PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The world breeding population of the Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus) is estimated at 7 347-8 993 pairs, with the Mediterranean-Black Sea flyway populations holding ca. 42-54% of the global population of the species. Its breeding distribution is still restricted to a small number of sites, which makes the species extremely vulnerable. The population increase has only taken place in a few colonies, masking fluctuations and decreases that were observed elsewhere. The species still needs significant conservation efforts, given the low population size, vulnerability of the habitats, and existing threats. It is still not well understood that the Dalmatian pelican, a short-distance migrant in SE Europe, with survival rates around 80% per year for adults and less than 60% for birds under 2 years old, remains entirely dependent on conservation measures. Despite the measures undertaken, many threats persist: collisions with powerlines, unfulfilled requirements in nesting and feeding habitats, disturbance of highly vulnerable colonies, direct persecution and hostility by fishermen. Moreover, poor standardisation in monitoring and reporting often result in a misleading, over-optimistic view about its conservation status, underestimating the indisputable fact that the fate of the Dalmatian pelican heavily relies on the quality of wetland management and protection measures.
OBJECTIVES
The Pelican Way of LIFE project will become the major effort for the conservation of the Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus), at EU and global scale. The project aims to reduce the threats and to improve the habitats in 27 Natura 2000 sites (SPAs) in Romania, Bulgaria and Greece, covering all of the EU breeding range, and Ukraine. In addition, the project aims to support capacity building and research in Turkey, Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia.
The project has the following objectives:
- To improve knowledge on the importance of specific threats, sites and the migration ecology, for use in future management and conservation activities;
- To involve local stakeholders in a set of conservation measures to reduce illegal killing and disturbance at key sites along the fly way;
- To reduce direct mortality from collisions with power lines;
- To improve nesting conditions through habitat improvement actions and patrolling;
- To enhance community pride and support for the conservation of Dalmatian pelican, and the Natura 2000 sites; and
- To raise awareness of local people about the species, and to increase the engagement of stakeholders in the conservation of Dalmatian pelican.
The project will apply a flyway approach. One objective in the Danube Delta is to create new breeding colonies on the Ukrainian side to increase the number of breeding sites, and so decrease the global threat to the species. Similarly, supporting conservation in other countries along the flyway will be beneficial for the EU breeding population.
In addition to Dalmatian pelican, a large number of other species of Community interest will also benefit from the conservation measure implemented in the 27 SPAs. This directly implements the EU Birds Directive, the European Species Action Plan for the Dalmatian Pelican, and the International Species Action Plan for the Dalmatian Pelican developed in the frame of LIFE EuroSAP (LIFE14 PRE/UK/000002), as well as national action plans for Dalmatian pelican in Bulgaria and Romania.
RESULTS
Expected results:
- 25 Dalmatian pelicans tracked by satellite transmitters to reveal the importance of the threats, site use, and migration ecology, to guide future conservation measures;
- Improved knowledge of the key stopover and concentration areas to help better planning of the conservation actions;
- Stabilisation of the distinct Dalmatian pelican subpopulation in Western Greece, survival and stabilisation of the newly established colonies in Belene (Bulgaria) and Lake Tasaul (Romania), and overall increase of the Dalmatian pelican population in EU by 5-10 % in 5 years;
- Data on attitudes of fishermen to pelican and fish-eating birds at key sites in Bulgaria, Romania, Greece and Ukraine systematically collected to support conservation measures;
- Improved breeding and roosting conditions though provision of new platforms over water in Belene island complex, Mandra-Poda (Bulgaria), Anankin Kut, Ermakov Island and Kartal lake (Ukraine), and restoration of old one (Belene island complex, Mandra- Poda);
- Reduced species disturbance and mortality by persecution by introducing new patrol and surveillanceschemes at 7 SPAs - Belene island, Ovcharitsa, Rozov Kladentes, Studen Kladentes, Lakes Tasaul-Corbu, Amvrakikos Gulf and Messolonghi wetland;
- Reduced collisions with powerlines in Bulgaria, Romania and Greece through installation of visual bird diverters along power-lines (2 km in Bulgaria, 4 km in Greece and 4 km in Romania) in key SPAs of international importance for the Dalmatian pelican;
- At least 30 experts from the project countries, and Turkey, Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia, trained in pelican monitoring and conservation techniques;
- Key stakeholders trained on methods to reduce the conflict between fish-eating birds and human activities can cause disturbance - aquaculture farmers, anglers, boatmen, tourist guides, and Management Authority staff;
- Active involvement of relevant stakeholders and volunteers in species conservation, including with over 5 000 local people and all responsible public authorities;
- Over 10 000 children and students involved in educational activities; and
- Improved visitors facilities at key wetlands on the Black Sea coast and along the Danube.
