Science shows that the Birds Directive already helped many birds to recover. However, BirdLife data also demonstrate that more than 40% of long-distance migratory bird species have declined in the last three decades and unfortunately are continuing to decline.

These include both common and rare species like the Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos and the Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus, that pass between Africa, the Middle East and Europe every spring and autumn. The new BirdLife campaign will try to raise awareness for this, and also help bird species, that often mistakenly are considered widespread, but are in trouble, such as the Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica, the Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus and the European Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur.

BirdLife welcomed the strong statements the Commissioner gave in favour of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. Misconceptions and attacks from the side of some stakeholders and politicians have to be overcome: Natura 2000 sites are not fenced-off areas, but form “living landscapes” aiming to reconcile nature protection and economic development.

Dr Clairie Papazoglou, Regional Director of the European Division of BirdLife International, concluded: “There are not separate crises, but one big crisis, we have to overcome – economy, climate and biodiversity are inseparably linked. We need a sustainable rescue plan for our planet. 2010 should be the year of turning the tide for the diversity of life”. 

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