Legislation in Europe affecting birds of prey

Abstract

Legislation concerning birds of prey differs widely and has reached different stages of development in the various countries of Europe. Laws range from total protection in some countries to very limited protection for a very few species in others, and in federal countries there is even greater divergence among the individual states. This situation reflects two contradictory influences: on the one hand, the degree of biological insight and concepts of nature conservation and, on the other hand, the pressure of organised hunters and what they believe to be their interests. At all events, in practice the laws of all of the countries giving complete protection to all species are frequently violated, and in countries with a number of unprotected species the practical value of the protection provided for other species is not great because most hunters cannot distinguish between many species and do not recognise what they are shooting. It must none the less be considered an encouraging sign that the Sixties have seen an increase in the number of countries where the birds of prey are completely protected by law.