Measures for the conservation of the Red kite in Calabria Region (Italy) and Corsica Island (France)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

The red kite (Milvus milvus) population is declining in its main nesting areas of Spain, France and Germany, while increasing in some other European countries, such as Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and Poland. In Italy, it was once a common species, widespread from the north-west, down the Tyrrhenian side of the peninsula, to southern Italy, Sicily and Sardinia. Today, the red kites distribution is highly fragmented: the Sicilian and Sardinian populations are in dramatic decline, while the most numerous populations are in Basilicata, Abruzzo and Molise. In the Calabria region,information on the species current distribution is scarce: the last available data from 2006 refers to a total of 15-20 couples in the Crotone and Catanzaro areas; no nesting couples were recorded in the Aspromonte National Park. In Corsica (France), the red kite is listed as near threatened in the IUCN Red List of Corsican breeding birds, with a moderate conservation priority. The population, one of the most important in France, has increased slightly since 2008 (estimated at 270 pairs). Problems arise locally due to fires, private wood cutting or urban expansion in nesting areas.

OBJECTIVES

The LIFE MILVUS project aims to reintroduce a self-sustaining red kite population into the Aspromonte National Park and promote long-term conservation of the species in Corsica.

In the Aspromonte National Park, its specific goals are to:

establish a minimum viable red kite population;

increase the red kites breeding range in order to improve the species conservation status throughout Europe;

significantly decrease the risk of electrocution for the red kite;

reduce the poisoning risk for the new red kite population; and

improve the expertise of Italian ornithologists on the best practices for monitoring the population and carrying out conservation measures.

 

In Corsica, the specific objectives are to:

maintain or increase the population trend of the red kite in the long term; and

improve knowledge on the population trend and limiting factors, such as poisoning, habitat loss, roost disturbance and nest destruction.

 

In both project areas, another aim is to increase the local populations awareness about the species conservation. LIFE MILVUS work will be in line with a range of EU and international conservation policies, namely: the EUs Birds Directive, biodiversity strategy and species action plan, as well as the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, the Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia.

RESULTS

Expected results: In the Aspromonte National Park:

establishment of at least 10 breeding pairs of red kites;

insulation of approximately 30% of power lines representing a risk to the species;

80% reduction in the risk of electrocution for the individuals released;

60% cut in the risk of poisoning for the individuals released;

reduced risk of human disturbance due to direct persecution and/or poaching;

a new special protection area in southern Calabria covering the distribution area of the new red kite population;

training of at least five Italian ornithologists on nest monitoring techniques, methods for collecting fledgings to be translocated for release, tagging techniques and release methods already used in Corsica by the project partners;

involvement of around 1 000 pupils in educational activities at primary and secondary schools; and

information activities reaching a minimum of 25 000 inhabitants and tourists in the project area.

In Corsica:

increase of the red kite population by 5%;

30% reduction in the fire risk around nesting trees;

30% reduction in habitat loss due to town expansion;

awareness-raising among at least 30 landowners and 10 local administrations on the conservation of sensitive sites for the red kite;

involvement of about 500 pupils in educational activities at primary and secondary schools;

information activities reaching a minimum of 6 000 inhabitants and tourists in the project area; and

increased knowledge about the threats affecting the red kite population, useful for implementing long-term conservation measures for the species.