Citizen science is a huge help in conservation. Non-professional volunteers can collect so much data on their birdwatching walks. This amount of information allows scientists to identify bird population sizes, migration routes and any other threats.

Do you know that much of the information we have today about migration routes, come from birdwatchers sightings?

Happy World Migratory Bird Day! Today we celebrate migratory birds, and their amazing travels all around the globe.

Thanks to this restriction, 135 million birds at risk of poisoning and 1 million children at risk of exposure in the EU will be protected. This is a huge step towards a pollution-free Europe. Now, European countries must make sure the restriction is properly implemented.

Scientists have known for more than 30 years that lead is highly toxic to wildlife and people, and there is no safe level of exposure. Yet, more than 44.000 tonnes of lead are still scattered across the EU every year through hunting, sport shooting and fishing.

Once in force, this restriction will ban lead gunshot everywhere, including outside of wetlands and in sport shooting, with a seven-year transition period. It will be applied across the EU, the European Economic Area, and Northern Ireland.

WE WON. Lead in gunshot will finally be banned across the EU! Just now, the European Parliament approved in plenary the Commission's proposal to restrict lead in gunshot. This decision ends years of debate on one of Europe's most persistent forms of lead pollution.

Marion Bessol, Nature Conservation Policy Officer says “Fiocchi’s objection is an attempt to block a balanced restriction with proven benefits for health, wildlife and the environment. [...] We call on MEPs to seize this opportunity to protect people and nature.”

In his objection, Mr. Fiocchi downplays the health risks of lead gunshot, and claims that sustainable alternatives are not safe or effective. These arguments have been repeatedly debunked by science and addressed by experts throughout the extensive REACH process.

Lead is an extremely toxic substance which has no safe level of exposure. It creates unacceptable risks for wildlife, the environment, and in particular for children. The proposal takes into account socio-economic impacts, and addresses a wide range of stakeholder concerns.

A once in a generation opportunity to restrict lead in gunshot is on the table. While the Commission’s proposal to restrict lead in gunshot is approaching the end of its scrutiny period in the European Parliament, MEP Pietro Fiocchi has tabled a new objection.

She continues, "Member States want to let dangerous pesticides stay on our fields & in our food for longer, despite warnings. This is negligence, and people and nature will pay for it.”

Marilda Dhaskali, Senior Agriculture Policy Officer, says, "EU law means that if there's a risk to health or nature, you act before the harm is done; you don't wait for damage. Today's agreement throws that out."

Evidence on pesticides harming nature and human health keeps growing. Scientists & doctors have been warning governments directly about this proposal. And yet, policymakers are going against all the evidence to appease the interests of pesticide manufacturers.

Right now, pesticides get reassessed regularly. Regulators catch new evidence of harm and act. The Commission proposed moving away from that. Fewer regular checks mean fewer chances to catch pesticides that are dangerous, & looser rules on "grace periods" mean unsafe pesticides can be used longer.

🚨BREAKING: Pesticides could now stay with us forever! Today, the Council agreed on its position on new EU rules for pesticides as part of the Food and Feed Safety omnibus. Some pesticides could stay on the market despite harming nature and our health.

Meet the smallest seabird in Europe: the European-Storm Petrel. Swipe to find out more about this amazing species!