Side Event

Taking off – birds as a trigger for action

Organizer
Ministry of Environmental Protection

Date and Time
21 October 2010 13:15 - 14:45

Meeting
Tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 10)

The Middle East, located at the juncture of three continents - Europe, Asia and Africa – is a region almost second to none in the world for tracking, researching and studying bird migration. The Middle East is a “bottle neck” for the migration from Europe and Asia to Africa and back. Once many soaring birds circumvent large water bodies such as the Mediterranean, Caspian, Black and Red Sea, they choose crossing points where the distance across water is minimal. The shortest route around the Mediterranean is to migrate through Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian Authority. With five hundred million birds migrating through Israel's skies twice a year, Israel can definitely be described as an ornithology superpower. Much activity is carried out on all levels, from the local to the international (regional), using the birds as a tool for boosting cooperation and action on nature and environmental protection. The proposed side event will present several leading projects in Israel focusing on birds and will include presentations, movies and other materials. 1. Regional action: Birds as Peacemakers in the Middle East - Interdisciplinary project comprising bird biodiversity, conservation, education and research Presented by: Mr. Motti Charter, Tel Aviv University Project jointly funded by the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection Environment in general, and migrating birds in particular, are very effective tools for people to people interactions.. Since the geographical area of Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and Western Jordan is small, migrating birds frequently cross borders moving from one country to the other. In 1997 it was decided to utilize the bird migration as a vehicle for cooperation between nations in the region and to emphasize joint educational endeavors for students in Palestinian, Jordanian and Israeli schools under the heading “Migrating Birds Know No Boundaries”. The goal has been to use birds as a platform to encourage positive interactions between the people and especially the children of the three nations. The activities include over ten projects dealing with bird diversity, conservation, research, education, and agriculture that emphasize full cooperation at different levels between Israelis, Palestinians and Jordanians, such as: • Using Barn owl and kestrels as biological pest control agents in Agriculture: The Jordan Valley, which includes areas of Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan, has undergone a massive agricultural expansion over the past 50 years. Modern agricultural techniques have increased yields markedly but have also resulted in significant negative impacts on the environment, such as decreased biodiversity and ecological imbalance. Modern agricultural methods depend heavily on the use of chemicals for enriching poor soil (fertilizers) and controlling pest plants and animals (herbicides/pesticides). Rodents constitute one of the most damaging groups of pest animals within the Middle East with damage reaching up to 35% of certain crops such as wheat. In the long-term, rodenticides are ineffective, costly and have severe negative impacts on the environment: pollute soils and water sources, damage ecosystems, and have secondary poisoning health effects on wildlife and humans. The danger to wildlife is particularly poignant in this region being located along a major bird migration route of global significance. The project is based on the erection of large numbers of Owl nest boxes in farmland (typically spaced at 200 – 400 meters intervals), a decrease in the use of pesticides, and creating a friendly environment for wildlife in general. After integrating this project into first organic, then non-organic farming practices, other farmers started placing nest boxes in the Jordan Valley, and later in other parts of Israel. In Israel it is mostly Barn Owl boxes which are erected in agricultural areas so as to prevent the creation of artificially high predator populations which might alter the ecology of natural habitats. However, to date, after switching from rodenticides to Barn Owls as a control measure, other wildlife species (e.g. Kestrels), some of which also prey upon agricultural pest species, have also reaped the benefits of the reduced rodenticide use and population numbers have increased to their normal levels. Birds of course “know no boundaries” and Israel’s raptors, including Barn Owls, move regularly into Jordan and the Palestinian Authority, where they are at risk of secondary poisoning and hunting. In order to preserve the advantages gained by the introduction of the birds within Israel, regional efforts must be made to reduce the use of pesticides and implementation of regulations and enforcement. Hunting and poisoning are of course significant causes of raptor population decline throughout the world, but are especially in the Middle East. Illegal hunting of birds of prey is widespread in this region, and there is mistrust of owls by some traditions in the region which consider them ‘bad omens’. In addition to hunting, secondary poisoning from pesticides and rodenticides is also a threat to these populations. Thus, an important goal of our Barn Owl Project is to raise public awareness about the usefulness of raptors and the benefits of environmentally friendly agricultural practices on a regional level. In addition to research projects, joint Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian workshops take place frequently in order to educate the three sides of the important of biodiversity, reduce pesticide use, and pest control. • Bird watching/ringing centers A network of centers was created in Israel. The project partners are committed to the preservation and conservation of the region’s avifauna. The centers work at several different levels including research, management, conservation, education, and eco-tourism. The creation of important birdwatching sites combines all of the centers’ goals by preserving habitat and increasing public awareness. These centers are also involved in multinational, regional (Jordan, Israel and Palestinian Authority) activities. A main goal for these centers is creating a conservation plan of important bird and wildlife areas. • Education Through migrating birds, it is possible to connect children from different countries in order for them to learn about the locations the birds fly to after leaving their country. For example, the children from the Middle East communicate via the internet with children living along the migration route - children from the countries where the birds nest in Europe and Asia and children from the countries where the birds winter in Africa make contact with one another. The goal of the program is to create an educational program that schools can use independently. The multidisciplinary educational program combined lectures, class work, computer use (internet) and field trips to view birds, enabling students to learn about the phenomenon of bird migration and biodiversity. Students receive hands on experience by using data from ongoing academic research, using the internet, and from field visits to monitor birds in their natural environment. The educational programs stress the exposure of children to many different aspects of environmental conservation and the importance birds play in our eco-system. In order to emphasise our slogan “Migrating Birds Know No Boundaries”, and to strengthen the personal connection between the Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian students, we created joint working groups in schools from the different countries, which will, initially, communicate via the internet and together track the birds using satellite transmissions and subsequently, will meet face to face during field activities. 2. Local action: Urban Biodiversity – Creating a new public infrastructure Presented by: Mr. Amir Balaban, Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel Project jointly funded by the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection The Jerusalem Bird Observatory (JBO) is the first urban wildlife site and nature center established in Israel. Located in the centre of Jerusalem, between the Knesset (the Israeli parliament) and the Supreme Court, the JBO houses the Israel national bird-ringing center and serves as an ideal site for conservation studies and research that monitor bird populations. The site is one of the few traditional birdwatching areas in Jerusalem that has not been harmed by development. For many years, the site lay in a state of neglect. But since 1994, the rundown site has been transformed into a natural haven. After it was cleared of refuse, walking paths were established and a gardening plan was implemented in order to attract a wide variety of birds, without damaging the existing vegetation. Tucked away from the bustle of the city, visitors are also partially hidden from the birds while seated in the tranquil bird hide. The JBO acts as a magnet for many common migrating and wintering birds and also functions as a sanctuary for many rare species. Visitors are invited to sit and observe the natural diversity of birds and wildlife that live in or pass through Jerusalem from the bird hide 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at no charge. But it offers much more than birds. The JBO provides the varied population of Jerusalem and particularly children living in various urban areas, with a unique opportunity to experience the environment first-hand. A brand new Visitors’ Center allows for indoor activities, a wildlife art gallery, movies and a resource library for teachers and educators. The JBO’s mission is to conduct ongoing bird ringing and research into birds and urban wildlife, to conserve open green space within the city for wildlife and birds, to educate the public about the natural resources in their own backyard, and to foster a sense of responsibility and stewardship towards the environment. The Bird Observatory offers a monthly series of activities to the general public, including: urban bird and nature walks in the city, bird ringing demonstrations, workshops and courses, a Bird Watching Club for children, educational tours and private tours for visitors from Israel and abroad. The activities around birds in Jerusalem set the stage for a broader perception of urban biodiversity conservation in the city. Among others, creation of artificial porcupine dens, activities to protect urban insect populations, and preservation of an area land-locked between residential neighborhoods and a highway, which is home to a herd of gazelles. Over the years, such activities throughout Israel have led to a Strategy for Conservation of Urban Biodiversity in Israel, currently being developed. This includes the establishment of a national database on urban wildlife infrastructure (urban nature surveys have been carried out in several cities), the creation of a consolidated policy for the planning and management of urban wildlife infrastructure, concrete urban projects, and forming partnerships between various stakeholders – local authorities, other public entities, environmental organizations and the local residents.