OUR INPUT TO THE CONSERVATION

The Caucasus Region consists highly rich biodiversity, including its flora and fauna and high concentration of endemism, however most of it being lost at extremely high and alarming rate. Almost half of the original ecosystem have been influenced and threated mostly by human activities and other factors: 

• Illegal logging, fuel wood harvesting and the timber trade;
• Overgrazing;
• Poaching and the illegal wildlife trade;
• Overfishing;
• Infrastructure development;
• Electrocution; and
• Pollution of rivers and wetlands. 

These are major threats facing in the region and lead to habitat degradation, decline of species population and disruption of ecological processes and all contributing to the overall loss of biodiversity. Unfortunately, this is continuous process that requires urgent conservation actions. Active support and involvement of broader society in line with relevant green organizations is extremely crucial.

Having a strong background in conservation and good knowledge on conservation problems in the region, Birding Caucasus aims to be part of green actions in the region and provide its input us much as possible to play a valuable supporting role.

Our priority for 2018 and 2019 periods is conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Batumi Bottleneck:

The foothills of the Lesser Caucasus along the Black Sea Coast in Georgia forms on one of the world’s biggest bottlenecks for migrating raptors – one of the Important Flyways for raptors in the Western Palearctic; Over a 1,000,000 birds of prey pass through this region, during migration seasons. The flight here is very diverse, and at least 35 different species of raptors have been observed migrating through the region. Unfortunately, this migration process is disturbed by massive illegal and indiscriminate hunting, a deeply rooted tradition in the rural communities. Estimates indicate that every autumn between 7,000 – 20,000 raptors get shot, among them a high proportion of endangered eagles and harriers.