A campaign by SEO/BirdLife urges voters to consider nature when choosing political representatives. The message is clear: not every proposal protects a healthy planet, and not every bird is the same. The call to action is straightforward: vote for nature, vote for yourself.
The campaign aims to remind the public to weigh environmental concerns when evaluating candidates, especially in parties that show little regard for the environment. In Madrid, the campaign will appear on street posters and in metro stations in the coming days. More than 270 square meters of banners have already been displayed along Paseo de las Delicias in Madrid.
The group supports its outreach with social media materials that highlight at-risk bird species and explain why nature should be part of electoral platforms.
Asunción Ruiz, executive director of SEO/BirdLife, notes that the ongoing ecological crisis affects biodiversity, ecosystems, and people who face climate-related impacts and habitat loss. The urgency is palpable in her words.
Behind the Balearic clock hand near Puffinus mauretanicus and Cory’s shearwater stands a reminder of the ongoing effort. EFE / GOB
Despite scientific consensus and support from organizations including the United Nations, Ruiz observes that not all political programs fairly reflect this reality. When casting ballots, voters should remember that not all birds are equal, and the path to solutions lies in collective action. The moment is urgent, and the choice matters.
unsustainable development
SEO/BirdLife argues that escaping the climate and biodiversity crisis requires a focus on nature. The organization calls for policies that improve air and water quality, create healthy living spaces, manage natural resources sustainably, and align production and consumption with planetary limits. Precautionary measures and policies are essential to protect ecosystems and people alike.
The United Nations recognizes the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment as a universal human right. It is now up to citizens to demand it in policy and practice, and SEO/BirdLife has long warned about the consequences of unsustainable development driven by short sighted decisions.
Collecting data on bird populations and the broader health of ecosystems helps explain large-scale environmental problems. The State of Birds in the World report by BirdLife International shows that about half of the world’s birds are in decline among the roughly 11,000 species tracked.
In Europe, the European Union views wild bird populations as a key indicator of well-being, with Eurostat incorporating these trends into sustainability metrics. SEO/BirdLife uses this context to frame current environmental and social issues through a bird-centered public awareness effort.
pesticide free fields
With a focus on species listed in the Red Book of Birds, the campaign urges voters to demand nature-informed proposals. The message reflects a call to reflect on the 23J date and act accordingly.
Among the species highlighted are a Balearic seabird facing bycatch and coastal light pollution, which advocates for sustainable fishing and a pollution-free ocean. A common tern in trouble due to spawning habitat loss, construction pressures, or new development is called to support towns and cities where life can be lived in harmony. The kingfisher, threatened by habitat changes and water mismanagement, is cited to ensure rivers and wetlands stay healthy so no one goes thirsty.
Birds on show include montagu’s harrier, a species affected by agricultural practices, administrative inertia, pesticides, and harvesters during breeding. The campaign asks for fields without pesticides or agrochemicals as a policy goal. The black vulture, facing risks from power lines, wind energy, poisoning, and fires, is used to argue for an energy transition that respects biodiversity, farming communities, and nature. The red rocker, threatened by habitat loss and rising temperatures in high elevations, is presented as a call to stop climate change.
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The environment department acknowledges the urgency through a call for action and a commitment to cleaner, greener practices for North American and European contexts alike.