Revenues from poaching are estimated to exceed €10 million per year, Pantelis Hatzigerou, Head of the Game and Wildlife Service, told the Parliamentary Committee on the Environment on Wednesday, confirming a report by environmental organizations.
Based on statements by Members of Parliament and guests at the Committee, it was noted that there are 5–10 “known and repeat” poachers operating professionally, who treat the cost of fines as part of their “operating expenses.” It was also argued that the penalties imposed are not sufficiently severe, while it was noted that a bill will soon be introduced to toughen penalties, including the confiscation of hunting weapons or driver’s licenses.
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In a second meeting, the Committee examined the impact of the actions of specific activist organizations and activists operating in the environmental sector, while also initiating a discussion on the need to further strengthen the Poaching Suppression Unit and the need to take effective measures to prevent and combat poaching.
The Committee Chair, ELAM MP Linos Papagiannis, at the start of the meeting cited a number of instances in which, he said, the police had failed to accept complaints filed by legal hunters or property owners against activists. Deputy Police Chief Michalis Katsounotos requested specific details regarding these cases in order to investigate what happened and provide a response.
ELAM MP Linos Hatzigeorgiou asked why testimonies filed against activists—concerning, among other things, trespassing, harassment, and surveillance. He also asked whether the statement made by the police spokesperson at the previous session—that all complaints against activists come from illegal immigrants—is accurate, to which Mr. Katsounotos replied that he did not have the data himself, but if the police spokesperson had made that statement, he could not refute it.
For his part, AKEL MP Nikos Kettiros referred to specific cases of major poachers who engage in repeated illegal activities. He cited the example of a poacher who was reported seven times in one year, was fined €13,500—which he paid—and was reported again just one week later.
She also referred to cases in which members of the Forestry Department were reported by the Game and Wildlife Service, noting that they “take advantage” of their position and the access granted to them.
The Member of Parliament for Almat, Litsa Drousiotou, in turn, asked whether there is currently any specific problematic behavior attributed to activists that is not covered by existing legislation. She also requested data on how many complaints against activists have been filed, and wondered—given that illegal immigrants are repeat offenders—what further steps should be taken to combat the phenomenon.
Yiannis Laouris, a member of the Direct Democracy party, said that the current penalties are not sufficient to stop poaching. “We believe that as the Environment Committee, we are spending too much time on an issue that needs to be resolved immediately,” he said, asking for suggestions on what should be done.
Responding to questions from Members of Parliament, Deputy Police Chief Michalis Katsounotos said that the police are required to enforce the law. He noted as a problem the fact that poachers do not pay the out-of-court fines, resulting in cases being brought to court, where smaller fines are imposed and payment in installments is allowed.
Mr. Katsounotos noted that police action on this issue this year may not have been as intense as in previous years, attributing this to a “difficult year,” with increased responsibilities for the police due to the Presidency and patrols related to foot-and-mouth disease.
Regarding the request to reinforce the Illegal Hunting Suppression Unit, Mr. Katsounotos said that there is flexibility and that the unit can be significantly reinforced by the Special Operations Unit (MMA) if necessary. “There is the possibility of temporary reinforcement based on information, complaints, and reports,” he said.
DISY MP Andreas Konstantinou proposed freezing the assets of poachers, since existing measures do not appear to be effective, to which Mr. Katsounotos replied that in cases of systematic, profit-driven activity, a property freeze order may be sought.
The Head of the Hunting and Wildlife Service, Pantelis Hatzigerou, said in turn that to stop organized poaching of vine birds, assets need to be frozen. Referring to out-of-court settlements, he said that the law stipulates amounts based on the severity of the offense. “The problem is that some people choose not to pay the out-of-court settlements, and when they go to court, they request that all cases be heard together, and the fine imposed is much smaller than the out-of-court settlement,” he said.
He noted that all cases of poaching are repeat offenses. “If they stopped when they were reported, we wouldn’t have poaching,” he said by way of example, noting that the out-of-court settlements have been very helpful in getting most ordinary people to stop poaching. “The professionals don’t stop,” he pointed out, referring to a specific group of poachers in Androlykos who, as he said, “poach hares every night. We report them every night. They don’t care. It’s been the same people for years. They’ve been reported many times, but they don’t stop,” he said, noting that a more drastic solution is needed. “We proposed that the director of the Game and Wildlife Service be able to recommend that the offender be stripped of his hunting rifle or his driver’s license.”
Regarding activist actions, Mr. Hatzigerou said there is a loophole in the law. “We will mourn victims if nothing is done. A hunter will pull the trigger,” he said, noting that the Service has drafted legislation to protect legal hunting.
A representative of the Cyprus Hunting Federation told the Committee that the Federation has developed close cooperation with environmental organizations. “We are not targeting activists. We want to ensure that hunting can continue,” he said. He added that they support efforts to combat poaching within the framework of the law. “We are the ones who bear the brunt of poaching,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the environmental organization Terra Cypria, Koula Michael said that everyone is equal before the law. She noted, however, that “any organization or individual taking action to effectively enforce environmental laws must be protected by the competent authorities and not targeted.”
He noted that the complaints filed by the Game and Wildlife Service stem from reports made by activists. He added that in cases where members of environmental organizations were brought before a court, they were found not guilty, while the poachers were convicted. She also noted that in all cases where activists were called as witnesses, they were deemed credible and contributed to the conviction of the poachers.
Referring to the recurring cases of poaching, she said that the penalties imposed are not sufficient to deter poaching and protect birdlife and game.
Marina Gregoriou, representing the Federation of Environmental Organizations of Cyprus, said that lawful and peaceful environmental activism is not a problem that needs to be restricted. “Freedom of speech and the right of environmental organizations to express themselves and highlight the problem must not be restricted,” he said, noting that the way the issue was brought before the Committee carries the risk of collective targeting of activists.
“Measures should not be considered without first documenting the problem,” he said, adding that active citizens help inform society and relay information to the relevant authorities. The key issues, he said, should be protecting the environment, effectively combating poaching, and strengthening inspections, staffing the Oulamos unit, and coordinating the relevant agencies.
Ms. Gregoriou also pointed out that it is already illegal for anyone to enter someone’s property and disturb them. “We don’t need an additional law to restrict activists,” she said.
Melpo Apostolidou, from the organization BirdLife Cyprus, said that if offenses are committed, there is a legal process in place to report them. She noted that the organization has been collecting data on the levels of illegal bird trapping since 2002, in accordance with the law. “We forward the data to the relevant authorities, the police, and the British Bases. Over the past three years, we have submitted 79 reports to the Game and Fauna Service and the police. Of these, 25 cases led to criminal prosecution,” he said.
He called on the Environment Committee to address Cyprus’s long-standing environmental problems, including poaching, habitat loss, and climate change.
He emphasized that the issue of illegal trapping is significant, noting that, according to data from the Game and Wildlife Service, illegal revenues amount to €10 million, and estimated that 726,000 birds are trapped each year in Cyprus.
When asked if he agreed with the figures presented, the Chairman of the Game and Fisheries Service said he disagreed with the estimate regarding the number of birds. Regarding revenue, however, she estimated that the amount could exceed €10 million today.
Ms. Apostolidou added that measures should be considered to impose consequences on habitual trappers, noting that the British Bases confiscate vehicles and weapons.
For his part, the Deputy Mayor of Paralimni, Kleanthis Koutsoftas, said that the Municipality receives numerous complaints about individuals who enter people’s properties, use cameras, and monitor them. “This causes fear,” he said, noting that the Municipality refers complainants to the police.
He also expressed “dissatisfaction” that environmental organizations are participating in the municipality’s consultations on development projects. “NGOs cannot act as competent authorities on matters of development and urban planning,” he said, prompting a reaction from the environmental organizations present in the room.
ELAM MP Linos Hatzigeorgiou referred to a specific organization that, as he put it, engages in illegal activities and, addressing the environmental organizations, asked if it bothered them that they were all being “targeted” together.
Efi Xanthou, from the Federation of Environmental Organizations, replied that the targeting of environmental organizations stems from the inclusion of this specific issue on the Environment Committee’s agenda by a particular party, with the agreement of another party, he noted, and not from the actions of other organizations.
In remarks made after the Committee meeting concluded, Committee Chair Linos Papagiannis said that he had submitted specific evidence to government agencies regarding the activities of a particular activist organization, whose members, he said, are paid a monthly stipend for their testimony in court, while presenting themselves as activists. “We will continue to apply pressure until this phenomenon stops,” he said.
Regarding the crackdown on poaching, Mr. Papagiannis said that there are very specific cases—no more than 10—involving all forms of poaching. “It cannot be considered a serious problem. They are known, they are reported, and we are aware of this,” he said, noting that meetings with ministers on the matter will follow.
AKEL MP Nikos Kettiros said that it has been revealed that the money generated by poaching exceeds €10 million per year. “Some people are getting rich. The relevant authorities must find a way to be effective,” he said.
Litsa Drousiotou, MP for Almat, made it clear in her remarks that no one is above the law. She noted that the issue of “repeat offenders” is a serious one. As she said, “the same individuals are being reported again and again,” pointing to a loophole in the law. “Some people are making huge amounts of money through poaching. This must be stopped,” she said.
Source: CNA
