As part of the effort made by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment (MARD) to promote biological control of rodents and reduce the use of chemical preparations used for their control, an information meeting was held last Monday 21/3/2022 at the Palodia Community Council with community leaders or representatives of community councils in the Limassol District, whose communities are facing problems from the destruction of carob crops by rodents.
During the meeting, presentations were made by YMCA officials on alternative ways of managing rodents in order to reduce the use of rodenticides in the countryside.
The community leaders, in the presence of the Commissioner for the Environment, Celia Vassiliou, and representatives of the Hunting Federation, had the opportunity to learn about the programme of biological management of rodents through anthropology and alternative ways of control, to see examples of implementation and to discuss ways to implement them in their communities since rodent control with chemical preparations is harmful to the environment, and consequently to human health, but also economically unviable.
The YMCA has provided a large number of artificial nests to communities that expressed interest and will proceed to provide expertise for their installation.
In the meantime, as part of the "National Rodent Management Plan using man-birds", which was prepared on the instructions of the YMCA in an effort to promote biological control of rodents, the placement of artificial man-bird nests will be enhanced on a nationwide basis. So far, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Forests, the Game and Fauna Service, the Cyprus Bird Association, the Hunting Federation and other organised groups have placed a large number of artificial nests in all provinces, of which a good percentage have been colonised by man-birds.
The National Action Plan aims mainly at mapping the nests already placed and those planned to be placed, studying the biology of the man-bird, as well as informing the farming community about the importance of biological control and the need to reduce the use of chemical preparations which are often used uncontrollably.
The human bird is the farmers' best ally in controlling rodents in the countryside, since it feeds almost exclusively on rodents (mice and rats).Each human bird consumes 4-6 rodents every night, while a family of human birds consumes up to 6000 rodents per year.
The use of rodenticides and other poisons in the countryside poses a serious threat to biodiversity and wildlife, as many animals die from secondary poisoning, i.e. after feeding on poisoned animals.
(NG/EXP)
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