2019-05-20 Mon

Lebanon recently released three bird-themed stamps to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day. Lebanese President Michel Aoun had started an awareness campaign to protect migratory birds in Lebanon, and this stamp release was a part of this campaign. The stamps were unveiled during a special event at Baabda Palace. The stamps feature watercolour pictures of a stork, a blue tit and the goldfinch, respectively. Storks are heavily hunted in Lebanon while blue tit is an endangered species. Several important delegates from BirdLife organisation and the Lebanese government attended the event.

The President hopes to make Lebanon safer for these migratory birds through this campaign. Lebanon had signed the U.N. Convention on Biodiversity in 1992, but the country is still considered to be unsafe for birds due to illegal hunting. International and Lebanese hunting laws like Law 580 define the types of species and hunting materials that are permitted. Many hunters in the country are not following this law and the president stated that strict action will be taken against them. International law has banned the hunting of storks, hoopoes, bee-eaters, partridges, sparrows, golden orioles and short-toed creepers. The president asked citizens to protect these birds during the migratory periods. The president stressed on the fact that it is very important to maintain ecological harmony between human beings, animals and plants.

The theme for World Migratory Bird Day 2019 was “Protect Birds: Be the Solution to Plastic Pollution!” Migratory birds unknowingly feed on Plastic waste that gets mixed with algae in the Sea. More information about this issue was discussed at the launch event. Environmentalists are trying hard to protect Ras al-Metn area where a lot of migratory birds can be spotted. Birdwatchers from across Europe come here to observe these beautiful birds. Efforts are being made to build bird observation platforms on the side of the Lamartine Valley.

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Image Courtesy: Lebanon Post