*Status Report on alternatives to shooting of migratory birds, e.g. investment in game bird breeding centers
*status Report on potential of alternative economic models to migratory bird hunting, e.g. bird- and eco-tourism ( bird watching )
The specific purpose of this project is to strengthen the enforcement of hunting laws and regulations and enhance more responsible and wise birds hunting practices in Al Jaboul Ramsar site and improve the hunters and locals awareness of the need to conserve birds and their habitat.
Capacity - Building Component
Under this project, a ringing station will be established at the site, aiming at understanding bird communities in the wetland, observation of migration behavior and direction and act as a unit for public awareness. The unit will be the first ringing station in Syria and shall be a demonstration and model for the establishment of other such stations in the country;
1. Syrian candidates will receive taining to be specialized licensed bird ringers
2. developed registered entity in the country to act as the focal point for ringing scheme ( SSCW )
3. Understand bird migration at the site ( behavior, numbers and flight directions )
on the other hand, a local team will be trained on monitoring of mal practices of hunting and other disturbances at the site. This team will act as unit on behalf of local communities to assist in site/ species protection and liaising with institutions in charge of implementing threat mitigation;
Notable Community Participation
the project activities include training a local team on monitoring of illegal and inappropriate practices of hunting and other disturbances at the site. This team will act as unit on behalf of local communities to assist in site/ species protection and liaising with institutions in charge of implementing threat mitigation;
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
the project will improve awareness among hunters and public of hunting legislation, impact, conservation of migratory birds and responsible hunting through development and distribution of education materials
Project Results
Improving the situation of Endangered Bird Species Project at AL-Jabboul wetland Site (a project funded by SGP ? GEF):
The Syrian Society for the Conservation of Wildlife (SSCW) established and strengthened a partnership with local community aiming to promote the protection of Biodiversity in particular resident and migrating birds at the site. Other aims were targeted towards the monitoring of illegal hunting and rehabilitation of Habitats as well as improving the livelihood of local communities through sustainable development and promoting other eco-friendly activities and involving in Eco-tourism industry.
Hence, SSCW invested in changing attitudes of various age groups from being a mean to assist and guide hunters to protect biodiversity; and using natural resources sustainably.
Some achievements and activities of Project:
? Building a Bird Watching Hide: SSCW carried out the establishment of the Bird Watching Hide at Al-Jabboul where experts and locals shared SSCW fully in this process.
? Establishing a Roundabout as a Local Landmark (Flamingo Roundabout at Al-Jabboul village) in cooperation with Al-Jabboul Municipality in May-2012
? Hunting Activities: increase the awareness of locals about the dangers that the area is facing from hunting wild animals and demonstrated the best practices for sustainable hunting and promote alternative means of income.
? Solar cookers: SSCW made an initiative to distribute solar cookers in a pilot move to transfer the village to be environmentally friendly in their activities, and to work towards conserving the surrounding habitats and stop habitat disturbance and destruction resulted from over-collecting plant materials for daily life usage in the wake of fuel shortage during the current crisis.
? Eco-tourism: raise the awareness of the locals about the importance of the lake, train locals to act as eco-tourism guides and do monitoring work, birds surveys for the Area in a follow up of the Biodiversity conservation through eco-tourism project at AL-Jabboul RAMSAR site.
? Combat of pollution: SSCW started a very important campaign to stop the pollution which results from a private chemical factory (SYSACO), and in cooperation with the MSEA, the factory was stopped from operation until the rehabilitation of its waste treatment station is reached.
? Birds ringing:SSCW had secured the official approval from MSEA regarding Initiating the National Syrian Ringing Scheme for bird ringing and having an active and leading role in hosting this National Scheme, and purchasing ringing equipment and rings for the Scheme. The ringing activities will be based mainly at Al-Jabboul site as well as some other important areas & IBAs.Each bird rings in Syria will carry a special ring with the inscription: SSCW-SYRIA along a unique serial number.
? Publishing Posters and awareness materials about birds of the area.
? Publishing the Code of Best Practices for hunting and the Hunters? Manual to promote the legal activities in hunting
? Carry out a study through questioning the locals about the hunting and other activities and their expectations for alternative sources of income.
? Publishing the First National Bird Field Guide in Syria: SSCW has published in cooperation with Birdlife International and the first national field Guide for Birds, documenting about 400 species in Syria.
? Documenting the information available about hunting laws and their development and the applicability and enforcement of these laws at the site and its surrounding.
? Including data and information about the site and birds in the area in the Wing Over Wetlands (WOW) Database and share this with Birdlife database.
? Developing website for the society and include essential information about the area and the work of the society.
? Hold a celebration of World Migratory Bird Day (Report uploaded to project documents)
