Birds Of Eastern European Nations At Risk, Report Says
Friday, January 23, 2004

Four months before eight Eastern European countries are to join the European Union, BirdLife International yesterday issued a report saying that EU-style farming could kill much of Eastern European wild farmland birds. The report tracked a 30 percent decrease since 1980 in the number of farmland birds, comprising 24 species, in existing EU countries. BirdLife International attributed this decrease to EU farm subsidies, which it said lead to the destruction of wild birds' nesting grounds and habitats by encouraging the cultivation of every square inch of land.

Several species that formerly thrived in Western Europe were driven to Eastern Europe, the report says. The 15 current member states have less farmland birds than the eight newcomer states.

BirdLife International's Giovanna Pisano said, "These countries have got an immense richness in wildlife, but unless they are able to use EU money in a proper way we will see a massive decline in farmland birds and a massive reduction in biodiversity."

The report says the number of turtle doves in Europe has decreased by 61 percent since 1980, skylarks by 40 percent and lapwings by 63 percent.

While ornithologists acknowledged the progress being made in reforming the EU's common agricultural policy, they said that too little funding was available for rural development and conservation (Andrew Osborn, London Guardian, Jan. 23).

Copyright, National Journal Group, 2004