Illegal hunting in Lebanon (1 Viewer)

[Jos Stratford]

I don't care what country you're from. If you enjoy shooting/harming wildlife for the sake of it then there's something wrong.

Yes, a valid opinion, but we have hunters in the UK and in virtually every country in the world - the rights and wrongs of this are not at debate.

This thread is about the large scale illegal shoots that occur in one country, and the only likely way this can be tackled is through co-operation with the more responsible elements within the community of hunters.

 

[Jos Stratford]

...the question i need an answer for is this: WHAT CAN WE DO?!?!?

I would suppose those of you on the ground can probably answer this better than us - I would imagine a start would be to start a hunting organisation that has some prestige, an organisation that persons would want to belong to. With guidelines and standards, it could potentially lead to greater influence amongst others. I know some programs have had success in the Lebanon by simply going into villages and talking with hunters in areas near protected reserves, pointing out the need to protect certain species. Despite the words frequently expressed otherwise, most hunters are 'normal' people and are open to discussion. Work with these.

Maybe the better question is 'what can we as outsiders do to help?' A voice on the ground is far more likely to be respected and is far more likely to show respect in return, on both counts probably more effective. As Lebanese hunters, do you feel the presence of foreigners exressing concern is likely to be appreciated or resented?

 

[FXM]

Yes, a valid opinion, but we have hunters in the UK and in virtually every country in the world - the rights and wrongs of this are not at debate.

This thread is about the large scale illegal shoots that occur in one country, and the only likely way this can be tackled is through co-operation with the more responsible elements within the community of hunters.

Maybe I let my emotions get the better of me. Unfortunately you are probably correct.

 

[Salhab]

i wish foreigners would help us!!! we are fighting a losing battle on our own! we try to educate people in here but we have a lot of uneducated people, they dnt listen, they think that what they re doing is right! we are all against pochers and illegal bird hunters! speaking of illegal bird hunting, you should people see what they re doing with hares and porcupines! shooting 15 to 20 rabbits at night! this is becoming a disaster. we need help! we have our group on facebook called pro lebanese hunters and we re trying to educate hunters. but so far we are losing and honestly this is getting really fu**ed up!

 

[Irish Kite]

i wish foreigners would help us!!! we are fighting a losing battle on our own! we try to educate people in here but we have a lot of uneducated people, they dnt listen, they think that what they re doing is right! we are all against pochers and illegal bird hunters! speaking of illegal bird hunting, you should people see what they re doing with hares and porcupines! shooting 15 to 20 rabbits at night! this is becoming a disaster. we need help! we have our group on facebook called pro lebanese hunters and we re trying to educate hunters. but so far we are losing and honestly this is getting really fu**ed up!

Have you tried to contact the likes of CABS or Birdlife international?? - they have done stirling work trying to turn back the tide of slaughter in other Med countries. Even the RSPB might be able help as they do a fair bit of conservation work abroad!!

 

[XmaSpirit]

I do.

It is a minority of persons in the Middle East that are involved in the slaughter of these birds, there are also minorities that are involved in practical conservation. The vast majority of persons in the region however range from indifferent to unaware of the issue and, if we hope to encourage any move towards greater conservation, then it is these middle ground persons that need to be motivated as much as anything.

The route to encouraging conservation amongst these persons is not through broad blanket abusive comments such as 'the Middle East is full of inadequate men with guns as a penis extension' and 'a sad bunch of uncivilized wasters not worth helping', with added throw away comments relating to Saddam Hussain, the hope that Israel attacks and their treatment of women. I would suppose many in the region would find these types of comments as offensive as I do, hardly likely to endear them to adopting an agenda to protect birds as we might wish.

And for the record, I have spent months and months in the Middle East - including three times to both Syria and Jordan, along with visits to Lebanon, U.A.E., Oman, Iran and several other neighbouring states. By and large, birdlife is diverse and abundant, the highlighted issues are real, but absolutely not representative of the entire Middle East as the posts on this thread might have you believe. Add to that, if you travel through the region, you will encounter a culture vibrant and alive, a people overridingly warm and welcoming. Comments such as those made by Upstarts and Rollingthunder are simply those borne of ignorance, totally unhelpful to the issue in hand.

hey Mr. Statford!!!
i don't know how to thank you!!! i am Lebanese and i am a Hunter too!!! i do respect wild life and i am a friend of nature!!! i cannot neglect that there r many misrespects and illegal hunting practices in our country!!! but on the other hand and as you said before there is still a large number of ppl and hunters who respects the mother nature more than lot of those who pretend protecting it!!! thank you again for the best compliments heard from your side Jos!!! and i believe that your approach was very accurate and very true; therefore u may consider me as one of those who will be very glad to help reaching those mislead or blind minded hunters!!!
Education is the key word. You have been around in our region and surely you have noticed how rich our culture is; i believe that a little effort is more than enough to educate and give people the right info!!!
At the end "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Volunteer

 

[croak]

This was one long thread to go through.

I don't know if I can say anything more than what has already been stated. This has been a pretty longstanding problem:

http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/300/360/363/363.7/fareed/lebenv47.html
http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/300/360/363/363.7/fareed/lebenv48.html
http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/300/360/363/363.7/fareed/lebenv49.html

It has also featured on the news recently: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUZ4kRwQQsU (in Arabic), and a few years back: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI88V8RSPak (also in Arabic, but you can catch snippets of English and French).

The fact is, hunting is banned in Lebanon. As such, technically no one is allowed to shoot anything — while the exact opposite is happening. Were hunting to be legalized, with proper regulations, it could be properly enforced.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lo...find-little-protectionbehind-hunting-ban.ashx

I can't think of much to say right now, but if you have questions, I might be able to answer them. I'll have to admit my Arabic isn't fantastic, though.

For those who want to send letters and e-mails to the government, I found a 'complaint' page on the Ministry of Environment website: http://www.moe.gov.lb/Corporate/Complaints/Pages/default.aspx You can also find a phone number and address here: http://www.moe.gov.lb/Pages/ContactUs.aspx I don't know how much it will do, but it's worth a shot.

And I almost forgot: there's a petition by Animals Lebanon (which I am a member of) to 'enact national animal welfare and protection legislation'. I don't recall the draft law, and I am in a rush right now, but birds are most likely included.

http://www.animalslebanon.org/law/campaign