Description of tasks:
Anti-poaching volunteer with the international monitoring organisation Migratory Birds Conservation in Cyprus (MBCC) for part or all of the period 20 Sep to 20 Oct 2012.
The primary aim is locate and render harmless illegal limesticks, nets and electronic lures in cooperation with the Cyprus authorities thereby saving large numbers of migrant birds from capture and a lingering death. The activities are coordinated with BirdLife Cyprus and the Committee against Bird Slaughter (CABS).
Travel and Accommodation
All expenses (flight, bed, food, transport) will be met. Sex, nationality and age (over 18 years of age) are of no importance (but there are difficulties in getting visas for non-EU citizens). Participants should be in good health and prepared and fit for a full day in the field. An interest in bird conservation is essential but bird recognition is of secondary importance. The camp organiser, Mrs. Loosli from Switzerland, speaks English, French and German. The ability to communicate well in one of these languages is essential for the camp work. Knowledge of English, spoken by some three quarters of the population, is of course useful but not essential.
Operations
It would be wrong not to inform applicants that a degree of physical and moral courage is required in addition to the commitment to nature that all participants must possess. The location of trapping sites and freeing of birds is not just a pleasant walk in the countryside; it is at times not without risk as the illegal trappers make a lot of profit from their pastime and do not appreciate interference, especially by environmentalists Our organisation has not experienced direct physical violence in 18 years of operations, but verbal threats have been made against volunteers and vehicle tyres have been slashed. We take great care to avoid aggression in order to achieve a successful with our bird conservation efforts. Although liaison with the police is good, their support is sometimes inadequate.
Nevertheless it is a valuable and satisfactory commitment for volunteers - that is evident from the number of participants who return.
If you are interested please reply to this mail/announcement requesting an application form.
|
