PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
In Sardinia, the Bonelli's Eagle (Aquila fasciata) became extinct between the 1980s and 1990s, probably because of the robbery of eggs/chicks and direct persecution, together with the impact of power lines. The reintroduction of the species in Sardinia began with Life Aquila a-LIFE in 2018. The objective of Life Abilas is to capitalise on the work done so far and obtain a viable and reproductive population of Bonelli's Eagle in Sardinia, continuing the releases at a rate of 8-10 individuals per year, also addressing the main conservation issues of the species through activities such as 1. securing of MV (Medium Voltage) power lines; 2. securing small reservoirs and water tanks for irrigation use, to prevent losses for drowning; 3. increasing the food availability in key areas and territories through the creation of sanitary controlled nuclei of an important prey species, the Wild Rabbit; 4. promoting the use of non-toxic ammunition for small game hunting. The project also aims to define an economic value for the species, to be used in environmental assessment and/or in the definition of compensation measures for projects with environmental impacts. The economic value will be quantified through a large-scale survey and with the involvement of locally relevant stakeholder groups. Data about movements and territories of released Bonelli's eagles, plus GPS data of other species (e.g. golden eagle), will also be used to prepare a sensitivity map useful to guide the development of new wind farms and/or other projects in Sardinia. Communication will be aimed at increasing knowledge on the ecology and main threats to the conservation of the species and birds of prey in general, also through massive open online courses (MOOCs). Finally, art institutes in the region will be invited to submit a project of two murales with the Bonelli's Eagle as subject. The selected projects will then be realised in highly visible areas of the region.