Tunisia is set to host an international meeting from October 16-18, 2026, to enhance efforts in combating wild bird poaching and trafficking. The meeting, which will bring together ten partners from eight Mediterranean countries, aims to promote knowledge sharing and capacity building to strengthen cross-border cooperation. The meeting will focus on two key regions for migratory birds: the Balkans and North Africa. This strategic meeting is organized by the "Friends of Birds" association.
Millions of migratory birds travel along the African-European migration route every year, with the Balkans and North Africa being crucial stopovers. However, this journey is threatened by poaching and trafficking, with the exact scale of these crimes in many key areas remaining undocumented. This lack of data obscures the true causes of the rapid decline of many bird species. The "Friends of Birds" association emphasized the urgent need to reverse this trend.
The association highlighted that local civil society organizations often lack consistent digital tools and standardized techniques to effectively document and report these crimes. The upcoming workshop aims to bridge this gap by leveraging existing networks and enhancing the technical capacities of civil society organizations. This initiative is crucial in the fight against bird poaching and trafficking.
The workshop is a joint effort by the "Friends of Birds" association (AAO/BirdLife in Tunisia) and the Bird Protection and Study Society of Serbia (BPSSS), in close cooperation with the Tour du Valat Institute for Research on the Conservation of Mediterranean Wetlands, BirdLife International, and the General Directorate of Forests.
The meeting will focus on developing specialized skills and accessing reliable data to combat bird poaching and trafficking. By combining digital technologies and precise monitoring protocols, this initiative will equip frontline actors with the necessary tools to document and secure the passage of migratory birds. This will contribute to maintaining the global ecological balance.
The "Friends of Birds" association and its partners aim to create a sustainable impact in the fight against wild bird poaching and trafficking. The workshop will provide a platform for sharing knowledge and best practices in combating these crimes. This initiative is a significant step towards protecting migratory birds and preserving biodiversity.
The international meeting in Tunisia will bring together experts and stakeholders to address the pressing issue of wild bird poaching and trafficking. The outcome of this meeting is expected to contribute to the development of effective strategies for combating these crimes and protecting migratory birds.
Key points
- Tunisia to host international meeting to combat wild bird poaching and trafficking from October 16-18, 2026.
- The meeting aims to promote knowledge sharing and capacity building to strengthen cross-border cooperation.
- The initiative focuses on developing specialized skills and accessing reliable data to combat bird poaching and trafficking.
