PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The slender-billed curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) is a medium- to long-range migrant, crossing many countries from western Siberia to North Africa. Unfortunately, it had suffered a dramatic population decline throughout the 20th century. Estimations in 1994 gave a range of only 50 to 270 individuals making it one of the most endangered bird species in the Palearctic region. The species’ conservation status was classified as critical at world level.
The bird was listed in international conventions as well as the EU Birds Directive. The first protection memorandum was developed in 1993/94 by the Bonn Convention Secretariat, while a set of activities was identified in 1992/94 by the ACNAT project ‘Preparation of a rescue plan for the Slender-billed Curlew’.
However, conservation action for the species was a real challenge, due to the lack of knowledge concerning the location of its breeding ground and population parameters. The bird is one of the least known in Europe, where it occurs only as a passage migrant. Very little was known about the species’ biology or the reasons for its decline.
Six Greek wetlands - Evros Delta, Porto Lagos lagoon, Axios Delta, Kalamas estuary, Amvrakikos bay and the Messolonghi complex - are the only regular migration sites, and occasional wintering sites, of the species in the EU. They are also where most worldwide observations of the species during migration had been made in the ten years preceding the project.
OBJECTIVES
The overall objective of this project was to contribute to the conservation of the slender-billed curlew (Numenius tenuirostis) by giving the best chance of recovery and effective protection to the species’ preferred habitats within the six Greek wetlands. Its overall aim was to be achieved through actions to greatly increase knowledge and understanding of the species and the enforcement of legal protection measures of its habitat.
The project planned to carry out regular scientific monitoring of all shorebird species in the six selected sites. This monitoring was to provide valuable data on the breeding biology and ecology of the species and to identify habitat and feeding requirements. They also hoped to develop international co-operation in the localisation of breeding areas and further understanding of the species. The team thus sought to identify all the factors affecting the survival of the remaining population, particularly during migration and wintering to enable an effective analysis of extinction risks and to formulate a more precise management plan for the species.
The project foresaw the application of legal measures to protect key sites for the species and efforts to raise public awareness about the need to preserve these vital habitats and to avoid negative impacts from specific groups, such as hunters.
RESULTS
The overall objective of the LIFE project was reached through regular scientific monitoring and the enforcement of legal protection measures. The project was an important step forward in the conservation of the slender-billed curlew (Numenius tenuirostis) and the Greek wetlands it depends upon. However, it remained to be seen if these measures would be sufficient to promote a recovery given the extremely low population levels of the bird.
During the three-year project, there were 18 observations of the slender-billed curlew, of which twelve were in the six project wetlands - seven in the Evros delta. Important information on the ecology and life cycle of the species was collected and a scientific paper on the probability of the extinction of the slender-billed curlew was published. In addition, around 600 wader counts of 42 species were undertaken from 1996 to1999 at the six wetland sites.
Based on the results of the project, the four habitat types used by the species have been identified, and for all sites, the main threats and appropriate conservation measures described. The proposed measures are mainly wardening, monitoring and site protection of the key habitats.
Information material was produced and communication campaigns - workshops, brochures - undertaken to inform hunters. Legal measures were proposed and adopted at some sites. One site, the Kalamas Delta, was declared an SPA during the period of the LIFE project.
An international workshop was held during the project, bringing together international scientists and establishing useful links between conservation and hunting interests. Co-operation and communication between different stakeholders was greatly enhanced by the project. The overall objective of the LIFE project was reached through regular scientific monitoring and the enforcement of legal protection measures. The project was an important step forward in the conservation of the slender-billed curlew (Numenius tenuirostis) and the Greek wetlands it depends upon. However, it remained to be seen if these measures would be sufficient to promote a recovery given the extremely low population levels of the bird.
During the three-year project, there were 18 observations of the slender-billed curlew, of which twelve were in the six project wetlands - seven in the Evros delta. Important information on the ecology and life cycle of the species was collected and a scientific paper on the probability of the extinction of the slender-billed curlew was published. In addition, around 600 wader counts of 42 species were undertaken from 1996 to1999 at the six wetland sites.
Based on the results of the project, the four habitat types used by the species have been identified, and for all sites, the main threats and appropriate conservation measures described. The proposed measures are mainly wardening, monitoring and site protection of the key habitats.
Information material was produced and communication campaigns - workshops, brochures - undertaken to inform hunters. Legal measures were proposed and adopted at some sites. One site, the Kalamas Delta, was declared an SPA during the period of the LIFE project.
An international workshop was held during the project, bringing together international scientists and establishing useful links between conservation and hunting interests. Co-operation and communication between different stakeholders was greatly enhanced by the project.