Restoration of the Cinereous vulture population and trophic chain in the Bulgarian-Greek cross-border region

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

The Cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) is listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive and classified as 'near threatened'on the IUCN Red List.  The European population consists of between 2 536 - 2 838 breeding pairs, and as an 'umbrella species', its conservation benefits other raptors.   

Once widespread across the Balkans, the species nearly became extinct in the 20th century. While populations in Western Europe are increasing, the Balkan population is limited to a small colony of 30-35 breeding pairs in Greece's Dadia Lefkimi-Soufli Forest National Park (DLSFNP). The Greek population faces threats such as poisoning, electrocution, lead poisoning, food shortages and wildfires which jeopardise the Cinereous vulture’s survival and ability to expand. In Bulgaria, the last breeding recorded was in 1993; although individuals from DLSFNP forage in the Rhodope Mountains, they do not breed there.

The LIFE Rhodope Vulture project supports Bulgaria's National Action Plan for Cinereous Vulture Conservation (2019-2028) and builds on previous successful LIFE  including LIFE ReVulture and Vultures for LIFE. Project partners — including the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB), Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation (RRF), Greek Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA), Society for the Protection of Biodiversity of Thrace (SPBT) and Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF) — have already made significant strides in vulture conservation in Bulgaria and Greece.

 

OBJECTIVES

The main aim of LIFE Rhodope Vulture will be to ensure the recovery of the Cinereous vulture in the vast cross-border Rhodope mountains, focusing on 11 Special Protection Areas (SPAs) — 5 in Bulgaria and 6 in Greece. 

The recovery plan includes 8 specific objectives:

1. reduce the threat posed poisoning, poaching, lead poisoning and collisions with energy infrastructure
2. increase the food base for Cinereous vultures in the 11 SPAs
3. reduce human-wildlife conflict in the Rhodopes to minimise the threat of poisoning
4. establish a new colony of Cinereous vultures in the Rhodopes and safeguard the only currently existing breeding colony in Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli Forest National Park
5. prevent and mitigate wildfires in the project sites
6. increase benefits to local communities by promoting a nature-based economy
7. communicate and raise awareness about the role of vultures in nature
8. ensure the project results are shared and used in the long term

RESULTS

The expected results, aligned with the 8 objectives above, are: 

1. reduce threats:

• training and capacity building for joint anti-poison dog patrols by law enforcement officers and other authorities
• at least 5 wildlife crime cases prosecuted
• 50% reduction in poisoning incidents by year 5 of the project
• promotion of lead-free ammunition to a minimum of 240 hunters
• a minimum 25kg reduction in lead contamination over 5 years
• adult and post-fledging mortality of vultures reduced by 15-30%

2. increase food base:

• at least 30 red deer released in Greece (mainly in Dasos Dadias-Soufli)
• 3 stable semi-wild horse populations created
• in Bulgaria, the first application of EU regulations allowing livestock carcasses to be left outside of the supplementary feeding stations

3. reduce human-wildlife conflict:

• human-predator conflict be reduced by approximately 40%
• 30 electric fences provided to livestock breeders
• 40 wolf-proof hunting dog vests distributed
• human-semiwild horse conflict reduced

4. establish new colony:

• 40-45 birds delivered from Spain
• breeding population increased by 40-70%

5. prevent and mitigate wildfires:

• emergency protocol developed for rescuing vulture chicks from nests in case of fire
• a wildfire early warning system introduced in Bulgaria
• increased number of herbivores contribute to controlling vegetation growth and halting forest closure

6. increase benefits to local communities:

• 5 trips with students
• handbook for sustainable tourism

7. communication and awareness raising:

• at least 40,000 stakeholders/year involved in online and in-person events
• participation of approximately 25 schools
• a youth camp in Madzharovo
• at least 5,000 people (including 2 000 children) reached through education programmes