Conservation of Black and Griffon Vultures in the Cross-Border

Conservation of Black and ­Griffon LIFE14 NAT/NL/000901 LIFE RE-Vultures vultures in the cross-border ­Rhodopes mountains

Project background

The European black vulture (Aegypius monachus) and Beneficiary: griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) are considered as umbrel- Name of beneficiary la species whose conservation will also substantially Stichting Rewilding Europe ­benefit other raptor species sharing the main diet of carrion as well as breeding and foraging habitats. These Postal address Toernooiveld 1 species are also an indicator of healthy, intact, natural NL - 6525 ED Nijmegen habitats. The conservation status of all species of Euro- THE NETHERLANDS pean vultures,­ however, is vulnerable as a result of poi- Phone +31 630543387 soning, limited food availability, collisions (wind farms Fax N/A and powerlines) and electrocution (electricity pylons). Email [email protected] Moreover, most breeding populations are isolated and most species have low reproduction rates. It is difficult to Name of contact person ensure the long-term survival of these species in Europe. Ilko BOSMAN

Only around 2 125 breeding pairs of black vultures Duration of project: 66 months (01/01/2016 – 30/06/2021) ­remain in four EU countries (France, Germany, Portugal and Spain). Around 97% are found in Spain. The single Total budget in euro: remaining colony left in the Balkans is located in the 2,198,572.00 National Park of the Dadia-Soufli-Lefkimi forest (Dadia NP) in the Rhodope Mountains in Greece, close to the EU contribution in euro: ­border with Bulgaria. The black vulture population here 1,648,015.00 has around 28 pairs.

Project objectives • Reduced mortality risk of vultures from electricity The overall objective of the LIFE LIFE RE-Vultures project infrastructure by identifying all dangerous ­electricity is to reduce severe threats to black and griffon vultures pylons in the project Natura 2000 network sites and thus allow them to recover in the Bulgarian/Greek (SPAs) in Bulgaria, insulating more than 120 pylons cross-border area of the Eastern Rhodope Mountains. and the mounting of bird diverters on 2.5 km of powerlines; Expected results • Increased awareness and support from key stake- The project’s expected results are as follows: holders, including local businesses, by organising • Increased population of black vulture to 35 pairs and excursions for stakeholders and community leaders griffon vulture to 80 pairs; to vulture-watching sites, supporting businesses in • Increased knowledge of mortality factors and threats improving their vulture-based activities, media cam- affecting the vultures through toxicological research paigns, an interactive website and a youth education and GPS tagging of more than 40 vultures; programme at the Vulture Centre in Madzharovo; and • Increased understanding of migration and dispersal • Extended networking with conservation ­organisations of black and griffon vultures by mapping the move- through an international workshop on supplemen- ments of tagged vultures in a database; tary vulture feeding, vulture threats and relevant EU • Reduced disturbance, poisoning and direct persecution directives. of the vultures through training of local ­authorities, anti-poison dog teams and targeted awareness-­ raising campaigns; • Increased food availability for the vultures through the reintroduction of 50 red deer and 200 fallow deer in at least three SPAs along with six small locally ­operated feeding places;