Changes in our commitments
We announce that the LPO (the League for the Protection of Birds) has become our unique association. We have decided to stop our other partnerships: 1 pair bought = 1 tree planted with Reforest'Action and 10% of the profits of our accessories given to the LPO.
But, why this choice? And also, what is the LPO? A little overview of the organization and what is at stake with our donations.
Why do we give 1% of our turnover to the LPO?
More clarity, reliability and transparency in the calculation of donations
Calculating a portion of the profit is not always obvious because this method can vary easily. Counting the revenue excluding taxes, including taxes? Pass on a portion of the profit or the entire cost? It can be a bit tricky to choose and explain. That's why we have chosen a simple figure: by paying back 1% of the turnover, the calculation method will always be the same. We therefore guarantee an accurate and reliable amount.
A powerful and highly active French association
Comme on l’a dit, la LPO est une association reconnue d’utilité publique. Elle agit sur de nombreux domaines et ses combats sont variés pour une meilleure protection de la nature.
To choose the LPO it is to act closer to Ubac, on the French territory. We are thus closer to the association which guarantees us a serious, solid and concrete action.
Strong bonds between the LPO and Ubac since 2018
We know the LPO well, to whom we regularly visit and with whom we have been involved since 2018. At Ubac, we like to be as close as possible to our partners: we often visit our manufacturing workshops, we like to show them to you, so why not do the same with the association where our donations go?
What will these donations be used for?
Ubac's donations to the LPO are not earmarked for any particular purpose. The organization will be free to use them as it sees fit!
So, now that you have the reasons of our choice, let us go a little more in detail and explain you all what is the LPO, and what we support this wonderful association.
What is the LPO ?
The LPO is the first French association of nature protection, with 57 000 members and 8 000 active volunteers in 2019.
It is part of the BirdLife International network since 1995, a network of associations that is now the largest coalition of NGOs for the protection of nature.
The organization works on many fields, it has three main objectives: species protection, space preservation and education and public awareness.
Today, the LPO is involved in four areas of action:
- Knowledge, expertise and research.
- Protection, conservation and defense.
- Management and reconquest.
- Education and valorization.
LPO in action
To end glue hunting: a legal struggle
On the legal level, the LPO carries out a lot of actions, whether they are punctual, or on the long term. Generally, it militates to suspend the decrees authorizing certain hunts. Lately, the association has won a fight engaged since 2019, that against glue hunting.
This technique consists of gluing sticks and then placing them in trees to catch blackbirds and thrushes, which will then be used as "decoys" (they will be locked in the dark for long periods before being brought into the wild to sing and bait other birds, shot with a gun).
This hunt has been forbidden in European directives since 1979, but France was the last country to authorize it via exceptional derogations, allowing 6,000 trappers to practice it each year. Beyond the tradition, this authorization was justified by the fact that this practice was said to be controlled, selective as to the species trapped, and that the birds taken were low.
The reality is quite different, as shown by the LPO in a hidden camera that reveals the true nature of this type of trapping.
Glue hunting was difficult to control because of the lack of human resources (about 50 controllers against 10 to 20,000 hunting actions), but also because of the lack of knowledge of the areas and times of practice (most of them being on private or undefined land, and taking place at night).
On the images that the LPO has shot, we deplore a lot of protected species (like raptors) that are caught. If an unwanted bird is captured, it is left for dead or thrown into the wild weakened, stressed and often intoxicated by the solvents used to remove it, and thus without any chance of survival.
After numerous complaints, the opening of an infringement procedure against France, and a suspension of glue hunting for one year in August 2020, the European Court of Justice opened the way to its definitive ban via a ruling published on March 17, 2021. Since then, the fight is won for the LPO, since this practice has been definitively banned.
Educate to protect: a key objective
One of the other great objectives of the LPO is to educate the populations to biodiversity and to the wealth that it represents. It is also to allow everyone to develop their knowledge in ornithology, either through stays or courses.
Since 2013, the LPO has created the regional school of ornithology in Île de France. Through a 3-week training course, the aim is to acquire methodological, scientific and technical skills on bird fauna. These trainings are accessible to the general public, but also to volunteers. The goal is to target each public with an adapted device, so that each one can know and appreciate the biodiversity which surrounds them.
The LPO also allows individuals to create refuges at home. In 2019, 21,600 nesting boxes were sold. These actions can be implemented by everyone, with the support of the LPO, and allow to protect biodiversity, no matter where you are!
Action in urban areas
The LPO is also involved in urban areas, and even in construction. The organization has created the nature in the city program, and, in this context, the U2B club: Urbanism, Building and Biodiversity. The goal: to take fauna and flora into account during construction. Associated with Solideo, the LPO is accompanying construction and development projects of the Olympic structures for Paris 2024.
Research: a crucial issue for European decisions
SIn terms of research, the LPO works with different laboratories to observe wildlife and biodiversity evolution. The purpose is not only to protect, but also to analyze populations.
For example, it participated in a report for the European Commission from 2013 to 2017 in the framework of the bird directive; the aim is to observe and evaluate the evolution of different species populations. Thus, the association noticed that one species of breeding birds out of 3 is in decline. These researches are crucial in the political decisions, that's why the LPO is recognized of public utility since 1986. For their 2019 report, the LPO claims 10 million data collected and 9,000 species surveyed.
Taking action for biodiversity
Between the National Action Plans seeking to count and observe the animal populations in danger, the LIFE programs launched by the European Union, or the management of public natural reserves, the LPO is the guarantor of numerous natural spaces, in addition to its own private spaces.
Caring for space: expansion and private land
The LPO accompanies the government in the enlargement of certain nature parks, in addition to managing these areas. The organization manages 14 national reserves and 13 regional ones. It regularly buys acres of land in sensitive areas. Today, it owns 1,800 hectares of private property.
At Ubac, we had the chance to visit the Moëze-Oléron park, which covers nearly 6,500 acres. Managed by the association since 1986, this area of the "pertuis" sea is located between the Charente estuary and the island of Oléron. Located on the East-Atlantic migration route, it welcomes more than 100,000 water birds coming from the north to winter each year, in addition to being a major resting point for European species migrating to Africa. In all, there are about 269 species of birds, 28 species of mammals, 18 species of crustaceans, and just as many plants and amphibians. Located between land and sea, it is home to species in high danger of extinction such as the European eel.
These areas also allow the association to observe many species' evolution. Thus, in winter and spring mainly, ringing sessions are carried out on birds (pre and post migration). The populations are captured in nets and then observed in order to obtain data such as the size of their wings, their accumulated fat rate, their total weight. The goal is to better understand the species, but also to ensure the viability of the populations or to notice changes in their environment (lack of food, disappearance of a habitat).
The data collected by the LPO do not only come from scientists. It is also possible for the public to give an account of the observations made during a walk by filling in the birds' resume with the colors of the rings seen, a wonderful initiative of collaborative science!
Rehabilitation: care centers and major rescues
When we think about the LPO, we also think about rescue centers! They are 7 in France, distributed on all the territory. There are also two mobile care units. In 2019, 17,000 animals were welcomed, an increase of 15% compared to 2018. Thanks to these actions, 52% of the animals treated were then released into their natural environment.
The LPO is also about large-scale rescues. We can think of the sinking of the Erika, 20 years ago, an oil tanker that had caused much damage. And more recently, on March 12, 2019, when the Grande America spilled thousands of tons of oil on the Atlantic coastline. In these times, the LPO is present and brings its expertise and its facilities for bird rescue, as well as its voice and its notoriety to call for volunteers.
For Ubac, the LPO is a symbol of protection and preservation. It is also a very active association, whether it be to inform or to fight. This is why we have chosen to donate 1% of our turnover each year. Our goal: to help this incredible association in all its actions, in all fields. Giving to an association is not a marketing lever for us, it is part of our DNA. For us, this is what it means to be a sustainable brand, that takes its responsibilities to act, repair and preserve.