Sanctuaries and zoning. Area-based conservation measures, such as wildlife sanctuaries and hunting zones, can provide a useful tool for enforcing prohibitions and limits on takings and deliberate disturbance of waterbirds and eggs.11 These can take two forms: (i) sanctuaries and protected areas in which taking activities are prohibited, and (ii) hunting zones to which hunting activities are restricted. Provisions on wildlife sanctuaries and 11 Specifically, the AEWA Action Plan requires Parties to “provide adequate controls to ensure that these limits [on taking] are observed.” (para. 2.1.2(c)). protected areas are typically found in protected area, biodiversity, or wildlife conservation legislation; provisions on hunting zones can be found in special hunting legislation. Wildlife sanctuaries and other forms of protected area are a primary tool for habitat protection, discussed below (see Step 4, VI.2.), but also provide mechanisms for regulating taking and deliberate disturbance of birds and their eggs. In protected areas, such activities can be managed or forbidden entirely. The National Parks Law of Israel provides an example of a comprehensive prohibition on harming, bothering, removing or interfering with the reproductive cycle of any animal within any nature reserve or national park (see practical example 14). In other cases, national legislation can provide for the establishment of special sanctuaries or refuges for particular species, as in the Hunting Law of Portugal (practical example 15). Within these refuges, hunting or other activities which disturb or harm the species can be prohibited. Practical example 14: Israel, National Parks, Nature Reserves, National Sites and Memorial Sites Law, 1998 Section 30(d) No person shall carry out any action which constitutes or which might constitute damage to a nature reserve or a national park, other than with a written permit from the Director; for this purpose, "damage" –includes … causing damage to or bothering an animal, grazing, cutting, plucking, removal, alteration of shape or natural position of animals, vegetation or abiotic objects, or interference with their reproduction and continuation of their natural development… Practical example 15: Portugal, Basic Hunting Law, 1999
Sanctuaries and zoning. Ensure that national protected area legislation includes provisions restricting taking or deliberate disturbance that apply to waterbird populations listed in Column A or B. Ensure that provisions on the creation of special sanctuaries or refuges in which taking and disturbance are prohibited apply to Column A or B populations. As appropriate, include in national legislation provisions restricting possession of specified equipment or modes of taking within protected areas, sanctuaries or refuges in which Column A or B populations can be found. Ensure that national legislation mandates that processes for declaring protected areas or sanctuaries or developing management plans or regulations for such areas consider relevant waterbird populations. Ensure that legislation providing for hunting zones covers Column A and B waterbird populations, and includes adequate requirements for assessment and consideration of the requirements of such populations.
