PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Following reintroductions carried out in early 2010, the Kresna Gorge is now the second most important area for the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) in Bulgaria, after Eastern Rhodopi, with three breeding pairs in 2011 and up to 20 birds present throughout the following years. The site is also very important as a foraging area and as a ‘stepping stone’ for young griffon vultures on their migration from former-Yugoslavian countries to the Bosporus and back. In southwest Bulgaria, three to five single adult or immature Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) are present each year during the breeding season – about 5% of the Bulgarian population. It is believed that southwest Bulgaria has the capacity to hold a stable population of about 10 breeding pairs. To achieve this goal, intensive conservation measures are required to concentrate the available birds in a safe area, attract new ones, and support reproduction. The Kresna Gorge is also a very important area for other raptors, as well as for other bird, reptile, mammal and plant species.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE FOR KRESNA GORGE project aimed to restore the populations of birds of prey and other emblematic species in southwest Bulgaria by reducing the impact of direct persecution and several indirect threats; by maintaining and enhancing the habitats of birds of prey, reptiles and mammals in Natura 2000 sites; and by promoting a positive attitude to birds of prey in key sectors. Specific actions included improving bird of prey foraging and breeding habitats, according to international action plans for bird of prey species and their current ecological needs, and applying conservation methods, such as releasing rehabilitated and captive-bred griffon and Egyptian vultures, to boost populations.
RESULTS
The LIFE FOR KRESNA GORGE project successfully released 28 rehabilitated or captive-bred griffon vultures, contributing to the over 60 birds released in the Kresna Gorge since 2010. Twelve of these birds were tagged with GPS/GSM transmitters to observe and gain knowledge about the vulture species in the area. As a result, in 2015-2016, 6-8 pairs were formed and 2 chicks fledged. A vital colony was established on the Kresna Gorge cliffs, and griffon vulture is again a breeding species in the region. The project also contributed to improving the conservation status of the Egyptian vulture and several other raptor species in Natura 2000 sites in southwest Bulgaria.
Project beneficiary FWFF established three livestock herds (140 cows and 30 goats/sheep), purchased 0.38 ha of land and a farm, constructed an enclosure and obtained 17 fallow deer, to restore grasslands and favourable habitats for birds of prey. The project team met with about 350 farmers to provide them with information on traditional cow and goat breeds. This led to five of them changing their practices towards sustainable livestock breeding. Nearly 850 ha of pastures are now sustainably managed using traditional breeds of grazing livestock in the region of the villages of Rakitna and Mechkul.
Over five years, around 130 tonnes of animal carcasses were collected and transported from local farms to two ‘vulture restaurants’ established by the project, at no cost to the farmers. More than 80 farmers called the team to collect dead livestock for the vultures, with the FWFF conducting about 1 200 trips to transport the dead animals. This also provided the opportunity to meet around 540 local farmers to discuss solutions to human-bird of prey conflicts and wildlife poisoning. The project purchased 82 shepherd dog puppies, partly training 45 on FWFF farms, and 66 of these were given to farmers in 7 villages as compensation for livestock predation, along with 88 sheep and/or goats from FWFF herds and about 4.5 tonnes of fodder and dog food.
By 2016, the total number of farmers benefitting from the Compensation & Prevention Programme (CPP) reached 300. Of these, 215 were introduced to the CPP to help with man/predator conflict. The project team investigated 94 predator attacks and prepared 3 reports on impacts on livestock.
The project team widened/adapted 8 rock niches for the nesting of various birds, installed 106 nest boxes, established a dovecote, and equipped 8 electricity poles with 56 perching discouragers that resulted in the complete prevention of vulture electrocutions. The Wildlife Centre in Rakitna was made fully operational, with 9 aviaries and 2.4 ha of fenced area, a tortoise sanctuary and a visitor centre that received more than 5 200 visitors during the project, including 10 school trips involving 400 pupils. In addition, the project team made presentations at 21 university events and launched 14 volunteer brigades, with about 130 students from Sofia University and Southwest University. The project also hosted 6 internships for students from the Netherlands, Belgium and France who played a vital role in the project.
The project helped reduce man/carnivore conflict and related poisoning incidents, to the benefit of wildlife generally. Other emblematic species of southwest Bulgaria benefitting from project actions include golden jackal, wolf, Hermann's tortoise and Greek tortoise. Dissemination activities to raise awareness included an audio-visual archive, 10 information boards, and a book.
In terms of socio-economic benefits, the project involved local farmers and communities in the promotion of agri-environmental practices that are creating rural jobs in a poor and underdeveloped area of Bulgaria. Cows from the project’s herd were registered as short-horned Rhodopean cattle, a breed suited to the area, enabling farmers rearing them to receive agri-environmental subsidies relating to rare livestock breeds. The combination of agri-environmental practices with vulture conservation, and the unique compensation programme for farmers aimed at preventing intentional poisoning of predators, could be replicated in other EU regions.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).
