Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to combat illegal songbird trapping on the sovereign island base areas of (a) Akrotiri and (b) Dhekelia.

The Sovereign Base Area Administration (SBAA) takes a zero-tolerance approach to illegal bird trapping and trade of wild birds. The SBAA and SBA Police are working in a strategic partnership with key environmental NGOs including Birdlife to eradicate bird crime in the SBAs. Activity to eradicate bird crime includes habitat management to make trapping less effective, seizure of trapping equipment to prevent it reoccurring, issuing of significant fines as a deterrent, and conducting vehicle checks. This action has resulted in a 98.5% reduction of illegal bird trapping activities in 2021-22, compared to the levels in 2016-17.

Additionally, the UK is an active member of the Intergovernmental Task Force on the Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in the Mediterranean (MIKT). The MIKT facilitates international cooperation to tackle bird crime, including the illegal trapping of songbirds.