Author: abdulnasser eisa

Theme: #NowForClimate

On World Environment Day 2026, the global call to act on climate change is more urgent than ever.

Birds, especially migratory and waterbirds, are among the species most affected by climate change. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, droughts, floods, and sea-level rise are altering migration routes, breeding seasons, and the availability of food and habitats they depend on.

Wetlands and other critical ecosystems that support birds along their migratory flyways are also under increasing pressure from habitat loss and environmental degradation.

Protecting and restoring natural habitats, conserving wetlands, supporting sustainable land and water management, and strengthening scientific monitoring and research are essential actions for building resilient ecosystems and safeguarding biodiversity.

For Libya, an important stopover for migratory birds between Africa and Europe, protecting natural habitats is vital for both wildlife and people.

Acting now for the climate is an investment in the future of birds, nature, and humanity.

As we celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity, we would like to share the number of bird species recorded in Libya:

• 361 bird species
• 189 genera
• 69 families
• 25 orders

This remarkable diversity is linked to Libya’s unique geographic location and its wide range of natural habitats, including wetlands, coasts, valleys, deserts, and islands. These environments provide important habitats for both resident and migratory birds.

Birds are important indicators of environmental health and ecological balance. They also play a key role in ecosystems by controlling pests, spreading seeds, and helping maintain stable food chains.

Protecting biodiversity starts with protecting natural habitats, raising environmental awareness, and supporting local efforts to conserve nature for future generations.

Libyan Society for Birds (LSB)

Theme of this year: ‘Acting locally for global impact’

Every year on May 22, the world celebrates Biodiversity Day to raise awareness about the importance of nature and the role biodiversity plays in supporting life on Earth.

Biodiversity is more than just wildlife. Birds, plants, insects, wetlands, coasts, and deserts are all connected parts of one natural system that keeps our planet balanced and alive.

Libya is home to rich and unique biodiversity, stretching from the Mediterranean coast to the desert. It includes important wetlands, migration routes for birds, and many species that need protection and care.

This year’s theme reminds us that protecting nature starts with small local actions that can create a global impact.

Raising awareness, protecting natural habitats, reducing pollution, monitoring birds, and helping endangered species are all local actions that make a real difference for the future of our planet.

As part of the “South Africa’s Shorebird Tracking Project,” a number of migratory shorebirds, including the Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), were fitted with tracking devices along the west coast of South Africa, near Velddrif and Langebaan Lagoon. The aim of the project is to better understand migration routes and key stopover sites across Africa.

One of these birds, named SPERRGEBIET, followed a migration route that brought it through Libya.

Journey Details:

• March 27, 2026
  The bird arrived at Sandwich Bay in Namibia, where it spent time feeding and rebuilding energy reserves before continuing its migration.

• April 21–22, 2026
  It began a long northward journey along Africa’s west coast, passing through Angola and covering more than 1,500 km in less than a day.

• Late April – Early May
  The bird continued moving through Central Africa, taking a different route from most of the other tracked birds in the project, which generally followed the Nile Valley migration pathway.

• May 10, 2026
  The bird was still in Central Africa, south of Chad, before beginning one of the most demanding stages of its migration.

• May 12, 2026
  It started crossing the Sahara through Chad toward Libya, undertaking a long flight over remote desert landscapes.

• May 13, 2026
  The bird entered Libyan territory and continued northward across southeastern Libya, with tracking data showing repeated shifts in direction between north and northeast.

• May 14, 2026
  After crossing eastern Libya and passing west of Al Jaghbub Oasis, it entered Egypt and reached the Mediterranean coast near Mersa Matruh.

• May 15, 2026
  The bird settled along Egypt’s northern coastline after successfully completing one of the most impressive journeys recorded within the project.

This migration provides valuable scientific evidence of Libya’s importance within global bird migration routes, especially during Sahara crossings. It also reinforces the need to protect critical habitats and stopover sites that migratory birds depend on during their long journeys between continents.

In coordination with the Bissida Association for the Protection of Farwa Island and Lagoon, a joint team from the Libyan Society for Birds (LSB) and the Zoology Department at the Faculty of Science, University of Tripoli, carried out a field visit to the areas of Abu Kammash and Farwa on Monday, May 4, 2026.

The visit aimed to follow up on activities related to a plastic waste removal project designed to support the sustainability of the ecosystem on Farwa Island.

The project is being implemented by the Bissida Association, with guidance from the Libyan Society for Birds and support from the PROZHUM project for the conservation of Mediterranean wetlands.

The visit also included a tour of the recently established turtle rescue center, in addition to a field inspection of nesting sites of the Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) in the Ghattaia area to ensure their safety.

The participating teams described the visit as successful and productive, highlighting its role in strengthening cooperation and coordination between the different organizations working to protect biodiversity and coastal ecosystems in Libya. At the end of the visit, the Libyan Society for Birds expressed its appreciation to the management of the Bissida Association for their warm welcome, good organization, and continued environmental efforts.

As part of its ongoing efforts to monitor bird diversity, the Libyan Society for Birds (LSB) carried out a field visit to one of its bird monitoring sites as part of its regular activities.

During the visit, the monitoring team recorded and documented several bird species, including both resident and migratory birds. This reflects the environmental importance of the site as a key habitat for birds during different seasons of the year.

Because some of the recorded species are considered sensitive and could be targeted by hunters, the the exact location was not revealed.

Activities like these play an important role in raising environmental awareness and supporting bird protection efforts in Libya, especially as wildlife faces challenges such as habitat loss and illegal hunting.

📷 Photos: Libyan Society for Birds (LSB).

The White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) has been recorded in Libya for the first time, according to a scientific study published in the Libyan Journal of Ecological & Environmental Sciences and Technology.

The bird was spotted during the last week of January 2025 in Wadi Al-Naqa Reserve, east of Derna. Researchers observed a single bird resting on an electric wire in an open area near a freshwater source, which is one of the habitats preferred by this species.

This is the first official record of the species in Libya, adding a new kingfisher species to the country’s bird list alongside the Common Kingfisher and the Pied Kingfisher. Scientists say this finding is important for improving knowledge about bird distribution in Libya.

Researchers believe the bird may have appeared outside its normal range by chance, or it could be a sign that the species is gradually expanding west across North Africa. The discovery also highlights the importance of eastern Libya as an important route for migratory and wild birds.

The study also highlighted the importance of continued field monitoring and environmental research, especially in wetlands and protected areas, to help document biodiversity and support wildlife conservation efforts.