PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The use of poisoned baits is forbidden under Annex VI of the Habitats Directive. However, their use is deeply rooted in many European rural areas, where predation by feral dogs and cats can impact economic activities. Hunters, livestock owners and shepherds, for instance, have used poison baits to kill predators to minimise the loss of hunting species, cattle or sheep because of predation. This practice presents a threat to EU biodiversity, and there is a distinct lack of public awareness about the impact of such illegal poisoning and a shortage of data. Poison baiting varies greatly from country to country, but it is considered to be more common in Mediterranean countries. Illegal poisoning greatly affects raptors and carnivores, especially scavengers.
OBJECTIVES
The overall aim of the Innovation against poison project was to implement, monitor, assess and spread innovative and demonstrative actions that significantly improve current strategies for combating illegal poisoning in the EU. The project selected pilot areas in Mediterranean areas with a medium-high rural population density and an economic reliance on rural activities, where both highly-endangered species and well-established local biodiversity conservation organisations with experience in fighting illegal poisoning were present; as detecting the presence of poison baits requires specialised work and knowledge (e.g. chemical analysis, canine teams, procedures for carcass removal). The project aimed to involve local groups (e.g. stockbreeders and hunters) in the fight against poisoned bait; promote legal sanctions (e.g. closure of certain hunting areas); and change social attitudes towards problems related to poisoned baits, such as the threat to public health and pets. Regarding the lack of awareness about the real impacts of poisoning, the project foresaw the development of a set of dissemination and training activities.
RESULTS
The Innovation against poison project sought to develop an innovative “participatory approach” to transform the main stakeholders (e.g. hunters, stockbreeders, and municipalities) into active elements in the fight against the use of poison. To this end, the project foresaw the creation of ad hoc volunteer networks. The project selected eight pilot areas in three different member states (Spain, Portugal and Greece) to demonstrate this approach. The idea was to compare the results obtained, to draw general conclusions so that the initiative could be easily replicated in other areas. To this end, a comprehensive monitoring system was designed.
The project directly involved 376 stakeholders in the fight against poisoning (119 hunters, 202 stockbreeders, and 55 municipalities). It demonstrated the potential of inspections by dog patrols in Portugal and Greece, by showing what they could achieve. It made a significant contribution to the creation of a National Working Group against poison in Greece, and helped raise awareness and created technical capacity in the eight pilot areas. The project contributed by putting the problem of illegal poisoning in the media and on political agendas.
However, the implementation of this project was hampered by several problems. These included: a lack of suitable coordination given the structural complexity needed; continuous changes in project staff; some methodological flaws in the project design; lack of an appropriate monitoring system; and major financial constraints. Therefore, the project did not achieve the full objective of demonstrating the implementation, monitoring, and assessment of innovative actions and tools to significantly improve current strategies against illegal poisoning in the EU. The lack of a demonstrative participatory approach meant the project missed its main innovative value, and limits the demonstrative potential of the project.
There are some plans for the maintenance of the networks created in Spain and Greece, but not in Portugal. The experience is replicable to other areas and transferable to other contexts, but the lessons learnt during the implementation of this LIFE project should be taken on board.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).
The Innovation against poison project sought to develop an innovative “participatory approach” to transform the main stakeholders (e.g. hunters, stockbreeders, and municipalities) into active elements in the fight against the use of poison. To this end, the project foresaw the creation of ad hoc volunteer networks. The project selected eight pilot areas in three different member states (Spain, Portugal and Greece) to demonstrate this approach. The idea was to compare the results obtained, to draw general conclusions so that the initiative could be easily replicated in other areas. To this end, a comprehensive monitoring system was designed.The project directly involved 376 stakeholders in the fight against poisoning (119 hunters, 202 stockbreeders, and 55 municipalities). It demonstrated the potential of inspections by dog patrols in Portugal and Greece, by showing what they could achieve. It made a significant contribution to the creation of a National Working Group against poison in Greece, and helped raise awareness and created technical capacity in the eight pilot areas. The project contributed by putting the problem of illegal poisoning in the media and on political agendas.
However, the implementation of this project was hampered by several problems. These included: a lack of suitable coordination given the structural complexity needed; continuous changes in project staff; some methodological flaws in the project design; lack of an appropriate monitoring system; and major financial constraints. Therefore, the project did not achieve the full objective of demonstrating the implementation, monitoring, and assessment of innovative actions and tools to significantly improve current strategies against illegal poisoning in the EU. The lack of a demonstrative participatory approach meant the project missed its main innovative value, and limits the demonstrative potential of the project.
There are some plans for the maintenance of the networks created in Spain and Greece, but not in Portugal. The experience is replicable to other areas and transferable to other contexts, but the lessons learnt during the implementation of this LIFE project should be taken on board.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).
