Robins (protected species) found dead at a Parany

THE ILLEGAL HUNTING METHOD OF THE “PARANY”: STILL IN USE AND KILLING AROUND TWO MILLION MIGRATORY BIRDS EACH AUTUMN

As a shame on Valencian politicians, we attach the up-to-date results of the motions giving support to the illegal hunting practice of the “Parany”. A proposed modification of the Valencian regional hunting law, to be voted in September 2009, aims at providing legal cover to this barbarian and obsolete hunting method. The Parany will be classified as a "cultural tradition" to be "maintained".

The “Parany” is still used illegally in many municipalities of Tarragona (Catalonia), Castelló, València and Alacant (Valencian Region). Killing target are the small and fragile passerine birds: thrushes, warblers, finches, robin, redstart and chiffchaf. All these species nest in Central and Northern Europe, wintering in the Iberian Peninsula, Northwestern and sub-Saharan Africa. The European, Spanish and (current) regional laws protect most of these species, because they are beneficial for the environment, feeding mostly on insects. Further, early this decade, all judicial entities declared the “Parany” as illegal after proving this technique was massive and not selective. In other words, the “Parany” invariably catches and harms irreversibly too many birds, including protected species.

Hence, the "Parany" is the worst negative factor for the evolution of the European migratory birds population, killing around two million birds each autumn in their migratory route along the Mediterranean coast. Our estimates, based on scientific studies and evidence from direct accounts, are 1.5 million thrushes, mostly song thrush (Turdus philomenus), and several hundred thousand birds of protected species killed, mostly robin (Erithacus rubecola) and blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla).

MOST VALENCIAN POLITICIANS DO NOT RESPECT THE RULE OF LAW

Even though declared illegal, the “Parany” is still in use because the local and regional administrations tolerate and support this practice. Over the past months, the citizenships and the Provincial Council in Castelló (Diputació de Castelló) are approving motions in defense of this illegal hunting practice, showing a lack of respect for the Law and judicial rulings. Do Valencian politicians truly believe they can choose which Laws to obey and which to refuse? Do they represent a good example to follow for the Valencian citizens? In a Rule of Law, all people and administrations are obliged to comply: the “Parany” and its supporters should never be an exception.

We consider that it is of utmost importance that the Valencian people get to know which position does each Political Party defend: Do they protect the European migratory bird population, complying with rules and laws, or do they support the illegal “Parany” promoting the mass-killing of little passerines?

Our objective is as well achieving that the “civilized” European citizens get to know that “your” birds, those breeding in your nest-boxes and visiting your feeders, are killed each autumn in their route along East Spain to reach their wintering areas.

Our sole objective is defending the migrant birds and the Rule of Law. However, many politicians and illegal hunters consider that defending the principles present in the Birds Directive represents a direct attack to their interests, claiming that the local environmental associations defend radical positions, against the Valencian society and traditions.

KIND REQUEST TO POTENTIAL EUROPEAN TOURISTS: PLEASE, DEFEND YOUR MIGRATORY BIRDS, OUR POLITICIANS WON’T!

We advise the “civilized” European bird-lovers to choose other destinations for your holidays or, when visiting our region, showing our politicians your disagreement with their extreme illegal positions against biodiversity. You can leave a message to the Castelló Council (Diputació de Castelló) by following this link.

In any case, when visiting our region, please refrain from spending money in the locations attached in the above table, choosing instead other municipalities not present in the list. Even though our politicians do not understand the concept "Rule of Law", they fortunately obey to the "Rule of Money". Hence, we need to ensure there is an appropriate incentive for them to follow the Law. Unfortunately, we are forced to apply Pavlov-like techniques to our politicians. What rare specimens of Homo sapiens ssp. sapiens!

Acció Ecologista-Agró

PHOTOS OF THE ILLEGAL PARANYS

The attached photos show how easy it is to identify a Parany, a hunting infrastructure that is located in a fixed location year after year. Hence, how is it possible that, after several years since the judges declared it illegal, this hunting method is still in use? The obvious answer is:

THE VALENCIAN AUTHORITIES TOLERATE AND SUPPORT THE PARANY