Dr. Anna Giordano, a trained ornithologist, is fighting to protecting Sicily’s birds from poachers. The straits of Messina off of the Italian mainland are known for their migratory birds and raptor species, including the Honey Buzzard, swallows, storks, oriels, and kestrels which are targeted by poachers for sport. After two violent incidents involving Anna and her young volunteer surveillance team in 1986, the local law enforcement department joined their efforts to reduce poaching in Messina. Due to persistent efforts by Giordano, the poaching of birds has reduced from 5,000 per year to hundreds. Giordano, now the director of Trapani and Paceco Nature Reserve for the World Wildlife Foundation, is continuing her protection efforts of the spring migratory birds and fighting against the strong lobby of poachers and the Italian government’s lenient laws against the poachers which are contradictory to both the national and European legislation. Photo credit: The Goldman Environmental Prize
