Member States fail to make EU agriculture more sustainable 

A new study published by the Hellenic Ornithological Society (BirdLife Greece) delivers a stark warning: climate change is rapidly making the treacherous journey of migratory birds even more deadly.  For millions of birds traveling between Africa and Europe, the Saraha Desert presents one of the toughest challenges – a vast, arid expanse where survival depends on reaching the few scattered oases and vegetated areas for rest and refueling. Once passed this formidable barrier, they face another dangerous crossing point: the Mediterranean Sea.  The study reveals that as the Sahara and Mediterranean regions become increasingly inhospitable, vital stop-over sites in North-Africa are shrinking and drying up due to climate change. With fewer safe havens, birds reach their destinations weaker, reducing their chances of survival and successful breeding. Climate change could drastically reshape the migratory patterns of trans-Saharan birds, creating unprecedented challenges for their existence. Without urgent action to mitigate climate change and protect these habitats, migratory birds face an increasingly uncertain future. But despite these alarming findings, there is still hope. The BirdLife Partnership is working tirelessly across the region, protecting and restoring crucial habitats along the African Eurasian flyway. Funded by the Ecological Restoration Fund, a £3 million partnership led by BirdLife International and the RSPB, ongoing conservation efforts aim to safeguard key habitats and tackle threats to protected areas, benefiting the people and birds who call these important places home.  The present study was conducted using data from the Antikythera Bird Observatory (ABO), run by the Hellenic Ornithological Society / BirdLife Greece. The study was part of the ROUTES Project supported by the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (H.F.R.I). ROUTES is hosted by the Department of Biological Applications and Technology at University of Ioannina and runs in collaboration with the Hellenic Ornithological Society / BirdLife Greece.This adapted article was originally published by HOS (BirdLife Greece)Cover picture Giorgos Drossopoulos | Acrocephalus arundinaceusRead the study