BirdLife: The Magazine Jul-Sep 2018 | Page 6

NEWS ROUND-UP A R O U N D T H E EUROPE Pa r t n e r s h i p All the latest news, insight and success stories from 121 Partners in 119 countries This April, the European Court of Justice ruled that logging activities in Poland’s Białowieża forest are illegal. The decision of the Polish Government to carry out large-scale logging of Europe’s last remaining primeval forest was deemed in breach of the EU’s Habitat Directive. Poland’s Minister for the Environment, Jan Szyszko, has been dismissed because of the incident. KEY BirdLife Partner BirdLife Country Programme Americas Record numbers of Blue- throated Macaw Ara glaucogularis have been spotted in Bolivia. 155 individuals were recorded at Barba Azul Nature Reserve: a significant boost for this Critically Endangered bird. The species nests in large cavities in trees, but by 1998 demand for the pet trade had reduced the population to 120 individuals. Nest boxes and protected areas have since aided the species’ recovery. AFRICA A new project has been launched to eradicate invasive mice from Marion Island off the coast of Africa. If successful, this will be the largest island ever to be cleared of non-native mice. Mice attack albatross and petrel chicks alive in the nest, resulting in tragic deaths. BirdLife South Africa has launched a “sponsor a hectare” campaign via their website. 6 birdlife • jul-sep 2018