UAE | Environment
Favourite hobby was a 'heinous ecological crime'
When the British stopped a favourite hobby, the bird population was increased in the country, a senior UK official told Gulf News.
- By Binsal Abdul Kader, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:45 October 21, 2008
Abu Dhabi: When the British stopped a favourite hobby, the bird population was increased in the country, a senior UK official told Gulf News.
The most grievous environmental crime in UK used to be committed by common people, not organised criminals, said John Clorley, the Head of Wildlife Crime, Enforcement and Management at Defra (UK's Department for Environment, food and Agriculture).
"The British were very fond of collecting eggs of wild birds; which threatened the survival of several bird species. People used to climb over the trees to collect the eggs and keep them at their home as a hobby," he said. It had been a strange British hobby, said Clorley with a laugh.
He spoke to Gulf News on the sidelines of a three day meeting in Abu Dhabi to conclude the Memorandum of Understanding( MoU) on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia.
Errant people
Authorities started to take strict action under environmental protection law against the errant people who used to destroy the birds, the crucial link in the food chain and ecosystem.
When several people were convicted for the offence, people started to abandon the 'heinous hobby' and in turn, bird population was increased all over the country, said the official.
The awareness programmes also played a major role, said Clorely.
He said the MoU, to be signed today in Abu Dhabi, is significant to protect those birds. "It is notable that within one year after first conference held in the UK last year, an MoU is signed. Normally it takes four or five years to reach an understanding for such protective measures," said Clorley.
The official pointed out that birds are essential components of the ecosystem that support all life on earth. By acting as pollinators and seed distributors they contribute to ecosystem structure and function. The decline in the number of vultures threatens the system of scavenging. "They used to clean up the carcasses".
He said his organisation is supporting foreign nations by sharing intelligence to prevent wildlife trafficking.
Valuable organs of wildlife are smuggled from ecologically rich countries like India, China and other South East Asian nations and reach the customers in the west.
"We have made special arrangements with those courtiers to prevent wildlife crimes," said the official.
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