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<p>The Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) Administration has enacted legislation for the protection
and management of nature and wildlife[1], which protects wild fauna, such as marine
turtles, seals, dolphins and bats. Legislation also exists to protect, and regulate
the hunting of, game and wild birds[2], which includes provisions making it an offence
to use certain indiscriminate methods such as lime sticks or mist-nests to hunt game
or birds. All fenced military areas are protected from poaching, and in the wider
territory game reserves and special protected areas no hunting is allowed. Hot spots
for illegal hunting of protected species and hunting out of season have been identified
and are patrolled on a frequent basis by SBA police and environmental wardens. In
addition to normal patrolling activity the SBA Police conduct extensive seasonal Police
anti trapping campaigns, joint patrols with Republic of Cyprus Game Wardens, operations
to remove paraphernalia used for trapping and educational programmes with local farmers.</p><p>The
specific threat of illegal trapping of migratory birds is one of the SBA Administration's
priorities. Since November 2014, the SBA has removed 61 acres of invasive acacia bushes,
which are planted and used by illegal bird trappers at a cost in excess of €400,000.
As part of their enforcement activity the SBA Police continues to work closely with
non-government bodies such as the RSPB and BirdLife of Cyprus to tackle bird trapping.
The SBA Administration has also participated with non-governmental organisations to
endorse a Strategic Action Plan to counter illegal bird trapping, which brings various
measures together to tackle the problem. This plan is currently being considered by
the Republic of Cyprus. In the last two years, the SBA Police have arrested 62 poachers
and conducted 55 major bird trapping equipment clearance operations, resulting in
the seizure of 1,330 mist-nets and 857 lime sticks.</p><p>[1] The Protection and Management
of Nature and Wildlife Ordinance 2007.</p><p>[2] The Game and Wild Birds Ordinance
2008.</p>
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