Komitee gegen den Vogelmord e.V. Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS)

Komitee gegen den Vogelmord e. V.
Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS)

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In court for bird protection

CABS successfully filed a lawsuit against the derogation to catch chaffinches in Italy
CABS successfully filed a lawsuit against the derogation to catch chaffinches in Italy

Where bird hunting and trapping are illegal, we work with the relevant authorities to intervene against the perpetrators, by bringing them to justice and/or ensuring that prohibited hunting equipment is collected. However, where hunting and trapping are permitted, we will, if possible, have relevant regulations checked by a court of law, to examine whether they are compatible with national or international nature conservation law. 

The basic prerequisite for this is that we, as an association, have the right to sue. Since the 1980s, CABS brought more than 30 shooting and trapping derogations before the administrative courts of Italy. Over the past 15 years in the regions of Lombardy, Tuscany, Umbria and Friuli, we have been able to prevent or stop the shooting of around one million chaffinches, bramblings, starlings and sparrows.

We also file complaints to ensure the EU Commission examines the relevant laws and regulations. If a violation of the EU Birds Directive is identified, infringement proceedings are initiated against the state in question, which can ultimately lead to proceedings before the European Court of Justice. However, the states often give in before and change the regulations to escape a penalty payment. We have already achieved it in France (Ortolan bunting trapping), in Spain (against the use of lime sticks), Malta (finch trapping) and Italy (finch and thrush trapping).