WRITTEN QUESTION E-2336/98

by Angela Sierra González (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(27 July 1998)

Subject: Destruction of the habitat of the Bubulcus ibis in Arrecife (Lanzarote)

In May of this year the Arrecife (Lanzarote, Canary Islands) local council lopped some branches off trees which constitutes virtually the entire nesting area for a colony of cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis) which had established themselves in one of the city's parks. According to the Spanish Ornithology Society (SEO-Birdlife) there were approximately 100 nests in the area but as a result of the tree lopping operation the number of examples of the species may have been reduced by half.

The Bubulcus ibis is protected under various Spanish and Canary Island laws (Law 4/89 of 27 March 1989 on the conservation of natural areas and of wild flora and fauna; Royal Decree 439/1990 relating to the National Catalogue of Threatened Species, Annex II of which includes the species in question as being one of "special interest"; the Order issued on 14 September 1997 by the Canary Islands Government) and also falls within the scope of Directive 79/409/EEC(1) on the protection of wild birds.

Is the Commission aware of the above facts?

Will the Commission seek relevant information from the appropriate Spanish authorities in order to establish whether or not the birds directive has been contravened?

What other measures will the Commission adopt in order to ensure compliance with the above directive and to provide protection for the bird population in question?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(16 September 1998)

The Commission is unaware of the circumstances referred to by the Honourable Member. It will make the necessary contacts to establish all the facts and will certainly inform the Honourable Member of the results of its enquires.

Until further details are known about the problem referred to by the Honourable Member, the Commission is unable to say what measures, if any, it will adopt to ensure compliance, in this case, with Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds.

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.