haven for Migratory Birds Turned into a Death Trap
Situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe, Lebanon lies on the west side of the African Eurasian Flyway and is a prominent migratory route for birds moving between their breeding and wintering grounds every year. The country’s coastline, the Mediterranean Sea, the two mountain ranges parallel to it, and their thermal regimes provide a natural corridor for birds traveling across continents and serve as resting and feeding grounds during their long journeys.
With its diverse vegetation, habitats and ecosystems along the eastern Mediterranean, Lebanon is considered a crucial stopover for migratory birds. The mosaic of the country’s habitats including wetlands, rivers, and forests, is critical for many bird species that pass through during their seasonal migrations providing them with essential rest and refuel support.
Despite its significance, Lebanon has become a major hotspot of illegal killing and one of the most unsafe countries for migratory birds. This stark reality underscores the urgent need for targeted conservation measures, making it a high-priority country for combating Illegal Killing of Birds (IKB) in the Mediterranean. Combating IKB in Lebanon is complex issue due to weak legislative framework, its patchy enforcement and inadequate of sanctions for violations. Between the years 2012 and 2013, several official decisions and legislations were put in place by the Ministry of Environment after consultations with the Higher Council for Hunting to regulate hunting (opening and closing of hunting season, game birds, etc.), as well as the issuance and update of hunting licenses. Despite this legislative work, there is enough documentation to show that the illegal hunting and trapping of migratory birds outside of hunting seasons continues.
Additionally, the burden of monitoring and enforcing hunting laws, outside of nature reserves, falls on the shoulders of the Internal Security Forces (ISF) who not only lack funding, but also handle many other different duties outside of hunting law enforcement. This situation calls for the formation of an environmental police unit to regulate environmental infractions, including illegal killing and taking of birds, in areas outside of Lebanese nature reserves.
Illegal shooting and trapping of migratory birds have become deeply entrenched in the Lebanese society, often regarded as popular pastimes and recreational activity. This social acceptance, coupled with the income generated from these activities, complicates efforts to address and mitigate their impact on migratory bird populations.
Every year, an estimated 2.6 million birds are illegally killed as they migrate over Lebanon. That makes Lebanon the fourth most dangerous country in the Mediterranean in terms of the number of birds killed- this will have a cascading impact on the population of birds, especially the Red Listed Species. In fact, Lebanon is considered one of the top three countries listed for illegal killing of 55% of the 20 most illegally hunted bird species. For example, it is estimated that most of the world’s 10,000 individuals of Greater Spotted Eagles pass over Lebanon twice a year during their migration, with hundreds being shot illegally over the country. This species is classified as Vulnerable globally, and any efforts to conserve its populations could be hindered by their passage over Lebanon. A preliminary assessment of the scope and scale of illegal killing in the Mediterranean estimated that Lebanon was one of the countries with the largest estimated number of individual Dalmatian Pelicans (Near Threatened globally) illegally killed yearly, along with Greece and Albania. This assessment estimated that around 40 individual Pelicans of this species are illegally hunted yearly, from a population of around 12,000 that is already decreasing because of agricultural activities, energy production, pollution, and other forms of anthropogenic impacts.
Lebanon is signatory to a number of global instruments committed to conservation and protection of environment and nature and ensure its sustainable use. Among these instruments are the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and CMS Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MOU) and the Intergovernmental Task Force on Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in the Mediterranean (MIKT). Being a signatory to these regional and global conventions, Lebanon has a shared responsibility towards protecting migratory birds during their spring and autumn migration, managing actions to halt human-induced extinction of known threatened species, and ensuring recovery and conservation of species, threatened ones in particular.
Despite its vital role as a wintering ground for migratory birds, Lebanon faces several pressing challenges that need immediate attention. Urbanization, agricultural expansion, and deforestation are leading to significant habitat loss, threatening natural habitats migratory birds depend on during their journey. This expansion, and encroachment on freshwater ecosystems, have caused loss of wetlands, the extent of which is unevaluated and unknown. These complex ecosystems are known to be key congregation areas for migrating water birds in the country. Additionally, illegal hunting practices and unsustainable take of birds, including the use of mist nets, pose a severe threat to migratory birds. Many species are hunted for sport or food, disrupting their migration patterns, and diminishing their populations. Environmental pollution, such as pesticide use and litter, further harms both the birds and their habitats. Water pollution from industrial and agricultural effluents, degrading water quality and affecting both human and animal health. Climate change with shifts in weather patterns and temperatures exacerbates these issues, which can disrupt migratory routes and affect the availability of food and water sources. Desertification, drought, and other climate-related events are forcing birds to adjust their migration routes due to the scarcity of resources and suitable resting sites. Moreover, Lebanon’s ongoing economic crisis has led to reduced funding and fewer assigned law enforcement personnel, which resulted in weakened enforcement of regulations.
Addressing these challenges requires joint efforts among all stakeholders and a multifaceted approach. The United Nations Environment Programme, Regional Office for West Asia and the Ministry of Environment convened a meeting in Beirut last May involving non-governmental organizations, enforcement apparatus, nature reserves, international organizations, ministries, and Multilateral Environment Agreements (CMS, CITES the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and others).
Participants discussed ways to strengthen and expand collaborative efforts at national and local levels to tackle the illegal killing and taking of migratory birds, focusing on geographical areas identified as hotspots for illegal killing. They also exchanged what? on monitoring and collecting standardized data at the national level and key measures to restore and conserve habitats in Lebanon. All this coupled with raising public awareness and citizens engagement.
The meeting recommended the development of a comprehensive national roadmap to address the illegal killing and taking of migratory birds to strengthen coordination with government departments and ministries such as environment, agriculture, education, tourism, nature reserves, NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations), and citizens through Higher Council for Hunting. It also discussed the necessity to educate children and local communities about the importance of migratory birds and the need to promote environment-friendly practices to engage citizens and build capacities to report and monitor illegal killing and poaching activities; all this coupled with strict enforcement of laws and regulation against illegal hunting and habitat destruction is crucial for bird conservation, especially in key hotspots in Lebanon during migration season.
Conclusion
Lebanon’s role as a critical stopover for migratory birds underscores the country’s environmental importance and the need for dedicated conservation efforts. By safeguarding Lebanon’s diverse habitats and addressing the threats faced by migratory species, this avian haven continues to thrive for generations to come.
