Part a – Administrative Information

LIFE + Nature

TECHNICAL APPLICATION FORMS

Part A – administrative information

Version 2

Page 1 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - A1

LIFE+ 2011 FOR ADMINISTRATION USE ONLY LIFE+11 NAT/BG/

LIFE+ Nature project application

Language of the proposal: English (en)

Project title: (max. 120 characters)

Greater chance for Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) in Bulgaria

Project acronym: (max. 25 characters) Lesser Kestrel Recovery

The project will be implemented in the following Member State(s): Name of the Member State Name of the Region BG - Bulgaria all regions - +

Expected start date: 01-06-2012 Expected end date: 01-06-2017

LIST OF BENEFICIARIES Name of the coordinating beneficiary: Green Balkans - Stara Zagora (max. 200 characters)

Add associated beneficiary: ■ Yes No

Name of the associated beneficiary: European Nature Heritage Fund - Stiftung Europäisches - + (max. 200 characters) Naturerbe

Name of the associated beneficiary: Defensa y Estudio del Medio Ambiente / DEMA - + (max. 200 characters)

LIST OF CO-FINANCIERS Add co-financier: Yes ■ No

PROJECT BUDGET AND REQUESTED EU FUNDING Total project budget: 1,582,983 €

Total eligible project budget: 1,582,983 €

EU financial contribution requested: 1,187,236 € ( = 75 % of total eligible budget)

Page 2 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - A2 Coordinating Beneficiary Profile Information

Legal Name Green Balkans - Stara Zagora

Short Name Legal Status (max. 10 characters) GreenBal

VAT No NA Public body Legal Registration No 123057983 Private commercial Registration Date 15-02-1995 Private non- commercial ■ Legal address of the Coordinating Beneficiary

Street Name and No Stara planina No 9 (max. 100 characters) Town/ City Stara Zagora Post Code 6000 PO Box Member State BG - Bulgaria Coordinating Beneficiary contact person information Title Ms. Function Project Manager Surname Kmetova First Name Elena E-mail address [email protected]

Department / Service Nature Conservation (max. 200 characters)

Street Name and No Stara planina No 9 Post Code 6000 PO Box Town/ City Stara Zagora Member State BG - Bulgaria Telephone No 00359885219557 Fax No Website www.greenbalkans.org Brief description of the Coordinating Beneficiary's activities and experience in the area of the proposal (max. 2.000 characters) Green Balkans – Stara Zagora is a non-governmental organization, registered in public benefit in accordance with the national Nonprofit Juridical Entities Act. The organization was found in 1989 as one of the first non- government nature conservation organizations in Bulgaria. Today it has more than 4000 members united in 25 structures all over the country. Its staff and volunteers have carried out some 100 nature conservation and 560 actions, 80 of them of national significance. Mission: Conservation, research and restoration of biodiversity of Bulgaria and the Balkan peninsula. Areas of work: • conservation of threatened species and habitats; • inventories and designation of new protected areas; • main partner of the Ministry of Environment and Water in the establishment of the NATURA 2000 network in Bulgaria; • monitors and prevents violations on nature conservation legislation; • develops and carries out programs for sustainable development and management of natural resources; • supports the reform of the nature conservation legislation; • carries out educational programs, expeditions and conservation holidays; • works for ex-situ conservation of protected species – with the only official Wildlife Rescue Centre designated in Bulgaria operating as part of Green Balkans activity. The Wildlife Rescue Centre is a specialized unit of Green Balkans’ work program concerned with the rehabilitation, treatment, recovery, and release of rare wild animals or

Page 3 of 157 species threatened with extinction. The Rescue Centre has a clinic with specialized equipment, rehabilitation rooms, a quarantine room, different-sized aviaries for housing birds able to fly with a total area 6 800 m2. As a part of the successful captive breeding programme, the Centre successfully breeds a number of rare and protected species – Great Owl, Barn Owl, Lesser Kestrel.

Page 4 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - A3

COORDINATING BENEFICIARY DECLARATION The undersigned hereby certifies that: 1. The specific actions listed in this proposal do not and will not receive aid from the Structural Funds or other European Union financial instruments. In the event that any such funding will be made available after the submission of the proposal or during the implementation of the project, my organisation will immediately inform the European Commission.

2. My organisation

Green Balkans - Stara Zagora

3. My organisation (which is legally registered in the European Union) will contribute 300,680 € to the project. My organisation will participate in the implementation of the following actions: A.1, A.2, A.3, A.4, A.5, A.6, A.7, C.1, C.2, C.3, C.4, C.5, C.6, C.7, C.8, C.12, C.13, D.1, D.2, E.1, E.2, E.3, E.4, E.6, E.7, E.8, E.9, E.10, F.1, F.2, F.3, F.4, F.5, F.6, E.5, C.9, C.10, C.11 The estimated total cost of my organisation's part in the implementation of the project is 1,202,718 € 4. Should one or more associated beneficiary or co-financier reduce or withdraw its financial contribution, my organisation will ensure that a corresponding additional contribution is made available.

5. My organisation will conclude with the associated beneficiaries and co-financiers any agreements necessary for the completion of the work, provided these do not infringe on their obligations, as stated in the grant agreement with the European Commission. Such agreements will be based on the model proposed by the European Commission. They will describe clearly the tasks to be performed by each associated beneficiary and define the financial arrangements.

6. I am aware that my organisation is solely legally and financially responsible to the Commission for the implementation of the project (Article 4 of the Common Provisions).

I am legally authorised to sign this statement on behalf of my organisation.

I have read in full the Common Provisions (attached to the Model Grant Agreement provided with the LIFE+ application files).

I certify to the best of my knowledge that the statements made in this proposal are true and the information provided is correct.

At Stara Zagora on 11-06-2011

Signature of the Coordinating Beneficiary: ......

Name(s) and status of signatory:Ivailo Klisurov, Chairman of the Managing Board

Page 5 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - A3

COORDINATING BENEFICIARY DECLARATION Signature of the Coordinating Beneficiary (click here to insert the scanned document corresponding to the signed A3 form)

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Page 6 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - A5 ASSOCIATED BENEFICIARY PROFILE Associated Beneficiary profile information

Legal Name European Nature Heritage Fund - Stiftung Europäisches Naturerbe

Short Name EURONATUR Legal Status (max. 10 characters)

VAT No 1815325263 Public body Legal Registration No RP Freiburg; Az: 14/2214.8 Private commercial Registration Date 08-04-1987 Private non-commercial ■ Legal address of the Associated Beneficiary Street Name and No Konstanzer Straße 22 (max. 100 characters) Town/City Radolfzell Post Code 78315 PO Box Member State DE - Germany Website of the Associated Beneficiary Website www.euronatur.org

Brief description of the Associated Beneficiary's activities and experience in the area of the proposal (max. 2.000 characters) Ever since its establishment in 1987, EuroNatur is working for the protection of large scale landscapes and the corresponding species which are part of Europe’s common natural heritage. Project sites are chosen based on their natural values, but also considering the general political framework, e.g. whether the site is already in national or international focus for protection. EuroNatur concentrates on those sites which have a high natural value, but have not yet been recognized as worthy of protection and therefore need an advocate to lobby and work for their protection. EuroNatur was involved in the elaboration of international single species action plans for Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), published in 2008 and Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca), published in 2006 as well as in the development of the EU management plan for Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina), published in 2007. From 2007 to 2010, EuroNatur, together with partners from Switzerland, Belgium and Italy conducted the ELBARN project aimed on preserving rare breeds by establishing a European Livestock and Breeds Ark and Rescue Net and preserving traditional ways of land use such as extensive grazing and transhumance pastoralism. For more information visit www.elbarn.net EuroNatur projects exemplary for the perpetuation of extensive grazing schemes are the actions in the Sava Floodplains in Croatia where free ranging Turopolje Pigs and Posavina Horses graze the floodplain meadows (http://www.euronatur.org/Sava.sava.0.html). Within the frame of the Senne project (Germany) EuroNatur works for the protection of heathland by supporting traditional land use forms including extensive grazing with Senne Horses (http://www.euronatur.org/Senne.sen Currently, EuroNatur within the frame of different projects, is dealing with grazing schemes and pastoralism in the Balkans with focus on the importance of pastures as habitats for endangered species.

Page 7 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - A4 ASSOCIATED BENEFICIARY DECLARATION (complete for each Associated Beneficiary) The undersigned hereby certifies that: 1. My organisation

European Nature Heritage Fund - Stiftung Europäisches Naturerbe

has not been served with bankruptcy orders, nor has it received a formal summons from creditors. My organisation is not in any of the situations listed in Articles 93.1 and 94 of Council Regulation 1605/2002 of 25/06/2002 (OJ L248 of 16/09/2002). 2. My organisation (which is legally registered in the European Union) will contribute 19,688 € to the project. My organisation will participate in the implementation of the following actions: .

A.1, A.2, A.7, E.9, E.10, F.1, F.2, F.3

The estimated total cost of my organisation's part in the implementation of the project is 78,750 €. 3. My organisation will conclude with the coordinating beneficiary an agreement necessary for the completion of the work, provided this does not infringe on our obligations, as stated in the grant agreement with the European Commission. This agreement will be based on the model proposed by the European Commission. It will describe clearly the tasks to be performed by my organisation and define the financial arrangements. 4. For the purposes of the implementation of the agreement regarding this project between the European Commission and the coordinating beneficiary: a) My organisation grants power of attorney to the coordinating beneficiary, to act in our name and for our account in signing the above-mentioned agreement and its possible subsequent riders with the European Commission. Accordingly, my organisation hereby mandates the coordinating beneficiary to take full legal responsibility for the implementation of such an agreement. b) My organisation hereby confirms that we have taken careful note of and accept all the provisions of the above agreement with the European Commission, in particular all provisions affecting my organisation and the coordinating beneficiary. In particular, my organisation acknowledges that, by virtue of this mandate, the co-ordinator alone is entitled to receive funds from the Commission and distribute to my organisation the amount corresponding to our participation in the action. c) My organisation hereby agrees to do everything in our power to help the coordinating beneficiary fulfil his obligations under the above agreement. In particular, my organisation hereby agrees to provide him whatever documents or information may be required, as soon as possible after receiving his request. d) The provisions of the above agreement, including this mandate, shall take precedence over any other agreement between my organisation and the coordinating beneficiary which may have an effect on the implementation of the above agreement between the coordinating beneficiary and the Commission. I am legally authorised to sign this statement on behalf of my organisation.

I have read in full the Common Provisions (attached to the Model Grant Agreement provided with the LIFE+ application files).

I certify to the best of my knowledge that the statements made in this proposal are true and the information provided is correct.

At Radolfzell on 11-07-2011

Signature of the Associated Beneficiary: ......

Name(s) and status of signatory:Gabriel Schwaderer, Executive Director

Page 8 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - A4

ASSOCIATED BENEFICIARY DECLARATION Signature of the Associated Beneficiary (click here to insert the scanned document corresponding to the signed A4 form)

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Page 9 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - A5 ASSOCIATED BENEFICIARY PROFILE Associated Beneficiary profile information

Legal Name Defensa y Estudio del Medio Ambiente / DEMA

Short Name DEMA Legal Status (max. 10 characters)

VAT No G-06126601 Public body Legal Registration No 1480 Private commercial Registration Date 06-02-1990 Private non-commercial ■ Legal address of the Associated Beneficiary Street Name and No Ctra. a Fuente del Maestre s/n (max. 100 characters) Town/City Almendralejo Post Code 06200 PO Box 268 Member State ES - Spain Website of the Associated Beneficiary Website www.demaprimilla.org

Brief description of the Associated Beneficiary's activities and experience in the area of the proposal (max. 2.000 characters) DEMA (Defensa y Estudio del Medio Ambiente) is a NGO found in 1990 with the aim of the protection of the fauna, the flora and the natural areas in Extremadura, but also to raise the awareness of the citizens about the needs of the conservation, a task with which de centre of environmental education l and breeding centre, situated in Almendralejo, is handling with. Its main focus is the Falco naumanni: - Breeding in captivity - Programmes of introduction and reintroduction - Conservation and study of nesting habitats - Environmental education DEMA manages with the town hall of Almendralejo, a Centre of Environmental Education. Located in the town property “Las Aguas”, is the domicile of DEMA and of the Breeding Centre. Natural interactive resources “in situ” are all used inside the property by DEMA: a wild colony of Falco naumanni, a Breeding Centre and a Special Protection Area for birds (SPA). It is the first urban SPA in Europe, located in town, in the church of purification in Almendralejo. There are 80- 84 couples of Falco naumanni, which are occupying artificial nests placed by DEMA. Campaigns of awareness in rural areas in Comarca de Tierra de Barros are developed too. In the Breeding Centre of DEMA, three collective breeding modules lodge for 35 reproductive couples, which guarantee annually the natural production for the project. 1.553 chicks of Falco naumanni have been liberated, in this projects: - Palomas (Badajoz) - Villena (Alicante) - Allhambra de Granada - Almendralejo (Badajoz) - Hinojosa del Valle (Badajoz) - Aude, Francia, LIFE NATURALEZA NºLIFE05NAT/F/000134 - EBD – CSIC, Isla de la Cartuja, Sevilla - Évora (Portugal),in development - Tudela (Pamplona),in development Results: extinguished colonies and recovered 3/colonies not existent created 4/Total: 114 couples/Flown chicks in 2011: 355 Collaboration in other projects: Madrid (Grefa), LIFE steppe birds of La Serena (Junta de Extremadura), LIFE Falco naumanni (La Rioja), Linares (Iberus)

Page 10 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - A4 ASSOCIATED BENEFICIARY DECLARATION (complete for each Associated Beneficiary) The undersigned hereby certifies that: 1. My organisation

Defensa y Estudio del Medio Ambiente / DEMA

has not been served with bankruptcy orders, nor has it received a formal summons from creditors. My organisation is not in any of the situations listed in Articles 93.1 and 94 of Council Regulation 1605/2002 of 25/06/2002 (OJ L248 of 16/09/2002). 2. My organisation (which is legally registered in the European Union) will contribute 75,379 € to the project. My organisation will participate in the implementation of the following actions: .

A.1, A.2, A.3, A.4, A.5, A.6, A.7, C.5, C.7, C.8, C.9, F.1, F.3

The estimated total cost of my organisation's part in the implementation of the project is 301,515 €. 3. My organisation will conclude with the coordinating beneficiary an agreement necessary for the completion of the work, provided this does not infringe on our obligations, as stated in the grant agreement with the European Commission. This agreement will be based on the model proposed by the European Commission. It will describe clearly the tasks to be performed by my organisation and define the financial arrangements. 4. For the purposes of the implementation of the agreement regarding this project between the European Commission and the coordinating beneficiary: a) My organisation grants power of attorney to the coordinating beneficiary, to act in our name and for our account in signing the above-mentioned agreement and its possible subsequent riders with the European Commission. Accordingly, my organisation hereby mandates the coordinating beneficiary to take full legal responsibility for the implementation of such an agreement. b) My organisation hereby confirms that we have taken careful note of and accept all the provisions of the above agreement with the European Commission, in particular all provisions affecting my organisation and the coordinating beneficiary. In particular, my organisation acknowledges that, by virtue of this mandate, the co-ordinator alone is entitled to receive funds from the Commission and distribute to my organisation the amount corresponding to our participation in the action. c) My organisation hereby agrees to do everything in our power to help the coordinating beneficiary fulfil his obligations under the above agreement. In particular, my organisation hereby agrees to provide him whatever documents or information may be required, as soon as possible after receiving his request. d) The provisions of the above agreement, including this mandate, shall take precedence over any other agreement between my organisation and the coordinating beneficiary which may have an effect on the implementation of the above agreement between the coordinating beneficiary and the Commission. I am legally authorised to sign this statement on behalf of my organisation.

I have read in full the Common Provisions (attached to the Model Grant Agreement provided with the LIFE+ application files).

I certify to the best of my knowledge that the statements made in this proposal are true and the information provided is correct.

At Almendralejo on 13-07-2011

Signature of the Associated Beneficiary: ......

Name(s) and status of signatory:Jose Antolin Lopez, President

Page 11 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - A4

ASSOCIATED BENEFICIARY DECLARATION Signature of the Associated Beneficiary (click here to insert the scanned document corresponding to the signed A4 form)

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Page 12 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - A7 OTHER PROPOSALS SUBMITTED FOR EUROPEAN UNION FUNDING

Please answer each of the following questions :

Have you or any of your associated beneficiaries already benefited from previous LIFE co- financing? (please cite LIFE project reference number, title, year, amount of the co-financing, duration, name(s) of coordinating beneficiary and/or partners involved): (max. 5.000 characters)

Green Balkans – Stara Zagora NGO Reference number: LIFE08 NAT/BG/000278 Title: VULTURES' RETURN - Recovery of the Populations of Large European Vultures in Bulgaria Year: 2008 Amount of co-financing: 666,164.00 € Duration: 01-JAN-2010 to 31-DEC -2014 Beneficiary: Green Balkans – Stara Zagora NGO Partners: Fund for Wild Flora & Fauna – Bulgaria (FWFF) Co-financier: Frankfurt Zoological Society

Grupo de Defensa Medioambiental de Almendralejo (DEMA), Spain Reference number: LIFE05 NAT/F/000134 Title: Reinforcement and conservation of Lesser Kestrel populations in Aude (FR) and Extrémadure (ES) Year: 2005 Amount of co-financing: 963,534.00 € Duration: 01-SEP-2005 to 31-AUG -2009 Beneficiary: Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO Aude), France Partners: Grupo de Defensa Medioambiental de Almendralejo (DREMA), Spain Centre de l’Union Française des Centres de Sauvegarde de la Faune Sauvage de Millau, France LPO Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur, France Association des Chasseurs et des propriétaires du Pérignanais, France Centre National d’Informations Toxicologiques Vétérinaires, France Université Pierre et Marie Curie, France Parc Naturel Régional de la Narbonnaise, France

Have you or any of the associated beneficiaries submitted any actions related directly or indirectly to this project to other European Union financial instruments? To whom? When and with what results? (max. 5.000 characters) In 2009 Green Balkans started project: Conservation measures for target species of the EU Birds Directive – Lesser Kestrel, Black Vulture, and Imperial Eagle in their main habitats in Bulgaria” project No 58301–60-480, Contract No 58301 – С – 008, implemented by Green Balkans with the financial assistance of the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union and the state budget of the Republic of Bulgaria through OP Environment 2007-2013 (ope.moew.government.bg), Axis 3 “Preservation and restoration of biodiversity”: procedure BG161PO005/08/3/01/05. Project Duration: 36 months, August 2009 - July 2012

In 2010 Green Balkans - Stara Zagora submitted a proposal "Re-establishment of Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) and Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus) in Bulgaria" for the LIFE+ 2010 call, which was registered under number LIFE10 NAT/BG/000147. The proposal was rejected and the comments sent by the European Commission have been taken in consideration while preparing the present proposal.

For those actions which fall within the eligibility criteria for financing through other European Union financial instruments, please explain in full detail why you consider that those actions nevertheless do not fall within the main scope of the instrument(s) in question and are therefore included in the current project. (max. 5.000 characters) There are no such instruments, which are relevant to the actions and objectives of the proposal with the following exceptions:

Page 13 of 157 • The Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, could provide financial aid to beneficiaries for purchase of livestock animals. The obstacle is that NGOs (such the beneficiaries in the recent proposal are) are not eligible to apply for this particular aid. • The Operational Programme Environment (OPE) is very much likely to support similar actions to those presented in the current proposal, but International partners are not eligible for funding through OPE. International partnership with EURONATUR and DEMA are considered crucial for the success of the current project.

Page 14 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - A8 DECLARATION OF SUPPORT FROM THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY Optional: in addition to the support of the necessary competent authorities as described in the guidelines for applicants, this form may also be used to indicate any other support to the project by important stakeholder bodies, administrative bodies or individuals that may be concerned by the project.

Name and legal status: (max. 120 characters) Ministry of Environment and Waters (MoEW), Republic of Bulgaria

Full address: 22 Maria Luiza Blvd. 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria

Tel:+359 2 988 2577 Fax: +359 2 986 2533

E-mail: [email protected]

Contact person (name and function): (max. 255 characters) Nona Karadjova, Minister of Environment and Water

Please specify whether, why and how you will support this project: (max. 1.500 characters) The Ministry of Environment and Waters of Bulgaria (MoEW) herewith expresses its support for the “Greater Chance for Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) in Bulgaria” Project of Green Balkans – Stara Zagora NGO and EURONATUR (Germany). The proposal comprises an integrated approach in support of Lesser Kestrel population in Bulgaria following well-tested methodology, experience exchange and supporting the Wildlife Rescue Centre at Green Balkans – Stara Zagora in its activities for Lesser Kestrel captive breeding and maintenance, thus guaranteeing sustainability of the conservation actions. At the same time the project provides for enhancing habitats and increasing public participation in direct conservation measures and positive agro-environmental measures for achieving favorable conservation status of the Bulgarian NATURA 2000 network. MoEW supports the current proposal as it will contribute to the fulfillment of important political engagements of the Bulgarian government, related to the application of the Habitats and Birds Directives and the management of the NATURA 2000 network in Bulgaria. MoEW is willing to assist the project preparation and implementation, especially in terms of issuing the Lesser Kestrel import permits (provided that all legal requirements are met) and the revision of a ToR and a Lesser Kestrel Action Plan, submitted along with Regulation No 5/01.08.2003 of MoEW. MoEW has no financial responsibility for project implementation costs.

At Sofia, Bulgaria on 08-07-2011

Signature of the Competent Authority: ......

Name(s) and status of signatory: Nona Karadjova, Minister of Environment and Water (max. 100 characters)

Page 15 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - A8

DECLARATION OF SUPPORT FROM THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY (click here to insert the scanned document corresponding to the signed A8 form)

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Page 16 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - A8 DECLARATION OF SUPPORT FROM THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY Optional: in addition to the support of the necessary competent authorities as described in the guidelines for applicants, this form may also be used to indicate any other support to the project by important stakeholder bodies, administrative bodies or individuals that may be concerned by the project.

Name and legal status: (max. 120 characters) Direccion General del Medio Natural, Junta de Extremadura

Full address: Direccion General del Medio Natural, Junta de Extremadura Paseo de Roma, Modulo A, Planta baja 06800 Merida (Espana)

Tel:+34 924 006131 Fax: +34 924 00

E-mail: [email protected]

Contact person (name and function): (max. 255 characters) Pedro Munoz Barco. Jefe de Servicio de Conservacion de la Naturaleza y Areas Protegidas

Please specify whether, why and how you will support this project: (max. 1.500 characters) La Direccion General del Medio Natural de la Consejeria de Industria, Energia y Medio Ambiente es el Organismo responsable de la Conservacion de la Biodiversidad en la Comunidad Autonoma de Extremadura y es la Autoridad de Gestion en la conservacion de las especies y sus habitats.

La Direccion General del Medio Natural apoya la propuesta presentada por el Projecto LIFE, en particular la Accion desarrolladas por la Asociacion No Gubernamental DEMA, C.8. Reintroduccion de Cernicalo Primilla (Falco naumanni) en Bulgaria.

At Merida on 05-07-2011

Signature of the Competent Authority: ......

Name(s) and status of signatory: Guillermo Cresp Parra. Director General (max. 100 characters)

Page 17 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - A8

DECLARATION OF SUPPORT FROM THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY (click here to insert the scanned document corresponding to the signed A8 form)

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Page 18 of 157 LIFE + Nature

TECHNICAL APPLICATION FORMS

Part B – technical summary and overall context of the project

Page 19 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - B1 SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT (Max. 3 pages; to be completed in English) Project title: Greater chance for Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) in Bulgaria

Project objectives: The current proposal aims at supporting and strengthening the populations of the globally endangered Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) in Bulgaria through a series of direct conservation measures and wide public involvement. The proposal aims at achieving the following:

Direct conservation objectives: 1. To maintain and enhance Lesser Kestrel habitats as prerequisite for the restoration and stabilization of the species as nesting in Bulgaria. 2. To enable and start Lesser Kestrel restocking in Bulgaria through captive breeding and translocation of young non-fledged birds from Spain. 3. To establish and maintain a free colony of Lesser Kestrels in Sakar SPA. 4. To create favourable conditions for natural re-establishment of Lesser Kestrel colonies in adjacent SPAs – Byala reka and Krumovitsa through habitat enhancement 5. To improve the overall knowledge on the population status, trends, needs and ecological characteristics of Lesser Kestrels on the Balkans and develop a scientific network of local experts to exchange information, best practice and “know-how” on Lesser Kestrel conservation. 6. To identify the most beneficial and effective “Lesser Kestrel Friendly” land-use practices used throughout Europe and guarantee their application in the target sites through NATURA 2000 Management Plans, involving the local communities in relevant agro-environmental schemes and promoting transhumance and extensive grazing. 7. To create positive attitude towards Lesser Kestrel conservation through promotion of eco-tourism, organic farming and traditional cattle-breeding and pastoral practices.

Institutional capacity: 8. To improve the capacity (experience and staff) of nature conservation NGOs and the relevant national and regional authorities to prepare and successfully carry out a Lesser Kestrel restocking programme. 9. To develop and improve the state capacity for captive breeding of Lesser Kestrels at the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre in Stara Zagora in terms of infrastructure and practical expertise. 10. To enable long-term trans-boundary expert exchange of “know-how” and information on Lesser Kestrels and traditional agricultural practices to maintain their habitats between leading European experts and their Bulgarian counterparts and Balkan experts dealing with Lesser Kestrel conservation . 11. To create a functioning network of all stakeholders having relation/impact on nature conservation and restocking outcomes specifically NGOs, RIEW, hunters’ units, forest guards, veterinaries and local communities for ongoing monitoring of the status of target habitats and falcon species. 12. To bring Bulgarian nature-conservation institutions and NGOs closer to those of their European counterparts (in terms of expertise and institutional capacity), thus raising the efficiency of Lesser Kestrel conservation efforts in Bulgaria to a European level

Actions and means involved: Preparatory activities: - Screen the provisions of EU Rural Development Policy and Common Agricultural Policy for positive and negative practices affecting Lesser Kestrels; - Identify Lesser Kestrel friendly agro-environmental payments within the operational national schemes and promote them among local stakeholders and land-users. - Recommend appropriate management prescriptions to be mainstreamed in the NATURA 2000 Management Plans of the target sites. - Identify Lesser Kestrel friendly construction practises and develop and disseminate a manual among the local people and construction companies. - Design and submit a Lesser Kestrel National Action Plan in order to secure sustainability and enforcement of the identified favourable conservation measures.

Habitat improvement and direct conservation: - Implement a study on the status and location of the closest Lesser Kestrel colonies in Turkey and Greece.

Page 20 of 157 - Initiate clearing of pastures and supporting local animal grazing in order to stimulate favourable habitat maintenance. - Secure sufficient and safe nesting sites to stimulate the natural expansion and re-establishment Lesser Kestrels in the target NATURA 2000 sites providing artificial nesting structures and nest boxes in the target SPAs. - Enhance habitat quality introducing species of similar habitat requirements, simulating the establishment of a natural Lesser Kestrel colony and attracting breeding birds.

Translocation, captive breeding, ex-situ care and release - Adapt and apply the best-practises for Lesser Kestrel conservation introduced and implemented by the Spanish associate beneficiary DEMA and jointly develop a full-scale restocking strategy comprising translocation, supplementary breeding, release, post-release monitoring and infrastructure design; - Secure “know-how” exchange and practical training of the Wildlife Rescue Centre staff at the facilities of DEMA, Spain in order to improve the efficiency and expertise of the Centre. - Maintain a captive breeding stock of 15 pairs of Lesser Kestrels in the breeding facilities of DEMA in Spain to secure a minimum of 170 chicks to be translocated and released in Sakar Spa, Bulgaria - Set up a captive breeding stock of 20 pairs of Lesser Kestrel reconstructing the “state-of-art” methodology of DEMA in the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre – Stara Zagora to improve the capacity of the staff to work with the species, supplement the restocking programme and secure its follow-up after the translocation efforts within the current proposal have been ceased. - Construct, equip and maintain a Lesser Kestrel hacking facility in Sakar SPA. - Secure the release of minimum 170 translocated or captive-bred Lesser Kestrel chicks in Sakar SPA for four project years. - Use “state-of-art” satellite technology (PVC rings, GPS transmitters) to monitor the survival rate, dispersal and behaviour of the released birds.

Promote Lesser Kestrel conservation - Identify and promote Lesser Kestrel friendly land-use and pastoralism practices and agro-environmental schemes providing advice and support for local stakeholders and land-users to benefit from them. - Establish a Lesser Kestrel Demonstration Centre in the village of Matochina in Sakar SPA to promote falcon conservation and sustainable eco-tourism development. - Create and implement an interactive educational programme for local children to foster interest and sense of ownership in Lesser Kestrel conservation. - Mobilize wide civic support for Lesser Kestrel conservation and develop a network for monitoring of the restocking success and progress. - Organize a scientific meeting in order to develop a network of experts from Western Europe and the Balkans to secure exchange of information on the status of Lesser Kestrels on the Balkans and suggest the best means to achieve favourable status for the species on the Balkans.

Expected results (outputs and quantified achievements): 1. Prepared and endorsed National Action Plans for Lesser Kestrel in order to guarantee sufficient and effective conservation planning on the long-run. 2. Identified and promoted Lesser Kestrel land-use and traditional pastoralism practices through NATURA 2000 management plans and relevant agro-environmental schemes and promoted among minimum 30 significant local stakeholders and land-owners. 3. Newly established 10 ha of pastures and grasslands as Lesser Kestrel foraging habitat clearing off bushes and shrubs in Sakar SPA and pilot clearing of 2 ha of pastures in the Krumovitsa and Byala reka SPAs. 4. Installed 60-70 nesting boxes and artificial structures to secure suitable and safe nesting sites for Lesser Kestrels in the target SPAs. 5. Installed 30 nesting boxes for similar species in the Sakar SPA in order to simulate the establishment of a natural mixed colony. 6. Translocated some 170 chicks, secured by the breeding facilities of DEMA, Spain, successfully transported and accommodated in Sakar SPA. 7. Established and maintained captive breeding stock of 20 Lesser Kestrels in the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre in Stara Zagora, producing some 10-60 chicks per year to supplement the release programme. 8. Established a Lesser Kestrel hacking facility, adapting and reconstructing the roofs of an existing building, purchased in Sakar SPA. 9. Released a total of 160 – 200 juvenile Lesser Kestrels or minimum 40 birds in the release site per year for four project years (2013-2016). 10. Recorded first breeding attempts of the Lesser Kestrels released within the project in Sakar SPA by the end of the project. 11. Established Lesser Kestrel Demonstration and Information Centre in Sakar SPA 12. More than 1500 people introduced to the aims of the project, the details of the restocking programme and the conservation activities concerning the target species.

Page 21 of 157 13. More than 100 local children involved in the Lesser Kestrel conservation programme through an interactive educational programme and field activities. 14. Created a functioning network of stakeholders concerned with nature conservation and restocking or reintroduction issues (NGOs, RIEW, hunter units, forest guards, veterinaries and local communities) for ongoing monitoring of the status of target habitats and released falcon species. 15. Improved knowledge on the current status, trends and threats of Lesser Kestrel on the Balkans. 16. Set up trans-border network of experts dealing with Lesser Kestrel conservation on the Balkans in order to secure information and experience exchange and foster joint planning and implementation of conservation activities. 17. Strengthened international collaboration in Lesser Kestrel conservation and restocking or reintroduction programmes, improved networking and communication among experts and stakeholders from Western Europe and the Balkans.

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Page 22 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - B2a GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA / SITE(S) TARGETED BY THE PROJECT IF YOUR PROJECT INVOLVES SEVERAL DISTINCT SUB-SITES, PLEASE FILL IN ONE FORM FOR EACH SUB-SITE

Name of the project area: (max. 100 characters) Sakar Mountain

Surface area (ha): 125707.1 ha within pSCI covering an area of 132117.76 ha

EU protection status: SPA ■ NATURA 2000 Code : BG0002021 pSCI NATURA 2000 Code :

Other protection status according to national or regional legislation: (max. 500 characters) Only 0.1% of the territory of Sakar Mountain is under legal protection with 7 protected areas designated for landscapes, stony features or rare plants. In 1998 about 18% of the area is appointed as CORINE Site because of its European value. In 1997 the area was designated as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. In 2007 the IBA was approved as SPA under Birds Directive by a decision of the Council of Ministers (code BG0002021), and approved as pSCI under the Habitats Directive.

Main land uses and ownership status of the project area: (max. 1.000 characters) Land-use: Agriculture - 70%; Nature conservation, research - 7%; Forestry - 22%; Water management - 1% Ownership: State - 30%; Municipality - 27%; Private - 43% The area of Sakar is used extensively by local people mainly for livestock and to a lesser extent for agriculture and forestry. A decrease in grazing followed by succession, as well as conversion of pastures to arable lands, causes loss of grassland habitats for birds. The pesticides used there for agriculture are dangerous for birds. The dry grasslands are particularly vulnerable to fires, both natural and artificial burning of pastures. During dry years large parts of the site are burnt. The forests in Sakar are relatively small patches dispersed amongst open landscapes. Illegal cutting, firewood collection and afforestation with non-typical species reduce the quality of forest habitats.

Scientific description of project area: (max. 10.000 characters) A low-mountain region with rounded hilltops and comparatively open river valleys of the Maritsa and Tundzha tributaries, close to the state border with Turkey. The terrain altitude is between 50 and 856 m. On its territory there are about 30 small settlements, the town of Topolovgrad and a poorly developed road network. Lower parts of the Sakar territory are occupied by farmland, which has replaced forests of Quercus pubescens and Quercus virgiliana. On about 15% of the area there are dispersed xerothermal grass associations, dominated by Dichantium ischaemum, Poa bulbosa, Chrisopogon grillus, etc., and, more rarely, meso-xerothermal vegetation. The shrubs of Paliurus spina-christi, mixed with Jasminum fruticans in combination and the xerothermal grass formations determine the comparatively high numbers of the Hare Lepus europeus and the Souslik Spermophilus citellus respectively. The region also supports broadleaved forests of “open” type, composed of Quercus pubescens and Quercus virgiliana with Mediterranean elements, at places with secondary origin (Bondev 1991). Many of the riverbeds and valleys in the Sakar are still fringed by old trees of White Poplar Populus alba, willow Salix sp., etc., which provide nesting conditions for the birds of prey.

Importance of the project area for biodiversity and/or for the conservation of the species / habitat types targeted at regional, national and EU level (give quantitative information if possible): (max. 10.000 characters) The area of Sakar currently supports 220 bird species, 91 of which are listed in the Red Data Book for Bulgaria (in press). Of the birds occurring there 96 species are of European conservation concern (SPEC) (BirdLife International, 2004), 11 of them being listed in category SPEC 1 as globally threatened, 23 in SPEC 2 and 62 in SPEC 3 as species threatened in Europe. The area provides suitable habitats for 76 species, included in Annex 2 of the Biodiversity Act, which need special conservation measures. 68 of them are listed also in Annex I of the Birds Directive and more than half of them breed in the region in significant populations. Sakar holds the biggest parts of the Bulgarian populations of the imperial eagle Aquila heliaca, Lesser spotted eagle Aquila pomarina, Page 23 of 157 Booted eagle Hieraaetus pennatus, Black kite Milvus migrans and Long-legged buzzard Buteo rufinus. It is one of the most important areas in the country on European Union scale for the species mentioned above, as well as for the Levant sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes, the Tawny pipit Anthus campestris, Calandra lark Melanocorypha calandra, Greater short-toed lark Calandrella brachydactyla, Masked shrike Lanius nubicus, Stone curlew Burchinus oedicnemus, Montagu`s harrier Circus pygargus, Syrian woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus and the Olive-tree warbler Hippolais olivetorum. The Black stork Ciconia nigra, the Grey-headed woodpecker Picus canus and the Red-Backed shrike Lanius collurio occur there with representative populations. With less numerous populations another globally threatened species also breeds in Sakar – the Corncrake Crex crex. Eigth more globally threatened species occur there on migration – Pygmy cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus, Dalmatian pelican Pelecanus crispus, Ferruginous duck Aythya nyroca, Pallid harier Circus macrourus, Spotted eagle Aquila clanga, Lesser kestrel Falco naumanni, saker falcon Falco cherrug and Great snipe Gallinago media. Historically the area of Sakar is the last recorded breeding site for the Lesser Kestrel in Bulgaria. Last colony nested on a steep river bank in niches until the mid – 1990s. The area is adjacent to closest colonies in Turkey that have been recorded at no more than 70 km. Pictures (If you wish to add a table or a picture, save it as an image file and upload it) ■

Page 24 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - B2a Name of the picture: Sakar SPA target area

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Page 25 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - B2a GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA / SITE(S) TARGETED BY THE PROJECT IF YOUR PROJECT INVOLVES SEVERAL DISTINCT SUB-SITES, PLEASE FILL IN ONE FORM FOR EACH SUB-SITE

Name of the project area: (max. 100 characters) Byala Reka

Surface area (ha): 44623,98

EU protection status: SPA ■ NATURA 2000 Code : BG0002019 pSCI NATURA 2000 Code :

Other protection status according to national or regional legislation: (max. 500 characters) About 4% of the area is under legal protection. The “Byala Reka meanders” Protected Area was designated to protect the threatened bird species, including the Egyptian Vulture and the Golden Eagle, as well as riverine habitats. In 1998 a big part of the area was appointed as CORINE Site with the same name because of its European value for habitats, rare and threatened plant and animal species, including birds. In 1997 the area was designated as Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.

Main land uses and ownership status of the project area: (max. 1.000 characters) Ownership: state - 78%; municipality - 15%; private - 7%; Byala Reka is an area is sensitive to the human activities related mainly to traditional livestock in the region. Emigration of people followed by a decrease in domestic animals and also reduction in the dead animals in nature significantly limits the possibilities for vultures to find food. During recent decades tourism has started to develop more intensively, which could cause negative impact on birds and habitats if the process is not regulated. Farmlands occupy a comparatively small part of the total area, mainly around the settlements.

Scientific description of project area: (max. 10.000 characters) The area covers the Byala Reka watershed in the most south-eastern part of the Eastern Rhodopes, immediately next to the state border with Greece. It includes the Byala Reka valley and the surrounding mountain hills from the village of Chernichevo on the west to the spot where the river crosses the state border to the east. The region’s vegetation is quite diverse and heavily influenced by the Mediterranean climate. Because of the region’s low population density and border regime old forests of Fagus sylvatica L. subsp. moesiaca and Quercus dalechampii have been preserved there. Mixed oak forests of Q. dalechampii, Q. virgiliana, Q. frainetto and Q. pubescens, interspersed at places with Carpinus orientalis, are also widely distributed. The region supports also xerothermal shrub formations of Mediterranean type with considerable species diversity, dominated by Phyllirea latifolia and Juniperus oxycedrus, with the participation of Paliurus spina-christi, Fraxinus ornus, etc. (Bondev 1991). The river is comparatively deep and its waters are not polluted. The riverbed is sandy-stony. Its banks are overgrown with willows Salix spp. and shrubs. At certain places in the region there are single low cliffs. The farmlands occupy a comparatively small part of the total area, mainly around the settlements.

Page 26 of 157 melanocephala. Byala Reka provides suitable habitats for 51 species, included in Annex 2 of the Biodiversity Act, which need special conservation measures. Forty-six of them are listed also in Annex I of the Birds Directive and more than half of them breed in the region in significant populations. The region is of global importance as a permanent roosting and feeding site for the Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus. Byala Reka is one of the most important sites in Bulgaria on a European Union scale for the species mentioned above, as well as for the breeding of the Black Stork Ciconia nigra, Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus, Booted eagle Hieraaetus pennatus, Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus, Levant Sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes, Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus, Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum and Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus. Significant population on European scale of Woodlark Lullula arborea breeds in Byala Reka. Poaching and use of poison against wolfs directly affect raptors, and especially vultures. Existing electrical power lines are dangerous for raptors, especially for young birds. Direct threats to birds are also caused by taking chicks and eggs from the nests. Forest habitats are threatened by burning and natural fires, afforestation with non-native species, as well as illegal cutting of trees especially along the rivers. A decrease in grazing as well as conversion of pastures to arable lands cause loss of grassland habitats for birds. One of the potential threats both to the habitats and to the birds in the area is the development of wind turbine farms. Such wind turbine farms are already built in Greece close to the Bulgarian border and cause disturbed movement and fragmentation of the habitats used by vultures of the two big colonies in the region – the one along the Arda River in Bulgaria and the one in Dadya, Greece. The fishery with nets and detonations, as well as the construction of micro-hydropower stations along the rivers have negative impact on the quality of riverine habitats. Investment projects related to gold mining industry are potential threat for the area, which could cause destruction and fragmentation of habitats at large scale, as well as pollution of the soils and rivers. Pictures (If you wish to add a table or a picture, save it as an image file and upload it) ■

Page 27 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - B2a Name of the picture: Byala reka SPA target area

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Page 28 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - B2a GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA / SITE(S) TARGETED BY THE PROJECT IF YOUR PROJECT INVOLVES SEVERAL DISTINCT SUB-SITES, PLEASE FILL IN ONE FORM FOR EACH SUB-SITE

Name of the project area: (max. 100 characters) Krumovitza

Surface area (ha): 11196,42

EU protection status: SPA ■ NATURA 2000 Code : BG0002012 pSCI NATURA 2000 Code :

Other protection status according to national or regional legislation: (max. 500 characters) The territory of Krumovitsa is not protected by national nature conservation legislation. Only two small natural monuments are designated for protection of landscapes. In 1997 the area was designated as Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. About 10% of Krumovitsa overlaps with the Arda Valley CORINE Site, which was designated in 1998 because of its European value for habitats, rare and threatened plant and animal species, including birds.

Main land uses and ownership status of the project area: (max. 1.000 characters) Ownership: state - 60%; municipality - 34%; private - 6%. The Krumovitsa river valley in this region is between 300 and 1000 m wide, at places occupied entirely by the sandy riverbed itself. The Krumovitsa banks are often steep, covered with low rocks. Its valley is occupied by farmland patches. The Djushun Dere river valley is mostly narrow and cuts deeply in volcanic rocks with very steep cliffs along the riverbed, waterfalls and small caves. Both rivers have a strongly fluctuating water level – very high in February–March and almost none in July–August (except in isolated pools). Reduction in grazing and conversion of pastures to arable lands cause loss of grassland habitats for birds. During recent decades tourism has begun to develop more intensively, which could cause negative impact on birds and habitats if the process is not regulated.

Scientific description of project area: (max. 10.000 characters) The area includes the valleys in the middle course of the Krumovitsa River and its tributary Djushun Dere with the adjacent hills and slopes of the Eastern Rhodopes. It covers the sections of the Krumovitsa between the village of Gorna Kula and the mouth of the Djushun Dere, from where it reaches the grounds of the village of Chal to the east. The Krumovitsa river valley in this region is between 300 and 1000 m wide, at places occupied entirely by the sandy riverbed itself. There are differently expressed belts of riverine tree vegetation mainly of poplars Populus spp., willows Salix spp., Black Alder Alnus glutinosa, etc. It is mixed with shrub vegetation of Blackberry Rubus spp., Dog Rose Rosa spp., etc. At many places shrubs, mainly of Tamarix spp., and grasses grow in the riverbed itself. The Krumovitsa banks are often steep, covered with low rocks. Its valley is occupied by farmland patches. The Djushun Dere river valley is mostly narrow and cuts deeply in volcanic rocks with very steep cliffs along the riverbed, waterfalls and small caves. The vegetation along its banks is scarce and dominated by shrub species. Both rivers have a strongly fluctuating water level – very high in February–March and almost none in July–August (except in isolated pools). Most of the area includes low-mountain ridges and slopes. Its bigger part is treeless but the most south-eastern regions are covered by old broadleaved forest of Quercus frainetto, Quercus dalechampii, at places mixed with Carpinus orientalis. Secondary forests have replaced the old ones that have been cut in the recent decades. Typical for the slopes and ridges of the two valleys are the numerous rocks, rock complexes and crests, along with the extensive areas covered by shrub formations of Mediterranean type, dominated by Juniperus oxycedrus, etc. There are many stony sections, overgrown with grass vegetation (Bondev 1991; Gjuleva, Petrova 1996).

Page 29 of 157 Importance of the project area for biodiversity and/or for the conservation of the species / habitat types targeted at regional, national and EU level (give quantitative information if possible): (max. 10.000 characters) The region of the Krumovitsa IBA supports 136 bird species, 26 of which are listed in the Red Data Book for Bulgaria (1985). Sixty four species are of European conservation concern (SPEC) (BirdLife International, 2004), 2 of them being included in category SPEC 1 as globally threatened, 18 in SPEC 2 and 44 in SPEC 3 as species threatened in Europe. The area is of global importance, as it is a representative biome for the Mediterranean zone. Seven biome-restricted species, typical for the Mediterranean zone out of 9 established in Bulgaria, occur there: Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica, Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum, Sub-alpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans, Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala, Rock Nuthatch Sitta neumayer, Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus and Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala. Krumovitsa is one of the few places in Bulgaria where the Black Vulture Aegypius monachus and Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni still can be observed. Krumovitsa provides suitable habitats for 46 species, included in Annex 2 of the Biodiversity Act, which need special conservation measures. Thirty-eight of them are listed also in Annex I of the Birds Directive and more than half of them breed in the region in significant populations. The region of the Krumovitsa is one of the most important sites in the country on a European Union scale for the breeding Black Stork Ciconia nigra, Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus, Booted eagle Hieraaetus pennatus and Olive-tree Warbler. Pictures (If you wish to add a table or a picture, save it as an image file and upload it) ■

Page 30 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - B2a Name of the picture: Krumovitsa SPA target area

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Page 31 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - B2a Name of the picture: Distribution of the project activities in the target SPAs

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Page 32 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - B2b MAP OF THE GENERAL LOCATION OF THE PROJECT AREA (Please indicate the scale of the map)

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Page 33 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - B2c DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES / HABITATS TARGETED BY THE PROJECT (max. 10.000 characters)

Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni, Fleischer, 1818) is a small falcon species that is a useful ally of man in combating pests in agricultural landscapes. Once considered among the most abundant birds of prey in Europe (Bijleveld 1974), today, due to agriculture intensification, farmland abandonment, loss of nesting sites and intensive pesticide application it has an uncertain future. Lesser Kestrel is strongly attached to agro-environmental landscapes, showing high preferences towards extensively managed wheat crops and extensively grazed or otherwise maintained pastures (Barov 2002; Donazar et al. 1993; Franco et al. 2004; Garcia et al. 2006; Kmetova et al. in press; Parr et al. 1997). The species is an essentially insectivorous, opportunist feeder, capable of exploiting a wide range of terrestrial and aerial prey (Cramp and Simmons 1987). It shares habitat preferences with other highly endangered European species, such as the European Roller (Coracias garrulus) and other typical steppic birds. Lesser Kestrels are often nesting in urban areas, as they provide nesting sites and reduced nest predation and are usually surrounded by agricultural fields or open uncultivated grasslands, securing food sources (Bustamante 1997; Hiraldo et al. 1996). The species is therefore highly dependent on human activity not only for foraging areas but also in terms of available nesting sites. A massive population decline, equivalent to approximately 46 % of the population disappearing each 10 years in the period 1950 – 1990 took place in Europe (BirdLife International 2001, 2008). It was then followed by some stabilization in the period 1990-2000, but despite that, the Lesser Kestrel populations continue to disappear, most notably in the Southeastern European countries. At present the entire European population is estimated at some 17 000 – 21 000 breeding pairs, undergoing a small decline (BirdLife International 2004). The strongest remaining Lesser Kestrel populations are found in Spain (12 000 – 20 000 pairs) and Turkey (5000 – 7000 pairs), while the species is considered to have already gone permanently extinct from Croatia, Slovenia and Poland (BirdLife International 2004). The species has good population in Asia thus the Balkan population can be considered an important link between the core Lesser Kestrel populations of Middle Asia and Turkey and the strongholds of the species in the Western Mediterranean countries (Portugal and Spain). There are numerous suggested causes for the global Lesser Kestrel population decline such as: increased insecticide use, decrease of grasslands and field margins, afforestation and increase of sunflower plantations resulting in food shortage (Catry et al. 2009; Forero et al. 1996; Franco et al. 2005). Additional reasons that have been identified to negatively impact Lesser Kestrel populations are lack of suitable nesting sites. In the past the Lesser Kestrel was widely spread in Bulgaria, nesting “everywhere” in the mid-XIX (Radakoff 1879). More recent data on the numbers of Lesser Kestrels breeding in Bulgaria assume 57 – 100 pairs, followed by estimates dropping to 0 – 5 breeding pairs for the period 1995 – 2000 (Barov 2002; BirdLife International 2004). At present there are no Lesser Kestrel breeding pairs confirmed in Bulgaria. Among the most probable reasons for the decline and extinction of the Lesser Kestrel have been land use changes, intensification of agriculture and use of pesticides, on overall deteriorating the habitat quality. It is however believed that the main threats which have caused the decline of Lesser Kestrel in Bulgaria have been limited and that the species can be successfully restored in the country trough focused and consistent conservation efforts directed at habitat management, securing suitable nesting habitats and human-induced restocking. In addition to that the captive breeding and release of Lesser Kestrels in combination with proper habitat management has been proven to be successful for restoring and stabilizing the national populations of the species in numerous cases throughout Europe (France (LIFE 97 NAT/F/004119; LIFE05 NAT/F/000134), Portugal (LIFE02 NAT/P/008481), Spain (LIFE99 NAT/E/006341)). Part of the success has been due to promotion of EU appropriate agro-environmental schemes, securing suitable nesting sites and introduction of birds into the wild. The species is known to be fairly-easily manageable and bred in captivity. There are numerous Wildlife Rehabilitation Centres, Zoos and other bird collections that are in possession of permanently injured or captive- bred birds. In addition to that the application of widely recommended management practices, such as the registration of crosses between individuals in proper stud books and the introduction of new individuals into the genetic pools, has been proven to satisfactory maintain high levels of genetic variation in the case of Lesser Kestrel (Alcaide et al. 2009). It is therefore possible to successfully keep and breed Lesser Kestrels for hacking and releasing the offspring into the wild. Furthermore, Green Balkans operates the only Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre that has the staff and capacity to handle a captive breeding programme in Bulgaria. Lesser Kestrels are proven to readily take artificial nesting boxes (Bux et al. 2008; Catry et al. 2007; Pomarol 1993). There are various studies on the type of nesting boxes and artificial walls taken by the species and the experience gained is freely available to use and apply. A recently completed habitat suitability model has suggested that there are suitable sites in Southeastern Bulgaria capable of maintaining a restored Lesser Kestrel population (Kmetova 2010). According to the results of the model and the past distribution of the species in the country, the project will be carried out in the SPAs selected. In this sense the current project proposal is aiming at applying the successful practices of Spain and Portugal and adjusting the methodology used to the contemporary Bulgarian environment, thus contributing to restoring Lesser Kestrel in Bulgaria. Page 34 of 157 Sakar SPA was chosen as a Lesser Kestrel for several main reasons. Firstly, it is among the last confirmed breeding sites of Lesser Kestrels in Bulgaria (GB 2010; Simeonov et al. 1990). Furthermore, a GIS Lesser Kestrel habitat suitability model identified the area as suitable for initiating a restocking programme for the species (Kmetova 2010). Last, but not least, it is fairly close to existing populations of Lesser Kestrels in Turkey and Greece (Kmetova 2010). This is why the release site and the hacking facility will be located in Sakar SPA.

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Page 35 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - B2c Name of the picture: Lesser Kestrels (Falco naumanni) observed in Turkey by the project team

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Add picture Delete this picture Page 36 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - B2d CONSERVATION PROBLEMS AND THREATS Provide this information for those species and habitat types directly targeted by the project (max. 10.000 characters) The current project proposal aims at resolving the following threats identified as main obstacles for the re- establishment and stabilization of Lesser Kestrel in Bulgaria:

Critically low numbers. The most serious problem today is the critically low number of populations and isolation that could not let the small falcons to recover naturally. Field studies conducted in Turkey and Macedonia have found that the closest active colonies of Lesser Kestrels are relatively far to rely on natural re-colonization considering the literature data on the natural dispersal of the species. In addition to that the population of the species in the entire Balkan area is undergoing decline, including in countries considered stronghold of the species, such as Turkey and Greece. Considering the steady increase of the populations of Lesser Kestrels in Spain, Portugal and Italy, due to active and focused conservation efforts to a great extend, re-establishing the Lesser Kestrel population in Bulgaria is of crucial importance for restoring the integrity of the European distribution of the species. That is why re-enforcement/ supplementation and restocking are seen as a feasible solution. Re-enforcement/supplementation and restocking are good conservation tools that integrate very attractive field actions with great possibilities to involve local stakeholders and to attract and focus community interest through media and educational tools.

Lack of nesting sites. The species is highly dependent on entirely anthropogenic-influenced habitats for both foraging and nesting. The breeding pairs show almost no intolerance of human presence, except for when actively persecuted. Thus, Lesser Kestrels are often nesting in urban areas, as they provide nesting sites and reduced nest predation and are usually surrounded by agricultural fields or open uncultivated grasslands, securing food sources (Bustamante 1997; Hiraldo et al. 1996). When nesting in urban areas, Lesser Kestrels prefer localities with many monuments (castles, churches) and old buildings and dense human population (Franco et al. 2005). In many of the cases the old adobe houses which host the Kestrel colonies collapse or get repaired without considering the needs of species. In addition to that the species can be negatively affected by human disturbance such as intensive building use, construction works and destruction of nests (Catry et al. 2009). At the same time the birds readily inhabit artificial nesting structures that can be easily constructed on preliminary selected buildings and localities (Bux et al. 2008; Catry et al. 2007; Pomarol 1993).

Foraging habitat loss. As securing suitable nesting sites would be rather easy to tackle, special attention should be paid to maintaining appropriate foraging conditions. The differences in abundance of prey among different crop types significantly impact the breeding success of the Lesser Kestrel colonies. In addition to that, starvation of fledglings has been proven to be related to the decline of the Lesser Kestrel populations in Spain (Hiraldo et al. 1996; Negro et al. 1993). In this sense the main threats challenging the Lesser Kestrel re-establishment are deterioration of the quality of the foraging habitat as well as complete habitat loss. Development of intensive agriculture, land-use changes, afforestation, substitution of cereal cultures with sunflower and vegetable fields and abandonment of pastures that overgrow with tall vegetation are all severe threats. Securing farming areas where cereal crops rotate with fallow and pasture land, ensuring the presence of livestock and extensive grazing, restricting afforestation activities have all proven to have a positive impact on Lesser Kestrel populations in Spain and Portugal. The experience of Portugal including these practices into the operating Agro-environmental schemes and site management plans can be reproduced and introduced in the contemporary Bulgarian environment. Therefore foraging habitat quality can be handled through adequate land management, promoting “Kestrel-friendly” land-use practises and adoption of successfully tested EU-funded Agro-environmental schemes.

The species is also affected by the following threats, which are currently partially covered by an on-going LIFE project aiming at conserving Imperial Eagle and Saker Falcon: Adult mortality factors. Another common problem related to nesting in direct proximity to human settlements can be collision with wires, and wind-farm propellers (Kauffman et al. 2003). As adult mortality has been proven to have the most significant impact on Lesser Kestrel population dynamics, every measure for preventing the loss of adult birds should be undertaken (Hiraldo et al. 1996). This is of particular importance when considering a newly established vulnerable population. Collision with power-lines. Power-lines can kill adult and young, newly fledged birds. Collision cases have been proven in Spain, Portugal and Macedonia. In addition to that, a LIFE04 NAT/ES/000034 carried out in Spain has been proven to decrease the collision cases by over 87 %, identifying and modifying the dangerous power lines and working in close collaboration with the local electricity companies.

Page 37 of 157 PREVIOUS CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN THE PROJECT AREA AND/OR FOR THE HABITATS / SPECIES TARGETED BY THE PROJECT (max. 10.000 characters) The current project proposal for Lesser Kestrel restocking in Bulgaria is developed so that it benefits from the expertise of the Spanish Associated Beneficiary – DEMA, which has 21 years of experience in such projects, which have taken place in Spain, France and Portugal. The numerous reintroduction and reinforcement projects carried out this past two decades have allowed DEMA to design, define and validate an own releasing method called “Ambiente de Colonia” (Antolín, 2001). The design of the method is based essentially on ethological parameters, primarily for the release of a colonial species such as Lesser Kestrel. It consists of taking chicks hatched in the Breeding Centre at the age of 18-21 days and place them in a nest or a release box, which have been designed to exclude human contact. The release boxes themselves are attached to aviaries, where various unrecoverable adults (specimens disabled for wild life) are accommodated. With this method the isolation of the chicks is avoided, as they maintain physical and visual contact with individuals from their species, which creates an environment similar to a wild colony. Thus intra-specific relations remain during the whole process. The contact with the adults from their species helps with acquisition of patterns of appropriate behaviour. Thus the period spent at the release site is prolonged, helping to imprint to the site and simulate the phylopatric instinct of the species. The application of this method has assured the reintroduction success with positive results in all the projects that DEMA has developed until now. The methodology is to be applied for a first time in Bulgaria.

At present there are several on-going initiatives aiming at restoring and conserving the Lesser Kestrel breeding population in Bulgaria. One of the main actors is the Green Balkans Federation of nature conservation NGOs, which is exploring the possibilities for restoring the species in Southeastern Bulgaria through captive breeding and further release in line with the recolonization provisions of the International Action Plan. In 2009 Green Balkans started a three-year project “Conservation activities for EEC Birds Directive target species – Lesser Kestrel, Black Vulture and Imperial Eagle in their main habitats in Bulgaria”, funded by the European Union through the Operational Programme “Environment” 2007-2013. The project comprises the areas of the Derventski Heights, Sakar, the Eastern Rhodopi Mountains, part of Strandja, and their adjacent areas, which harbour the main habitats of the three target species and are among the last confirmed breeding sites of Lesser Kestrels in Bulgaria. One of the outcomes of this project is the development of a Feasibility Study for the potential restocking of Lesser Kestrel in Bulgaria which has justified in detail the viability and need of a human-induced re-establishment program. The project team has also developed a GIS habitat suitability model to determine the most suitable sites for Lesser Kestrel restocking in Southeastern Bulgaria. The project provides for installing simple test nest boxes in the identified areas in Southeastern Bulgaria. As a prerequisite for the start of a full-term restocking program the project has allowed for preparatory ex-situ measures. Green Balkans operates a unique for Bulgaria Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre (WRBC). The project has provided for the construction of aviaries and breeding facilities for a total of 9 captive pairs of Lesser Kestrels in WRBC.

At present, two breeding pairs have already been obtained from the Walsrode Bird Park in Germany, within a supplementary project “Lesser Kestrel – no past, but future” in order to create a captive-breeding stock of birds for potential release. These 2 pairs bred for a first time in 2011 providing the staff with good hopes of the capacity of both the staff and the infrastructure to maintain and breed the species in captivity. In addition to that, the staff of the WRBC is gaining valuable experience in keeping and handling the birds, what will be of further use when the breeding stock is expanded so as to be able to support a full-scale restocking program. However, despite the good results, it became clear that there is a need of more practical experience concerning artificial incubation techniques and foster-rearing in order to improve the breeding success and achieve optimal results. Furthermore, even 9 captive pairs will not be able to supply a sufficient number of birds for an adequate restocking program. The area of Sakar SPA was not only identified as most suitable by the habitat model developed. An extra reason to select it as a target area is the fact that Green Balkans has been carrying out nature conservation activities there since its establishment in 1988. The conservation programme was started with the discovery of the first Imperial Eagle nest in the area and has been directed towards awareness raising, direct preservation, habitat enhancement, prevention of poaching and poisoning. Green Balkans has established good connections with the local stakeholders and authorities which will be of use for the successful implementation of the current proposal. In addition to that, EURONATUR has supported the purchase of a house in the village of Matochina, which is currently used as a field station for the field experts and volunteers. This house will be turned into the Lesser Kestrel Demonstration and Information Centre described under Action E.8.

In addition to that, there is an ongoing project LIFE07 NAT/BG/68 aiming at the preservation of Imperial Eagle and Saker Falcon in Sakar SPA. One of the aims of the project is to retrofit and isolate identified dangerous power lines in the target area. This action will be of great benefit for the Lesser Kestrel restocking programme as

Page 38 of 157 power lines have been proven to have a positive impact securing roosting sites during hunting or for the young birds in the post-fledge and pre-migratory period (De Frutos et al. 2009, Franco et al. 2005). At the same time, Lesser Kestrel collision cases have been proven in Spain, Portugal and Macedonia. Furthermore, a LIFE04 NAT/ ES/000034 project carried out in Spain has been proven that identifying and modifying the dangerous power lines and working in close collaboration with the local electricity companies can decrease the collision cases by over 87 %.

The results of all these projects therefore naturally set the foundation of the current project proposal, justifying the approach, the target area and allowing for gaining of initial experience and qualification. Pictures (If you wish to add a table or a picture, save it as an image file and upload it)

Page 39 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - B3 EU ADDED VALUE OF THE PROJECT AND ITS ACTIONS (max. 10.000 characters) The EU added value of the project is using well-proven best practices developed within previous LIFE projects and implementing them as pilot and demonstration measures in Bulgaria. The present proposal will combine the efforts and expertise of nature-conservation NGOs (GB), local municipalities and stakeholders (such as land- owners; cattle-breeders, ecotourism entrepreneurs, etc.) from Bulgaria as one of the latest entering member states, with NGO experts and practitioners from older EU members, i.e. Spain, Portugal, Germany. It will enable transfer of experience from the foreign experts to the Bulgarian counterparts, while at the same time will ensure adequate expert guidance and networking in a unique initiative for collaboration in the management of grassland habitats (potentially incl. also habitats from Annex 1 of the Habitat Directive), and in setting up the necessary conditions for the restocking of a priority species from the Birds Directive, i.e. Lesser Kestrel. The current proposal is drafted by a team that took an active part in the drafting of the International Lesser Kestrel Action Plan at SEO/BirdLife in Madrid, Spain in July 2010 and during the preparation of the main project concept and activities Spanish experts with on-going successful Lesser Kestrel reintroduction or restocking programmes were consulted – DEMA (www.demaprimilla.org) thus providing the application of the best possible expertise and practical experience. In addition to that, DEMA, an organization with numerous successful projects on Lesser Kestrel reintroduction and restocking programmes is an associate beneficiary, which will guarantee adequate consultation of every step of the restocking programme to be carried out in Bulgaria.

Direct conservation value. Bulgaria is among the very few European Union member states where Lesser Kestrel used to have relatively strong populations. The Balkans are at the northernmost edge of the Lesser Kestrel European distribution, at a crucial point connecting the core populations of Middle Asia and Turkey with the strongholds of the species in the Western Mediterranean countries (Portugal, Spain, Italy). The re-establishment and stabilization of the Bulgarian population would therefore contribute to the recovery of the integrity of the overall European population of the species. The current proposal aims at establishing a new Lesser Kestrel colony and simulating natural dispersal in other potentially suitable areas, enhanced through the project activities, thus creating a biological “front” to the South, with the aim to simulate and accelerate the establishment of connections between Lesser Kestrel populations in Greece and Turkey. The preservation and strengthening of the Balkan populations, including the Bulgarian one would therefore mean preventing the shrinkage of the global distribution of the species and contributing to the EC aim of Halting Biodiversity Loss by 2010 - and Beyond. The project will therefore contribute to improving the overall conservation status and direct preservation of a priority species enlisted in the Birds Directive 2009/147/EC. Present experience shows continuous decline of Lesser Kestrel populations in the area, as well as a very good response of the species to the conservation measures conducted in other European member states. We therefore have every reason to believe that the lack of action aiming at the direct preservation of the species would lead to their gradual disappearance and European areal shrinkage, while the implementation of the current project proposal will significantly improve their overall conservation status. Utilizing the Spanish experience and the “Ambiente de Colonia” hacking method developed by DEMA, the project team is hoping to achieve the results of 26 % return rate and successful breeding reported for other projects carried out by DEMA as soon as the third project year. Furthermore, the rapid development and agriculture intensification that are currently taking place within the rural areas of Bulgaria are leading to complete loss of traditions in livestock breeding and land-use. The activities provided for initiating and promoting pasture maintenance, agri-environmental scheme utilization and transhumance sheep-breeding will promote traditional sustainable extensive land-use practices of benefit to numerous threatened species of European concern (European Roller, Kestrels, Shrikes, etc.).

Policy and management context. In addition to that the project will provide for an overview of the operating Agro-environmental measures in the EU member states, which have proven to contribute towards the stabilization and increase of the populations of the two target species where applied. Using the experience gained by several other successfully completed LIFE NAT projects (LIFE05 NAT/H/000122, LIFE05 NAT/F/000134, LIFE02 NAT/P/008481) the current project proposal will compile an overview of the “Falcon-friendly” land-use practices in European context and apply them on a national level to achieve favourable conservation status of species and habitats of European concern. Some concern on contradictory EU agricultural policies threatening the steppe species and traditional land-use practices has been raised (Franco and Sutherland 2004; Garcia et al. 2006). The current proposal will analyze the possible conflict points and ways to overcome them connecting the overall European nature conservation priorities to the EU Common Agricultural Policy provisions. The conclusions reached would be communicated to the relevant EU authorities to be used when planning the future EU agricultural policies. On the other hand, being a newly accepted EU member state, Bulgaria does not have much experience on tackling and promoting the agro- environmental measures and compensation schemes already introduced and operational in other countries. The current project proposal will contribute to introducing, supporting or reinforcing Small Falcon friendly land-

Page 40 of 157 management practices, promoting the common EU tools for agriculture support. The proposal also provides for the development of a Lesser Kestrel Demonstration Centre in a rural area in Sakar SPA in order to promote and present appropriate Lesser Kestrel conservation (Action E.8). This action is completely coherent with the new political framework for tourism in Europe described in EC COM (2010) 352, providing for stimulating sustainable, responsible tourism development particularly in rural areas, promoting good practices and experience exchange. The characteristics of the current proposal, combined with the nearby rock church dating back from the Xth century and the Fortress of Bukelon aim at developing a sustainable thematic tourist product considering the environment as well as the local socio-economic characteristics.

Capacity building, experience sharing and networking. Among the main outcomes of the project is developing the capacity of Green Balkans to utilize and apply the “Ambiente de Colonia” Lesser Kestrel release method, developed by J. Antolin and DEMA in the nineties and tested in numerous reintroduction and restocking programmes throughout Europe. The project will build on the capacity of the Wildlife Rescue Centre in Bulgaria to also develop and maintain the methods employed by the Lesser Kestrel Breeding Centre of DEMA to be able to continue and expand the captive breeding programme of Lesser Kestrels in Bulgaria in order to secure sustainability of the conservation efforts on the long run. At the same time, while building up the capacity of the state institutions responsible for the management of NATURA sites and ex-situ conservation activities, the project will promote inclusion and expertise/capacity building of all participating stakeholders, i.e. nature conservation NGOs, land-owners, cattle-breeders, ecotourism companies, etc. The project will ensure that best practice in small falcon conservation is mainstreamed in NATURA 2000 site management and agro-environmental measures. Thus the general quality of the management and sustainable use of resources on the NATURA 2000 network countrywide will be significantly improved. The specifics of the project, focused on the conservation and stabilization of particular species through restocking falls exclusively within the priorities of LIFE+ yet creating synergies with the Operational Program Environment, focused on elaboration of management plans for NATURA 2000 sites. The proposed model for collaborative design and management of NATURA 2000 sites and species will greatly contribute to management plans and structures development throughout the country. The project will also create synergies with the Rural Development Program, co-financed by EU funding in particular with the agri-environmental schemes. The proposal will also develop key concepts envisaged within the new political framework for tourism in Europe described in EC COM (2010) 352. The specifics of the project define its focus on limited in time activities for reaching the project’s aim, while recurrent activities (such as habitat maintenance) will only be initiated and promoted. The envisaged type of activities provide for establishing close relations with on-going and successfully completed LIFE projects in the same field in order to gain experience and utilize the successful practices introduced. This network will gain momentum and stabilize in the course of project activities, thus bringing new experience and potential for in-depth collaboration on other projects and initiatives also in the future.

Page 41 of 157 SOCIO-ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF THE PROJECT (max. 10.000 characters) Socio-economic impact: The current project will have a positive socio-economic impact for the local communities and authorities on several levels. Firstly, identifying and promoting Falcon Friendly agro-environmental practices to be incorporated in the SPA Management Plans as well as utilized by the local stakeholders and land-users will lead to direct income for the local communities. The introduction of sustainable land-use practices, funded by the state and the advice to be provided to the local users will also contribute to the overall aims of the NATURA 2000 network of protected areas, namely achieving sustainable economic growth and development along with environment protection. Thus we are also aiming at decreasing the human – wildlife conflict and educating the local community that biodiversity conservation can go hand in hand with sustainable development of the rural areas and increasing the average house-hold income. At the same time the local stakeholders will attend educational meetings on how to approach and access the available agro-environmental schemes and will be trained by national experts from the relevant authorities as well the non-governmental sector. International experience will also be presented by EURONATUR to further motivate them and show that even countries such as Germany have found a successful balance between economic growth and nature conservation which if of mutual benefit. The local land-owners will not be asked to dramatically alter their current land-use practices but rather modify them (reduce pesticide use, leave lines of trees, provide nesting boxes, etc.) and get monetary benefits out of these changes. This can turn into a long-term habitat management practice to guarantee the sustainability of the restocking process. At the same time, the project provides for the setting up of a Lesser Kestrel Demonstration and Information Centre in the Matochina village, Sakar SPA, which will provide detailed information on the biological characteristics of the species, the project strategy and current results, as well as present the used conservation means – a hacking facility; nesting boxes, release strategy etc. The area is already trying to develop rural tourism based on the nearby Rock Church from the Xth Century and the Matochina Fortress. The Demonstration Centre will provide an additional incentive for rural tourism development, offering a diverse tourist product combining historical heritage sightings with bird watching experience. It is expected that the Centre attracts more tourists – bird photographers, bird watchers and nature lovers, who could all contribute to developing and promoting the local community as an interesting tourist destination with many options. The aims of the Centre completely match the provisions of the new political framework for tourism in Europe described in EC COM (2010) 352, stressing on stimulating sustainable, responsible tourism development particularly in rural areas, promoting good practices and experience exchange. The Centre and the Lesser Kestrel facilities will require maintenance and care, what will create employment opportunities for the local population. The project also comprises the setting up of a wide civic network for post-release bird monitoring, which will involve the local communities – land-users, animal breeders, authorities, hunting associations, tourists, etc. All these will be provided with training on Lesser Kestrel identification and monitoring and involved in an informal monitoring network to improve their nature conservation awareness and create a feeling of ownership and personal motivation. In addition to that, the project provides for the development of an interactive educational programme for kids to raise interest and create a feeling of ownership and involvement in the Lesser Kestrel conservation activities. This way there will be a direct impact on the education of the young generation, providing opportunities for involvement in conservation activities, monitoring and constructions, improving their knowledge, educating responsible and environmentally aware citizens.

Environmental impact: The project will have direct positive environmental impact improving the habitats and establishing a colony of a globally endangered species of European concern, enlisted as priority species in the Birds Directive EC/2009/147 – Lesser Kestrel. This will contribute to achieving the aims of the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy and the goal to Halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010 – and beyond. On one hand the project provides for habitat enhancement through initiating and supporting sustainable environmentally friendly pastoralism practices such as extensive animal grazing and pasture maintenance. Such habitats are of key importance not only for Lesser Kestrel but also for other species of international and European conservation concern: European Souslik (Spermophilus citellus), Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliacal), European Roller (Coracias garrulus), Shrikes (Lanius sp.), Larks, and other species depending on open landscape for large invertebrate prey. The Lesser Kestrel is an essentially insectivorous, opportunist feeder, capable of exploiting a wide range of terrestrial and aerial prey (Cramp and Simmons 1987). Its main food items are large insects from the orders Orthoptera – crickets, grasshoppers; and Coleoptera – chafers, dung-beetles and ground beetles; Hymenoptera – flying ants; Odonata – dragon flies; altogether invertebrates forming up to 85 – 94 % of the diet (Barov 2002; Cramp and Simmons 1987). The other part of the diet of the Lesser Kestrels consists of vertebrates – reptiles (especially lizards and skinks), small mammals (mice, shrews, voles) and passerine birds (finches, sparrows) (Barov 2002; Cramp and Simmons 1987; Parr et al. 1997). Earthworms, moths and butterflies are most probably taken too, though as no-identifiable remains can be found in the pellets collected, it is difficult to quantify their use (Cramp and Simmons 1987). Therefore, the establishmentPage 42 of 157 of a Lesser Kestrel colony will bring a good natural ally of the local communities in combating invertebrate pests and small rodents on arable land and pastures. BEST PRACTICE CHARACTER OF THE PROJECT (max. 10.000 characters) The project will utilize numerous best-practices introduced and tested by other on-going and successfully completed LIFE projects (LIFE05 NAT/H/000122, LIFE05 NAT/F/000134, LIFE02 NAT/P/008481, LIFE00 NAT/ E/0034, LIFE06 NAT/IT/000026) in terms of direct conservation measures, habitat management and land-use practices as follows:

- Application of the “Ambiente de Colonia” release method, developed by J. Antolin and DEMA in the nineties and tested over numerous successful Lesser Kestrel restocking and reintroduction programmes throughout Europe.

- Ex-situ measures for Lesser Kestrel captive breeding and release (LIFE02 NAT/P/008481, LIFE05 NAT/ F/000134, LIFE06 NAT/IT/000026). Optimal results and efficiency will be guaranteed with the active involvement of DEMA staff (a partner in the LIFE05 NAT/F/000134) in each of the restocking steps, as well as the study visit of Bulgarian experts to experienced Spanish facilities for gaining practical hand-on-experience and know-how.

- Development of National Action Plans for the species. These actions will use and demonstrate best practice in the development of action plans for threatened species. The compliers of the current proposal have taken part in both the drafting of the European Lesser Kestrel Action Plan committed by EC to BirdLife/SEO; as well as in an International Conference “Bird Conservation in the European Union: Planning For Recovery Action And Sustainable Use”, held in Brussels, Belgium; 23-23 November 2010. This will secure the application of best European practices targeting the Lesser Kestrel in particular. We will document the process we use as well as publish the final plans.

- Satellite PTT telemetry of the released birds. Cutting-edge technology will be used to track and monitor the birds released in order to reveal their post-release behaviour, side fidelity and help them if they fall in distress.

- Installation of artificial nesting structures and walls (LIFE02 NAT/P/008481). The method is developed and utilized with a great success by the Spanish organization DEMA (a partner in the LIFE05 NAT/F/000134), which will consult and provide drawings and sizes of the optimal nesting constructions proven in practice.

- Definition and introducing of “Lesser Kestrel friendly” agro-environmental schemes for the target SPAs (LIFE02 NAT/P/008481, LIFE05 NAT/H/000122). This measure has been identified as among the most successful conservation measure by the expert panel revising the International Lesser Kestrel Action plan (Spain, 2010).

- International cooperation and networking for utilizing best practices in in-situ and ex-situ conservation, while adapting them to the Bulgarian conditions, as well as establishing a wide expert network of Balkan experts to foster information exchange and joint planning and implementation of nature conservation actions.

DEMONSTRATION CHARACTER OF THE PROJECT (max. 10.000 characters) The project will also have important demonstration value in the context of applying practices well-tested in wider European context in the newly accepted member state of Bulgaria. Despite having completed a Feasibility study justifying the need of Lesser Kestrel restocking activities and obtaining two pairs of young birds, no captive breeding or release has been carried out until now and no falcon adaptation and hacking facilities have ever been constructed in Bulgaria.

The project will demonstrate sustainable habitat management as a successful tool for nature conservation, promoting the methods used among the local population and explaining ways to access payment schemes for securing sustainability on the long run. The project will demonstrate and promote transhumance and extensive grazing as measures of mutual benefit for nature as well as the owners, also presenting the ways to access agro- environmental payments to maintain these activities.

The project will also allow for comparing the effectiveness of various conservation techniques (artificial nest boxes vs. artificial nest structures; VHF vs. satellite tags for Small Falcons) and develop recommendations for their further use.

The project will promote the achieved results and project findings within an international scientific meeting of Western European experts and their Balkan counterparts set up to exchange information and discuss the contemporary status of Lesser Kestrel on the Balkans and on-going and needed further conservation efforts in other to stabilize and strengthen the population of the species on the Balkans.

At the same time the results of the project will be promoted among the general public through a specialized Demonstration Centre established in Sakar SPA in order to increase the awareness of the local stakeholders,

Page 43 of 157 initiate tourist interest and provide guidelines and advice for falcon friendly practices and construction.

EFFORTS FOR REDUCING THE PROJECT'S "CARBON FOOTPRINT" (max. 10000 characters) Major carbon footprint under the project will result from intensive travel to project areas to implement project activities and measure project impact. In order to minimize the carbon footprint, travel within the project will be optimized through the following principles:

• Trips will be coordinated and number of people travelling will be optimized (e.g. taking into consideration the ratio of gasoline/person burnt). Whenever possible, given the regional infrastructure and available public transport options, public transport shall be used vs. car transport, unless the number of participants travelling does not make it economically and environmentally more reasonable to use a car or the purpose of the action is directly related to meeting a nature-conservation need (e.g. food provision to pre-release sites, etc.) which requires using this means of transportation as the least harming and available option;

• Number of site trips related to direct conservation measures will be optimized in time, to account for less pollution and smaller carbon footprint.

• Transportation of birds from abroad to Bulgaria will be limited optimizing the number of birds imported. The transportation will be done by minibus (if sufficient number of birds collected – by plane), equipped with a trailer, as this is the cheapest and safest means of transportation for birds.

Vehicles for field work, purchased under the project will be equipped with gas installation and use gas as fuel to decrease SO2 and CO2 emissions and also to bring about economic spending of resources for fuel.

In addition, most international travel will be limited to a minimum, while trying to organize necessary expertise exchange, discussions and coordination through web-based tools, e.g. Skype conferences, email correspondence, etc.

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Page 44 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - B4 EXPECTED CONSTRAINTS AND RISKS RELATED TO THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AND HOW THEY WILL BE DEALT WITH (CONTINGENCY PLANNING) (max. 10.000 characters) 1. Breeding bird supply problems. The major risks related to the project implementation are the timely supply of sufficient number of birds for setting up a captive breeding stock and the production of an adequate number of chicks to allow for following the hacking and release methodology. The current experience of DEMA has shown that despite the certain risks (clutch failure, inappropriate climatic conditions, risks of diseases, etc.), DEMA has always been able to provide enough birds for its ongoing reintroduction and restocking projects, compensating the smaller amount of chicks sent one year, with an increased number of birds sent the next year, so that the average number of translocated chicks remains unchanged. In addition to that, these risks will be limited establishing close contacts with other organizations and institutions maintaining Lesser Kestrel breeding stocks if supplementary shipments become necessary (Action C.7). Green Balkans has already established preliminary contacts or is in current collaboration with yet another leading organization in Spain working for Lesser Kestrel conservation and running successful captive breeding and reintroduction or restocking programmes in Spain and France – GREFA (www.grefa.org), as well as other institutions with success in captive breeding, such as Walsode Park, Germany. Diversification of sources can therefore be negotiated in case of problems in supplying sufficient numbers of birds as contingency plan. In addition to that, contacts with the managers of several ongoing or successfully completed LIFE projects (LIFE05 NAT/H/000122, LIFE05 NAT/F/000134, LIFE02 NAT/ P/008481, LIFE00 NAT/E/0034, LIFE06 NAT/IT/000026) will be established in order to compile an up-to-date record of the captive stock available for import and use within the restocking programme for Bulgaria.

2. Bird import documents delay. The time necessary for obtaining CITES and veterinary certificates prior to and after the transportation of the birds to Bulgaria may result in delays, which will pose subsequent technical delay with transportation of the birds to Bulgaria and delays in the planned release and other actions. In an effort to avoid this, regular contact with the respective authorities will be kept and the provision of information and documents needed for the birds will start as early as possible. In addition to that, the timetable of the project provides for releases as late as the second year, so that even several months of import delay would not change the overall schedule. At the same time, both DEMA and Green Balkans have gained experience in the bureaucratic procedures related to bird import and export during their ongoing or completed restocking projects (LIFE05 NAT/BG/134 and LIFE08 NAT/BG/278).

3. Captive stock breeding failure. It is possible that the age or the stress caused by the transport and change of environment/climate/etc leads to decreased breeding success in the Wildlife Rescue Centre in Bulgaria at the first years after the import. This risk will be avoided translocating young birds from Spain and maintaining the breeding stock as a supplementary source, especially during the first years of release, before the birds have paired up and gained breeding experience. In addition to that, the captive pairs at the Wildlife Rescue Centre will be kept in conditions as close to the environment where birds were brought from as possible. It is also expected that with the increased stock of birds, the experience of the staff and the birds will also increase so as to be able to obtain a higher number of chicks at the later stages of the project.

4. Communication problems. The diversity and number of project stakeholders, i.e. landowners, hunters, park administrators, NGOs, experts (animal species/habitats), municipalities, etc. call for close awareness and knowledge of their needs and areas of potential involvement by the project team. There is a risk that they would initially tend to stick to their own agendas, not willing to embrace a more holistic approach with regard to the NATURA 2000 sites. Therefore more time and efforts will be planned for giving them enough time, information and bringing also representatives of park authorities, experts, etc, which the team has very good connections with.

5. Local resistance. Experience shows that in some cases separate groups of local people (esp. in smaller settlements could cause some disturbance due to misunderstanding of the idea and the benefits for the local communities too). This will be avoided through open, multilevel communication and regular contacts with the local community leaders and representatives of trusted and respected institutions (e.g. the mayor, the local headmaster of the school, head of Forestry Units, park units, etc.) and through involvement of the people in the actions intended for the public – incl. release of chicks. The development of a Demonstration and Information Centre in an own property is also intended to avoid conflicts with local people and at the same time promote the main project activities, presenting ways to get involved and support the restocking programme. The interactive educational programme provided will also serve as a means to raise interest and motivation and create a sense of ownership and participation in Lesser Kestrel conservation activities.

Pictures (If you wish to add a table or a picture, save it as an image file and upload it) Page 45 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - B5 CONTINUATION / VALORISATION OF THE PROJECT RESULTS AFTER THE END OF THE PROJECT Which actions will have to be carried out or continued after the end of the project? (max. 5.000 characters) Actions will not continue at the same scale and intensity after the project ends. Some of them will move to a next stage, i.e. post-release monitoring and maintenance or build-up on the project activities. Such actions are:

• Trans-border regional scale monitoring of restocking success and coordination of results, i.e. involving all associate partners and local entities involved in post-project activities (incl. Greek and Turskish experts, NGOs and institutes dealing with Lesser Kestrel conservation) – this action will be needed to track the adaptability and successful restocking of the birds released for a year after project end. This will be organized by the associate partners and the coordinating entity. The know-how, technical infrastructure (e.g. monitoring database) and experience gained under the project will be used to implement the tracking and monitoring activities.

• Maintenance and monitoring of the adaptation aviaries and artificial nesting structured installed.

• Back-up care for reintroduced birds in distress (in cases of birds found in the wild and sent back to the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre in Stara Zagora for recovery and release). Eventually the birds shall be released again in the wild or kept as a part of the captive breeding stock. The action shall be implemented by the coordinating entity. A number of birds, which cannot survive on their own in the wild will be kept in captivity for breeding purposes and will thus ensure new birds for release in the future.

• Continued care for birds in captivity in possession of the project partners.

• Management of the grassland habitats on the basis of recommended measures, seasonality and frequency (i.e. mowing, grazing, etc.)

How will this be achieved, what resources will be necessary to carry out these actions? (max. 5.000 characters) After the project end the release sites and the hacking facility will be maintained by the coordinating beneficiary. Should all project activities be successfully brought to an end, it is expected that the project partners will have established adaptation and breeding aviaries and gained rich experience in caring after the birds accommodated (staff expertise, securing sufficient food, facility maintenance, veterinary care, etc.).

• The monitoring will be continued using the equipment purchased within the project and the networks of stakeholders developed within the project. Once set-up, the online database will be available and maintained after the end of the project so the public will still be able to be involved and active in the monitoring activities. A precondition for the success of the monitoring will be the international scientific meeting held to exchange knowledge and establish a network of leading experts working on Lesser Kestrel research and conservation issues, which is expected to support and maintain the monitoring activities.

• The experience gained will be utilized to maintain the captive breeding stock still in possession of the coordinating beneficiary. As an officially designated CITES Rescue Centre, the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre at Green Balkans – Stara Zagora will rely on state funding to maintain its operation and keep at least a minimum stock of the captive breeding pairs. The veterinary and keeper experience will be developed enough to be able to tackle future problems with a minimal number of birds that eventually return to the Centre. The offspring of the captive breeding pairs will be either further released into the wild using the already established infrastructure and methodology used within the project or will be used to initiate other reintroduction or restocking programmes in Bulgaria or other European Union member states.

• Management of the grassland habitats will be maintained by the coordinating beneficiary and local stakeholders, using the recommended measures, seasonality and frequency (i.e. mowing, grazing, etc.) and supported by the promoted agro-environmental schemes. The introduction and promotion of the agro-environmental measures proven to have a positive effect on the target species among the local stakeholders and land-owners will motivate the land-users to apply the identified Falcon Friendly practices. The promoted compensation schemes will secure sustainability and adequate habitat management. The inclusion of specific measures in the NATURA 2000 management plans will enable targeted, sustainability- oriented management, which in turn will bring financial resources for some other actions as needed.

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Protection status under national/local law of sites/species/habitats targeted (if relevant) (max. 5.000 characters) Lesser Kestrel is included in the Bulgarian Red Data Book as “threatened with extinction” as well as in the national Biodiversity Conservation Act, Annex II and III. It is also included in the following international Conventions signed by Bulgaria: The Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) - Annex II; The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention) - Annex I, II; the Council Directive 79/409/EC on the conservation of the wild birds (Birds Directive) - Annex I; The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) - Annex II.

How, where and by whom will the equipment acquired be used after the end of the project? (max. 5.000 characters) All equipment (e.g. vehicles, optical equipment, etc.) purchased under the project shall remain property of the respective project participant (i.e. Green Balkans – Stara Zagora) or be transferred under a contractual agreement to the partnering institution (i.e. municipality or a Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water) to use collaboratively and exclusively on future nature-conservation activities on their territories. This will provide sustainable effect of the project (e.g. maintenance of release sites, plan-based monitoring of the habitat status and introduction of corrective measures, etc.) and other nature-conservation activities of the respective institution in the future. The main objective will be to keep the equipment locally as a prerequisite for having local capacity to the level attained within the project and to ensure continuity of nature-conservation efforts within the target regions and adjacent NATURA2000 areas.

To what extent will the results and lessons of the project be actively disseminated after the end of the project to those persons and/or organisations that could best make use of them (please identify these persons/organisations)? (max. 5.000 characters) Green Balkans, EURONATUR and DEMA all have ongoing programmes of communication activities, and key messages about this project will feature prominently in these long after the project ends. The audiences for these messages will be similar to those targeted during the project, and will include local communities in or near the project SPAs; municipalities and schools in or near these SPAs; Regional Environmental Inspectorates; the Bulgarian Ministries of Agriculture, Environment and Water, Education and the Interior; conservationists working on Lesser Kestrel throughout the species’ ranges; DG Environment and DG Agriculture. The educational programme, the “Lesser Kestrel friendly” agro-environmental measures developed and introduced within the project will be further disseminated and used beyond the project target area and after the end of the project. The results of the project, the positive roof-construction practices and foraging habitats maintenance will be promoted among the wide public through the Demonstration and Information Centre developed, which will continue its operation after the project end. The Centre is intended to attract attention and interest encouraging the development of rural tourism while offering a thematic product presenting the best practiced in Lesser Kestrel conservation as well as efforts directed towards other endangered species of Community interest such as the Imperial Eagle also found in the area. In this way the Centre will become a key tool for involving the wide public in the nature conservation efforts, aiming at the target species, disseminating project materials and promoting the project results. The nearby rock church from the Xth century and the Matochina (Bukelon) Fortress are both well- known landmarks attracting tourists which can also benefit from environmentally-oriented alternative developed in Matochina. This way the Centre will help further develop a remote rural area and will be promoted and presented to the local authorities – the Town hall of Matochina, the Municipality of Ivailovgrad, the District governance of Haskovo, local schools in Ivailovgrad and Haskovo district. The developed interactive educational programme will also be used in the other target areas where Green Balkans is working, thus promoting the conservation efforts aiming at Lesser Kestrel conservation in adjacent areas or major Bulgarian cities such as Plovdiv, Stara Zagora and Pomorie (where the main offices and the headquarter of Green Balkans are). These efforts will require minimum funding, considering the present contacts with local teachers and school head-masters and already established connections. On the other hand, the lessons learnt from the restocking programme will be published and announced at a scientific meeting of experts from Western Europe and their Balkan counterparts. The meeting is intended to set up a network of experts dealing with Lesser Kestrel conservation issues throughout the Balkans and exchange experience and information on the status, current threats and on-going conservation efforts targeting the species. The project team has already met a number of local experts dealing with Lesser Kestrel conservation from Greece (Mr. Rigas Tsiakiris from the Ioannina Forestry Service; Mrs. Antonia Galanaki from the Management Body of the Mt Oiti National Park) and Turkey during the drafting of the International Lesser Kestrel Action Plan in Spain and has carried out some informal meeting which have all justified the need and willing of the experts to

Page 47 of 157 collaborate. The web-site of the project and the web-based database developed will be maintained and operational to collect additional data and further promote the success of the project activities. The printed materials will be further distributed outside the project target area. In addition to communication activities carried out by the Bulgarian organisation involved in the project, further activities would be implemented by Euronatur. The German Foundation has lots of experience in working with media and it will bring lessons learned from the project back to its own country, where it will disseminate them to appropriate audiences and apply them where possible to their own projects. Pictures (If you wish to add a table or a picture, save it as an image file and upload it)

Page 48 of 157 LIFE + Nature

TECHNICAL APPLICATION FORMS

Part C – detailed technical description of the proposed actions

Important note:

All calculations and detailed cost breakdowns necessary to justify the cost of each action should be included in the financial forms F. In order to avoid repeating the financial information (with the risk of introducing incoherencies), Part C should only contain financial information not contained in the financial forms (e.g. details explaining the cost per hectare). Each action described should have a clear indication of its physical target (e.g., action 1 will take place in area "X" and/or will target species "Y"). Whenever this is relevant, the location of these actions should also be identified on one or several maps which must be provided in annex (preferably one map per site). Where feasible, a map of each site should be provided that indicates the location of all the actions taking place on that site. Any action that is sub-contracted should be just as clearly described as an action that will be directly carried out by the beneficiaries.

Page 49 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - C0 LIST OF ALL ACTIONS A. Preparatory actions, elaboration of management plans and/or of action plans ■ Yes No Action Name of the action (max. 200 characters) number A.1 Kick-off event to present the main aims and objectives of the project - +

A.2 Preparation of a Communication Strategy and Annual Project Action plans - +

Screening of the EU Rural Development Policy and Common Agricultural Policy A.3 - + provisions for positive/negative practices affecting Lesser Kestrels Identification of Lesser Kestrel Friendly Agro-environmental measures in the A.4 - + Bulgarian rural development schemes Recommendation of appropriate management prescriptions for target species to be A.5 - + incorporated into SPA management plans

A.6 Development of recommendations and guidelines for Kestrel friendly constructions - +

Actualization and submission of a National Action Plan for recovery and conservation A.7 - + of Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) populations in Bulgaria

B. Purchase/lease of land and/or compensation payments for use rights Yes ■ No

C. Concrete conservation actions ■ Yes No Action Name of the action (max. 200 characters) number C.1 Finding the closest active Lesser Kestrel colonies in Greece and Turkey - +

C.2 Sharing best practices on Lesser Kestrel in-situ and ex-situ conservation - +

Improving the foraging habitat for Lesser Kestrels in release areas through clearing of C.3 - + grassland overgrown with shrubs Improving Lesser Kestrel nesting conditions - installation of nest boxes and other C.4 - + artificial structures

C.5 Establishing Lesser Kestrel hacking facilities in Sakar SPA - +

Improving Lesser Kestrel nesting conditions supporting the nesting of species of C.6 - + similar habitat preferences Establishing database with the Lesser Kestrels available for captive breeding and C.7 - + release

C.8 Securing Lesser Kestrels for translocation from Spain to Bulgaria - +

Developing the infrastructure of the Wildlife Rescue Centre at Green Balkans to C.9 - + accommodate a supplementary Lesser Kestrel breeding programme Ex-situ breeding and maintaining of supplementary Lesser Kestrel captive breeding C.10 - + stock at the Wildlife Rescue Centre Ex-situ breeding and maintaining of species of similar habitat preferences at the C.11 - + Wildlife Rescue Centre Transport, care and release of the birds (Lesser Kestrels and other species) at the C.12 - + release site in Sakar SPAs

C.13 Establishing civic network for monitoring - +

D. Monitoring of the impact of the project actions (obligatory only if there are ■ Yes No concrete conservation actions) Action Name of the action (max. 200 characters) number

Page 50 of 157 Monitoring of the environmental impact of the project activities and assessing the D.1 restocking success. Identifying of migration sites, period of return and preferred areas - + by Lesser Kestrel D.2 Monitoring of the social-economic impact of the project activities - +

E. Public awareness and dissemination of results (obligatory) Action Name of the action (max. 200 characters) number Develop and maintain project website for dissemination of project objectives, E.1 - + activities and results Undertake series of integrated local, regional and national events to promote the E.2 Lesser Kestrel Friendly agro-environmental schemes, land-use measures and project - + objectives E.3 Educational programme for kids - +

E.4 Ensure effective national and international media coverage of the project - +

E.5 Design and install information boards at project SPAs - +

Prepare and disseminate printed communications materials integrated with the E.6 - + project website to improve awareness of and support for the project Generate an audio-visual archive of the project to resource all communication E.7 - + activities Equipping a demonstration centre and information exhibition for Lesser Kestrel E.8 - + conservation in Matochina village Carrying out an international seminar for good practices in pasture maintenance E.9 - + through extensive grazing Organizing an expert meeting for discussing the Balkan population status of Falco E.10 - + naumanni and disseminating the project results F. Overall project operation and monitoring of the project progress (obligatory) Action Name of the action (max. 200 characters) number

F.1 Establish and make operational a Project Steering Group - +

F.2 Establish and make operational a Project Team and role distribution - +

F.3 Sign partnership agreement - +

F.4 Experience exchange and networking with other LIFE projects - +

F.5 Reporting and audit - +

F.6 Develop an “After- Life Conservation Plan” - +

Page 51 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - C1a DETAILS OF PROPOSED ACTIONS A. Preparatory actions, elaboration of management plans and/or of action plans Action A.1 Kick-off event to present the main aims and objectives of the project Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) The project will be launched with a press-conference in Sofia. It will convene for a day about 30 stakeholders, including all partners, to launch the project, outline the working methods and get specific commitment of local participants for relevant actions (i.e. municipalities, members of Hunter and Fishermen Union, biodiversity experts, ecotourism entrepreneurs and associations, farmers, nature-conservation NGOs, Ministry of Environment and Water representatives, etc.). An Action Plan for the project implementation and also the responsibilities of the different partners will be presented. The meeting will ensure that all problems and issues that may appear in the course of the project are explicitly shared and discussed at the start and will therefore create preconditions for understanding, involvement and relevant input from all stakeholders. In this way it will provide exhaustive treatment and resolution of project tasks and problems later on.

The kick-off meeting will be prepared with the assistance of and attended by representatives of the project partners – DEMA and EURONATUR.

Some information materials will be printed to promote the project aims and target species.

The kick-off meeting will be prepared and carried out at the start of project by the end of 2012.

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) The opening event will mark the launch of the project, introduce the participants to the project objectives, set up a framework for upcoming project activities and identify responsible parties to participate in the actions. It will be a unifying platform for people and institutions, which will be responsible for the implementation of actions and achievement of the main project objectives in the re-establishment process. It will make possible to clarify the positions of each stakeholder, identify diverging positions, and prevent subsequent inter-institutional and inter- sector misunderstandings and lack of support for the project at an early stage. In this way it will be possible to get the commitment of each institution/company/NGO/etc. It will also promote widely the initiation of this process in Bulgaria. Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • A kick-off meeting with representation of about 30 interested stakeholders from all project areas and the project team held; • Commitment of all key stakeholders for collaboration in the process of re-establishment of the target species stated; • A detailed timetable for year 1 of project implementation and distributed responsibilities elaborated and presented; • Information materials printed to present the project aim and objectives; • Project aims, objectives and strategy promoted among all stakeholders and wider public. Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 12 877 eur.

The action comprises mostly costs for personnel. The kick-off meeting will be organized by four people from the Coordinating Beneficiary, supported by one team-member from each of the partners – DEMA and EURONATUR. This accounts for a total of 110 man-days of work, at an average daily rate 84 eur (a total of 9267 eur). Another major item is to secure the travel expenses (1750 eur), per-diem and accommodation (1500 eur) for participation in the meeting, and this amount will also secure the attendance of a person from each of the project partners. The rest of the resources will be spent on hall rent and printing project promotion materials.

Page 52 of 157 Pictures (If you wish to add a table or a picture, save it as an image file and upload it)

Page 53 of 157 Action A.2 Preparation of a Communication Strategy and Annual Project Action plans Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) The communications activities of this project need to be well-planned and executed, so that the project objectives, actions, results and key messages are communicated effectively, ensuring that all perception and behavioural changes desired by the project are maximized in all major stakeholder groups. Therefore, a Project Communication Strategy will be developed using well-established protocols. The current communications context and situation will be analyzed and then the communications objectives will be elaborated. Once developed, the key stakeholders will be defined, along with the key messages that need to reach them, and the channels (means or tools) to do so. Once the key tools are agreed, the resources needed to develop and deliver them will be determined. This process will also provide vital input that will be cascaded into the development of specific aspects of all D Actions. Project Action Plans (to be updated on an annual basis) will inform and be aligned with the Project Communication Strategy. An initial long-term and first year specific plan will be developed and discussed at working meeting/ workshop. The Annual Plan will take into account all upcoming project activities during that year, their communication needs to enable or reinforce their impact, as well as the opportunities created by these activities to communicate key project messages. At regular annual meetings the Annual Action Plans for the respective year will be approved. Regular internal communication within the Project Team will enable monitoring and evaluation of the ongoing effectiveness, accuracy and impact of the communications activities, and will permit revisions of the plan to be made on a quarterly basis, to keep abreast of all developments and maximize the effectiveness of the D actions. The implementation of the Project Communication Strategy will be the responsibility of the Project Manager, who will advise with external expert/s. The Communication progress will be monitored in internal reporting and reviewed at Steering Group meetings.

Green Balkans will be responsible for facilitating and implementing this action, in close cooperation with the Project Manager and an expert, as well as communications contacts within each of the Project partners. All partners will contribute to the development and implementation of the Project Communication Strategy and the Annual Action Plans to ensure that all activities are integrated, target priority audiences, convey key messages, and are effective.

The planning and preparation of the Project Communications Strategy and first Annual Action Plan will be undertaken alongside the first Project Steering Committee at the start of the project. The Strategy will then be amended and reviewed together with the preparation of every subsequent Annual Action Plan at the first quarter of each following project year.

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) Despite being very close to people Lesser Kestrels are little known to non-experts. Considering the fact that the Lesser Kestrel adaptation aviaries and releases will take place in or in close proximity to human settlements, it is of crucial importance to mobilize wide public support and motivate local people to conserve the species. The entire success of the restocking programme will be to a great extend dependent on the willing of the local people to support the process installing artificial nesting boxes on their houses, preserve the birds and observing “Lesser Kestrel friendly” land-use practices. The Communication Strategy will provide a framework for the overall work required to keep the wide public interested and informed about the project activities and target species and will suggest the best means to do so.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • General Communications Strategy developed, comprising the main information gaps and means to raise the public interest and motivation to preserve Lesser Kestrels. • 5 Annual Action Plans compiled and up-dated on regular basis; • Improved planning, communication and promotion of the project activities.

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 16 250 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 70 man-days, formed by three experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary, supported by two experts from EURONATUR and one person from DEMA. The overall budget for the personnel item is 9550 eur, at an average rate of 136 eur per day. The action also provides for covering the transport and accommodation costs for attendance (3100 eur) of the planning

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Page 55 of 157 Action A.3 Screening of the EU Rural Development Policy and Common Agricultural Policy provisions for positive/negative practices affecting Lesser Kestrels Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) Under this action, a screening of the EU Rural Development practices proven to pose a threat or be of benefit for the Lesser Kestrel will be carried out. An assessment protocol and standard evaluation approach will be designed and utilized. Articles, reports and any publications concerning this issue will be examined and positive/negative practices will be listed and described. Ongoing and successfully completed projects for Lesser Kestrel conservation in European context will be contacted to discuss the applied agro-environment schemes, land-use practices, compensation schemes and the achieved results (LIFE05 NAT/H/000122, LIFE05 NAT/F/000134, LIFE02 NAT/P/008481). Each of these agricultural practices will be evaluated using the designed assessment protocol from the perspective of Bulgarian contemporary environment, analyzing their potential implications on the target species (especially within the target SPAs). A report comprising a list of positive/negative practices, description, evaluation from Bulgarian perspective, potential implications on species and habitats of European conservation concern, sources of information, country of origin will be compiled and used to develop Guidelines for the maintenance and management of the habitats in the release sites. These guidelines will help to draft and submit a proposal to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food for incorporation of additional schemes proved to be successful for the species in other EU countries in the new Bulgarian Rural Development Program to be developed for the period 2013 -2020.

In addition to that, the findings will be summarized into recommendations for Lesser Kestrel friendly future development of the CAP and RDP in order to reduce the conflict between agriculture and nature conservation. The staff of DEMA will assist the screening, providing examples from the Spanish experience. In addition to that a local consultant will be hired. In addition to that a local consultant will be hired.

The screening will be carried from the start of the project until the end of the third calendar year (2012 – 2014).

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) Agriculture practices have been identified as one of most important factors affecting Lesser Kestrel populations throughout Europe. Main problems described are abandonment of arable lands and invasion of shrubs, enlarging size of arable plots and thus reducing margins between them, use of biocides etc. (Tella at al. 1998). Among the basic factors are radical changes in agriculture. Due to all these negative effects, Lesser Kestrel has been driven to an endangered species, even though just some thirty years ago it was one of the most common birds of prey in Europe. Meanwhile there is not a single document to combine, analyze and draw overall conclusions from the research that has been done and there is very few information in Bulgarian. At the same time, many of these changes are imposed and encouraged by provisions of the EU CAP of the RDP. Controversy between the target species conservation and the agricultural schemes supported has already been spotted (Franco and Sutherland 2004; Garcia et al. 2006). On the other hand, as a newly accepted member state, Bulgaria is rushing to introduce all provisions without considering the environmental concerns. The examination of the impact of agricultural practices on Lesser Kestrel in other EU countries and translating it into the language of Bulgarian contemporary economic environment is crucial to foresee the development that is to affect Bulgaria and the possible outcomes of it. It will assist putting the lessons learnt in other European countries into practise, benefiting from both the positive and negative experience in terms of land use and Kestrel conservation and replicating the results achieved by the on-going and completed LIFE projects aiming at conserving the target species. On the other hand it will help to identify the conflicts between the provisions of the EU CAP and RDP and Lesser Kestrel conservation, promote the beneficial examples and assist the planning of the future development of these policies. Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Compiled a list of positive/negative practices, description, evaluation from Bulgarian perspective, potential implications on species and habitats of European conservation concern, sources of information, country of origin etc. Table format of presenting of main findings will by applied. • Developed and published Guidelines for the maintenance and management of the habitats in the release sites, in print 500; • Proposal to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food for incorporation in the new Bulgarian Rural Development Program (2013 -2020) of additional schemes proved to be successful for the species in other EU countries. • Compiled recommendations for a Lesser Kestrel friendly future development of the CAP and RDP and reducing Page 56 of 157 the conflict between agriculture and nature conservation.

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 7845 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 70 man-days, formed by three experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary, supported by an expert from DEMA. The overall budget for the personnel item is 6195 eur, at an average rate of 88,5 eur per day. A consultant will also be hired for two-man days at an overall cost of 240 eur to support the screening of the EU Policy. The work completed will mostly be in terms of cameral work for a literature review, translation and analysis of official documents and provisions. Therefore fees for access to special libraries are also provided (160 eur). As a result, printed Guidelines will be published in 500 issue print at an overall cost (1250 eur).

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Page 57 of 157 Action A.4 Identification of Lesser Kestrel Friendly Agro-environmental measures in the Bulgarian rural development schemes Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) As a newly accepted member state, Bulgaria has fairly recently introduced some agro-environmental measures within the Bulgarian Rural Development Program schemes. Following the screening completed under Action A.3, these will be evaluated and the ones appropriate for Lesser Kestrel will be selected and promoted in the target SPAs. The evaluation process will follow the guidelines developed under Action A.3. It will be supplemented by consultations with experts at national level, including officers at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The aim will be to gather experience on the implementation, current status and progress of these agro-environmental schemes in Bulgaria, review the lessons learned and the potential constrains. Additional consultations on local level will be held with experts at the local offices of the Agriculture Fund Payment Agency and local farmers who are beneficiaries of agro-environmental schemes in order to see what are the problems on field and if the local land- owners are motivated in applying for the Falcon Friendly measures in particular. This will help to evaluate the practical use of the schemes, find the main drivers that motivate land-owners and land-users to apply them as well as the main obstacles they encounter. Once understood, these mechanisms will be promoted at local meetings among other land-owners and land-users in the target SPAs as a measure to secure good quality of the Small Falcons’ foraging habitats (Action E.2).

The staff of DEMA will assist the identification, providing examples from the Spanish experience. In addition to that a local consultant will be hired.

This action will be carried out in line with the identification of Lesser Kestrel agro-environmental practices under Action A.3 and be carried out during the second and third calendar years (2013 – 2014).

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) This action is needed in order to evaluate existing “Falcon Friendly” schemes and relate to Action E.2. which is intended to promote their use in practice, especially in the target sites. The experience gained within former LIFE projects for Lesser Kestrel conservation has showed the importance of agriculture for the survival and stabilization of the Lesser Kestrel populations. For example increasing the quality of the feeding areas promoting farming techniques that are beneficial to the main prey occurrence (grasshoppers and Gryllidae) in Spain has turned out to be an important part of the conservation measures (LIFE99 NAT/E/006341). In Portugal agro-environmental measures included in “Plano Zonal de Castro Verde” focused on conservation of the birds favouring steppe habitat has been reported to significantly contribute to the increase of the Lesser Kestrel breeding population (LIFE02 NAT/P/008481). Even at present there are agro-environmental measures (such as schemes for grassland maintenance and organic farming) included in the National Rural Development Program of Bulgaria (2007 - 2012), which have been recognized as beneficial for Lesser Kestrels in other EU countries. This has however not been sufficiently explored or widely promoted and explained to the local land-owners and land-users. This action will provide for the implementation of Action E.2., which aims at promoting these agro-environmental schemes among local stakeholders.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Identified Falcon-Friendly agro-environmental schemes from the operational Bulgarian Rural Development Program; • Published Guidelines for Lesser Kestrel agro-environmental schemes in print 500; • Established relations with relevant national and local authorities and prepared conditions for carrying out a wide- scale agro-environmental measures promoting campaign among the local stakeholders (Action E.2).

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 6765 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 75 man-days, formed by three experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary, supported by an expert from DEMA. The overall budget for the personnel item is 6525 eur, at an average rate of 87 eur per day. A consultant will also be hired for two-man days at an overall cost of 240 eur to support the screening of

Page 58 of 157 the EU Policy. The work completed will be entirely cameral work for a literature review, translation and analysis of official documents and provisions. The compiled list will be included in the other printed Guidelines.

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Page 59 of 157 Action A.5 Recommendation of appropriate management prescriptions for target species to be incorporated into SPA management plans Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) The process of developing management plans for the NATURA 2000 sites in Bulgaria is in its very beginning. The project will facilitate the integration of the most vital conservation recommendations concerning Lesser Kestrel into the management plans of the 3 target SPAs in the project area. The Project Manager together with the local partners’ staff and representatives of the protected areas management authorities (where available) will have substantial input to framing the management plans for the SPAs covered by the project. The Project manager shall travel to each of the SPAs in order to meet the management planning team, present the project team’s input, and work with them to incorporate the specific requirements of the Lesser Kestrel in the zoning and regimes planning. At the end, a statement will be developed to present the recommended adequate management prescriptions supporting the Lesser Kestrel conservation in the target SPAs management plans. Upon request the team will be available to participate in the public hearings.

The staff of DEMA will assist the process, providing examples from the Spanish experience.

This activity will be carried out during the second and third calendar years (2013-2014).

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) When the Lesser Kestrel release process has started, the target SPA sites will hold almost the entire populations of the Lesser Kestrel in Bulgaria so it is essential to integrate their conservation requirements into the SPA management plans. The action will set the scene for carrying out all of the in-situ conservation actions envisaged in the C section – actions C.3 through C.6 and actions C.12. In addition, the management plan provides for protection for over a 10- year period and determines the use of site’s resources. It is one of the guarantees for the long-term sustainability of the project outputs. The action will also create synergies with other financial instruments provided for the elaboration of management plans, such as the National Operational Program Environment.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Meetings of the project team with each of the target SPA management plans planning teams carried out; • Developed and presented a statement, presenting adequate management prescriptions supporting the Lesser Kestrel conservation in the target SPAs management plans.

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 3605 eur. The overall man-days provided to come up with recommendations are 30 man-days, formed by two experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary, supported by an expert from DEMA. The overall budget for the personnel item is 2525 eur, at an average rate of 84 eur per day. The action also provides for covering the transport and accommodation costs of the project team to meet the SPA Management Planning team at an overall cost of 1080 eur.

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Page 60 of 157 Action A.6 Development of recommendations and guidelines for Kestrel friendly constructions Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) Under this action, the international experience of deliberate roof-reconstructions and supplementary extensions will be reviewed, summarized, adapted to the Bulgarian contemporary environment and disseminated among the local people in the target SPAs. The project team has already established connections with some of the beneficiaries of a successfully completed Lesser Kestrel restoration LIFE projects (DEMA – www.demaprimilla.org - LIFE05 NAT/F/000134) for preliminary advice and initial drawings of artificial structures to be fitted onto existing roofs. The obtained know-how will be directly applied in both the construction of the hacking facility (Action C.5) as well as in the Demonstration and Information Centre to be equipped in the village of Matochina (Action E.8). This will provide a tangible, easily accessible practical example, as an additional stimulus for the local people and the tourists visiting the centre. The compiled instructions, illustrated with relevant pictures, drawings and charts will be uploaded on the web-site of the project in order to reach to a maximum number of interested people, as well as printed as a leaflet and disseminated among the local people from the target sites within the formal and informal meetings provided (Action E.2). The staff of DEMA will assist the process, providing successful examples from their long-term experience and ready designs and consultancy.

The action will be carried out during the second and third calendar years (2013-2014).

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) The breeding pairs show almost no intolerance of human presence, except for when actively persecuted (Cramp and Simmons 1987). Thus, Lesser Kestrels are often nesting in urban areas (Tella et al. 1996), prefering localities with many monuments (castles, churches) and old buildings and dense population (Franco et al. 2005). The Lesser Kestrel nests under clay roof tiles (Central Turkey) (Parr et al. 1995) or in unoccupied buildings with many roof and wall cavities, in areas with good visibility (Franco et al. 2005). If nest sites are not available or are insufficient, Lesser Kestrels readily take artificial nesting boxes (Pomarol 1993) (Bux et al. 2008; Catry et al. 2007). This measure has been successfully used in Portugal, where the Lesser Kestrel population increased from 155-158 pairs (1996) to 527-552 pairs (2007), and in 2007 52 % of the population reported was using the provided artificial nests (Catry et al. 2009). We therefore believe that the accessibility of step-by-step instructions for installing artificial nesting structures would stimulate many people to embrace the idea and construct and install boxes on their own. This way we aim at motivating people to get involved, providing them with a relatively cheap and easy method to assist the programme and secure its sustainability. At the same disseminating the best practice models of nesting structures will guarantee safe and secure sites for the Lesser Kestrels. We believe that the local people will be interested to get involved based on our present experience which shows that for flagship species such as the White Stork people often contact Green Balkans asking for assistance and guidelines for platform installation.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Lesser Kestrel friendly construction practices identified, summarized and translated; • A leaflet with the findings published in print 1000 and disseminated among 500 local stakeholders, construction companies and authorities;

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 5285 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 45 man-days, formed by three experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary, supported by an expert from DEMA. The overall budget for the personnel item is 4785 eur, at an average rate

Page 61 of 157 of 106 eur per day. The outcomes of the translated designs, adapted to the Bulgarian environment will be published in a specialized leaflet in print 1000 at an overall cost of 500 eur.

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Page 62 of 157 Action A.7 Actualization and submission of a National Action Plan for recovery and conservation of Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) populations in Bulgaria Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) Under this action a National Action Plan for the Lesser Kestrel will be prepared in order to provide a strong practical Government endorsed tool for the conservation of the species. The first National Action Plan for the Lesser Kestrel for Bulgaria was initially drafted in July 2002 by BSPB/BirdLife Bulgaria. This plan was never officially approved by the government and in the meantime special legislation regulating assignment and development of national action plans for species entered into force. The draft National Action Plan for the conservation of Lesser Kestrel in Bulgaria, prepared by BSPB (Barov, 2002) will be used as a basis but most contemporary approach and European “Best practice” gained at the International workshop on the Balkan status of the species (Action E.10) will complement it. The initial information is now partially outdated. The completion of the plan will follow the national regulation that requires Terms of Reference to be developed and approved by the Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) first. The plan itself including urgent conservation measures will then be drafted and reviewed by all stakeholders. The process will then continue with the preparation of a second draft and a final revision at a meeting with the participation of all involved stakeholders, NGOs and researchers. The revised plan will finally be submitted to the MOEW. The Bulgarian Action Plan for the Lesser Kestrel will be developed in the context of the old and the newly revised European Species Action Plan for the species (Biber 1996; Inigo 2010) and will focus on re-introducing the species in the country. Green Balkans expert participated in the workshop on updating the existing European Action Plan in Spain, 2010 and the International Conference “Bird Conservation in the European Union: Planning For Recovery Action And Sustainable Use”, held in Brussels, Belgium; 23-23 November 2010. In order to present a realistic and objective draft, field verification of data will be carried out. Before the submission of the final version for approval, an expert meeting will be held to consult and elaborate the first draft. The meeting will gather some 20 national experts from the Bulgarian Academy of Science (BAS), the Bulgarian Ornithological Central (BOC), the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research (IBER) and leading Bulgarian nature conservation NGOs and provide for collecting the most recent information and discussing the drafted actions in order to elaborate and submit an optimal version. The staff of DEMA and EURONATUR will assist the process, providing successful examples from their practical experience, specialized guidance and logistical support.

Due to the elongated legal application procedures, the preparation of the Lesser Kestrel National plan will begin at the start of the project (2012). The ToR will be developed and submitted to MoEW by 2013. The document will be then drafted by 2014 and discussed and reviewed by the end of 2014. The submission of the final version will be done by the end of 2015 and the document will be expected to be formally adopted and approved by MoEW by the end of the project (2017).

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) The National Action Plan for the Lesser Kestrel will provide a strong practical and legal tool for the conservation of this EU priority species. Its aim is to transfer conservation and legal priorities into the everyday action of relevant institutions – the Ministry of the Environment and Waters, the Ministry of Interior, the Forestry Agency, as well as the NGO sector. The plan will therefore encourage legal enforcement and conservation activities of institutions, fill gaps in knowledge, prioritise government and other funding for conservation, and will allocate other resources to implement priority actions. Once operational, this plan will ensure the foundation for sustainability of the entire Lesser Kestrel conservation programme in Bulgaria.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: EURONATUR Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • An expert meeting gathering some 20 experts for discussing the first draft of the National Lesser Kestrel Action Plan held with representatives of BAS, BOC, IBER, leading Bulgarian NGOs. • Submitted National Action Plan for Lesser Kestrel adopted by the Ministry of Environment and Waters. • Promoted provisions of the National Lesser Kestrel Action Plan using the media coverage secured for the project activities.

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 27675 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 220 man-days, formed by three experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary, supported by two experts from EURONATUR and an expert from DEMA. The overall budget for the personnel

Page 63 of 157 item is 24 625 eur, at an average rate of 112 eur per day. The budget also provides for carrying out verification of data during expert field trips and an expert meeting of local experts to discuss and elaborate the draft of the Action Plan at a cost of 2530 eur. The budget also covers for access fees to on-line libraries and additional literature at a cost of 520 eur.

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Page 64 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - C1c C. Concrete conservation actions Action C.1 Finding the closest active Lesser Kestrel colonies in Greece and Turkey Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) Under this action a total of four 5 day field expeditions will be carried out in Northern Greece and Northern Turkey to locate the nearest active Lesser Kestrel colonies to the target areas in Bulgaria. There is occasional data on the location of Lesser Kestrel colonies in Greek and Turkish Thrace but the information is not systematic and consistent. The expeditions will take place in the second and third quarters of the first and second project years (2012 – 2013) in attempt to describe the population dynamics in the studied areas. The study will allow the location of active colonies of Lesser Kestrels nearest to the target area, as well as to further study the nest and foraging site selection of the birds. Local experts, birdwatchers (Hellenic Ornithological Society, University of Aegean, etc.) and Bulgarian researchers working in the area of Greece will be contacted during the preparatory phase in order to obtain information on the possible location of the colonies. The study will be based on transect surveys carried out by car as they have been proven to provide similar results to radio-tracking techniques (Franco et al. 2004) and allow for locating both foraging and breeding birds. As many settlements as possible along the road especially in suggested suitable habitats will be checked for the presence of the species. In settlements where colonies of Lesser Kestrels are found, additional information on the number of inhabitants, type of land use, number of cattle raised, etc., will be collected through written interviews filled in by the local people to obtain a better perspective of the birds’ breeding and foraging habitats and assist the future of the restocking programme and the identified land-use recommendations (Action A.4, Action E.2.) in Bulgaria.

The action will be carried out during the second or third quarter of each of the following project years: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016.

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) Even though both Greece and Turkey supposedly hold strong Lesser Kestrel populations (Greece: 2000 – 3480 pairs; Turkey: 5000-7000 pairs; BirdLife 2004) there is no systematic coordinated research and there are reasons to believe that the population is declining and the areal of the species is shrinking. Active colonies in Northern Greece are disappearing and there is only patchy local monitoring of the trends and real numbers of the species. At the same time the project team has already contacted several experts working for Lesser Kestrel conservation in Greece (Mr. Rigas Tsiakiris from the Ioannina Forestry Service; Mrs. Antonia Galanaki from the Management Body of the Mt Oiti National Park) and the preliminary conversations have proven the necessity of coordinated and targeted joint effort to reveal the overall trends and status of the species on the Balkans and identify measures for strengthening and conserving the existing populations. The situation in Turkey is even less known and explored. The project team has conducted an expedition in 2010 and has found 3 new unpublished colonies and is currently preparing an article together with colleagues from the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB). Later a BSPB team announced the discovery of additional colonies during a study trip targeting primarily Imperial Eagles so there is no long-term monitoring and information on these colonies’ precise numbers and population dynamics. In addition to that the presence and proximity of the nearest Lesser Kestrel colonies are of crucial importance for the successful re-establishment and stabilization of the species in Bulgaria. The connectivity between the existing populations and the ones reestablished in Bulgaria is a prerequisite for restoring the integrity of the population of the species in Europe and achieving overall favourable conservation status of the species.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Completed four 5-day transect expeditions in Northern Greece and Turkey; • Purchased equipment for the successful implementation of the expeditions – navigation system, maps, issued permits; • Confirmed at least five active Lesser Kestrel colonies and information on their size and behavioural characteristics of the species collected and an article published in a scientific journal; • Improved knowledge on the nesting habitat and foraging preferences of the species to be utilized for the restocking programme in Bulgaria; • Strengthened collaboration with researchers and organizations working on Lesser Kestrel issues in Greece and

Page 65 of 157 Turkey.

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 12 466 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 90 man-days, formed by three experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 4920 eur, at an average rate of 55 eur per day. The budget provides for covering the travel expenses and accommodation for carrying out the four expeditions at an overall cost of 6300 eur. To support the expeditions, navigation system, maps and additional boot will be purchased at a cost of 736 eur. The budget will also cover transport fees, permits and insurance at a cost of 510 eur.

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Page 66 of 157 Action C.2 Sharing best practices on Lesser Kestrel in-situ and ex-situ conservation Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) Under this activity, members of the Project team will visit Spanish, Portuguese and German counterparts involved in Lesser Kestrel in-situ and ex-situ conservation activities. When selecting the target sites, priority will be given to the ones where LIFE+ projects on Lesser Kestrels have been or are being currently implemented (Castilla y León, Aragon, Madrid, Extremadura - Spain; Castro Verde – Portugal) as a complement to the networking activities provided under Action F.4. The visit will take place in the beginning of the project in order to facilitate practical experience gain and sharing of know-how. The Bulgarian experts will visit the Lesser Kestrel breeding facilities of the NGOs in Spain (such as DEMA or GREFA) in order to gain practical experience on the bird breeding and keeping techniques. Additional information will be gathered on the feeding routine of the adults and the chicks, artificial incubation and brooding regimes, size and construction of keeping and hacking aviaries etc. A video-camera and consumables will be purchased to record the trips and be able to share the experience and show the facilities to the rest of the team. Both DEMA and GREFA, which have carried out Lesser Kestrel reintroduction or restocking activities (LIFE05 NAT/F/000134, LIFE06 NAT/IT/000026) and can share experience on the hacking technique and the optimal parameters of the hacking facility have been contacted. In addition to that, the experts will visit the artificial nesting boxes installed in the areas and will be able to discuss the best proven designs, the related costs and problems. The visit will also be related to Actions C.8 and F.4. and will facilitate the establishment of contacts with potential Lesser Kestrel supply organizations, the compilation of a database of the available captive birds (Action C.7) and the negotiations of the terms and schedule of their transportation (Action C.8). The visit will provide excellent conditions for establishing close collaboration with organizations involved with successful Lesser Kestrel restoration activities and gaining hand-on experience of the best ex-situ and in-situ practices for conserving the species. The information collected, methodology used and practical techniques observed will be directly implemented within Actions C.4, C.5, C.9, C.10, C.12,: Ex-situ care for Lesser Kestrels, construction of hacking aviaries and installation of artificial nesting sites, release methodology.

The preparation of the visit will start as soon as the beginning of 2013. The visit will be carried out as soon as possible and be followed by online communication and further discussions so it is expected to be entirely completed by the end of 2014.

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) This action will provide foundations for developing a network of foreign parties capable of consulting the Bulgarian team on the issues related to the restocking process – release site selection, hacking techniques, etc. as well as issues concerning the maintaining and breeding of the birds in captivity. Two organizations with sufficient experience in Lesser Kestrel ex-situ breeding and restocking programmes – DEMA (www.demaprilmilla.org) and GREFA (www.grefa.org) have been already contacted and the preliminary talks have justified the need of such an exchange. The visit will guarantee the application of the best practices in both the ex-situ and in-situ conservation of the Lesser Kestrel which have already been tested and proven to deliver successful results and lead to the stabilization and even increase of the breeding pairs of the species within other LIFE projects. It will allow for hand-on practical experience in Lesser Kestrel conservation which can be later suited to serve the Bulgarian contemporary environment and specific conditions. The action will ensure that all data regarding the birds is well-maintained and exchanged with Bulgarian counterparts to prepare them for the subsequent takeover and care for the birds identified for export in a professional manner. Furthermore ongoing backstopping expertise from the foreign partners will be a prerequisite for the quality care for the birds, once in Bulgaria and also for the capacity building of the Bulgarian counterparts. It will ensure overall project success and timely response to any situation concerning the birds’ condition, behaviour in the new environment, etc.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • A total of 4 members of the project team visited Spanish and German counterparts for at least 12 days; • Increased international collaboration in the field of Lesser Kestrel in-situ and ex-situ conservation; • Strengthened collaboration among LIFE funded projects throughout Europe aiming at Lesser Kestrel conservation (Spain, Portugal, France) • Ensured international expert capacity to back-up Bulgarian experts on in-situ and ex-situ conservation measures and Lesser Kestrel restocking issues.

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters)

Page 67 of 157 Overall cost estimation: 12 590 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 95 man-days, formed by three experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 5160 eur, at an average rate of 54 eur per day. The budget provides for covering the travel expenses and accommodation for carrying out the trip at an overall cost of 6480 eur. Video camera and consumables will also be purchased (950 eur).

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Page 68 of 157 Action C.3 Improving the foraging habitat for Lesser Kestrels in release areas through clearing of grassland overgrown with shrubs Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) The action provides for mechanical clearing of 10 ha of overgrown pastures close to the Lesser Kestrel release site in Sakar SPA and pilot clearing of 1 ha of pastures in each of the close-by SPAs of Byala reka and Krumovitsa. In Sakar SPA the action will be carried out in own or managed by Green Balkans plots, while in Byala reka and Krumovitsa SPA the clearing will be held on municipal land. The pilot clearings in Byala reka and Krumovitsa SPAs will be carried out to demonstrate the approach among the local stakeholders and stimulate them to further maintain and expand the pilot plots. A trimmer and a chainsaw will be purchased and used for clearing of the overgrown pastures. These will be used for restoring degraded pastures, overgrown by shrubs and bushes and their subsequent maintenance, as well as for improving and expanding the already functioning pastures in the area. The trimmer will be used for smaller bushes and shrubs while the chain-saw will be used for cutting the larger ones. The cut shrubs will be removed from the site. After this first mechanical treatment, follow-up management will be carried out by the grazing stock of the local farmers. At the same time, as grasslands and pastures have shrunk for the past few decades, it is expected that the local cattle-breeders will readily reclaim the cleared areas, thus providing long-term maintenance of the freed plots. In addition to that, due to the dry climate of Sakar SPA, when the vegetation becomes too scarce, the horses will be moved to the adjacent SPAs – Krumovitsa and Byala reka. There they will manage the pilot plots cleared within the project, also demonstrating the benefits of transhumance as a nature conservation tool and motivating more of the local people to undertake similar approach.

The action will be carried out by the end of 2014.

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) Even though numerous threats such as poisons and pesticides have been significantly limited for the past decades, a recent trend is the sharp decrease of grazing stock leading to abandonment of many grasslands and their further overgrowing with shrubs, as well as conversion of natural meadows and pastures into intensive agricultural lands. At the same time Lesser Kestrels do not use hunting area uniformly but actively select certain habitat types and avoid others (Rodriguez et al. 2006). A common trend is foraging on open areas with short vegetation, such as arable land and grasslands and actively discriminating dense woods or scrubland. Pastures are presented as among the most preferred foraging habitats for Lesser Kestrels by numerous authors (Garcia et al. 2006) (Donazar et al. 1993, Franco et al. 2004, Parr et al. 1997, Barov 2002; Kmetova et al. in press), followed by sparsely vegetated areas (Donazar et al. 1993, Garcia et al. 2006, Parr et al. 1997, Barov 2002). This action will secure the establishment and long-term sustainable maintenance of short-vegetation grasslands and pastures in the target areas, therefore guaranteeing high-quality foraging habitat and easily accessible prey for Lesser Kestrels. The action therefore intends to enhance the habitat quality preparing the environment and initiating long-term maintenance that can be secured without further LIFE assistance. The action will also be beneficial for a number of other threatened species of European concern and similar habitat preferences: European Souslik (Spermophilus citellus), European Roller (Coracias garrulus), Shrikes, Larks, etc.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Purchased scrub trimmer and a chain-saw for securing short-vegetation grassland patches and clearing pastures in Sakar SPA; • Cleared 10 ha of land overgrown by bushes and scrubs adjacent to the Lesser Kestrel release site (Sakar SPA) and additional 1 ha in Byala reka SPA and 1 ha in Krumovitsa SPA. • Secured transport for the 10 horses from Sakar SPA to Krumovitsa or Byala reka SPA.

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 10 344 eur.

Page 69 of 157 The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 45 man-days, formed by three experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 2490 eur, at an average rate of 55 eur per day. The budget provides for covering the travel expenses and accommodation for carrying out the trips at an overall cost of 1584 eur. An external entity will be hired to clear 12 ha at an average cost of 255 eur / ha. Additional equipment will be hired at a cost of 1500 eur, while trimmer and chainsaw will be purchased for 1050 eur. Additional consumables for maintenance and use will be purchased for 660 eur.

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Page 70 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - C1c Name of the picture: Pasture clearance in other sites

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Add picture Delete this picture Page 71 of 157 Action C.4 Improving Lesser Kestrel nesting conditions - installation of nest boxes and other artificial structures Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) This action aims at providing safe and secure nesting sites to assist the re-establishment of a free Lesser Kestrel colony following the restocking programme imitated in Sakar SPA. Under this action the roof and the wall of the building purchased to be equipped with hacking facilities under Action C.5. will be reconstructed and fitted with nesting boxes to accommodate the birds released from the hacking facilities and returning back to their “natal” site. The boxes will have an opening for the birds to enter from the outside, as well as a special door from the inside allowing for easy manipulation by the experts (ringing, measuring of eggs, etc). The building and its roofs will be re-constructed in a way that will not change the traditional architecture of the villages and will be close to the conditions of the old houses in Sakar, where Lesser Kestrels naturally used to nest. Boxes will also be fitted onto adjacent suitable buildings which are likely to attract the Lesser Kestrels returning. Thus, local experts with knowledge on traditional architecture will be consulted while designs provided by an organization with huge international experience – DEMA (www.demaprimilla.org), as well as experience gained during the expert visit to Spain (Action C.2) will be used. Thus, a total of 40 boxes will be installed in Sakar SPA, as well as 20 nesting boxes will be placed on chosen structures in each of the other target sites (Krumovitsa and Byala reka SPAs). The selection of nest boxes and their installation will follow the experience shared by DEMA. In addition to that, 10 holes will be dug on vertical river banks in Sakar SPA, at the site where the last reported nesting of Lesser Kestrels in the area has been to simulate the birds to reclaim a former breeding site. Special alpinist and climbing equipment will be purchased in order to secure the safe installation of the boxes. In addition to that under this action, artificial dummies of adult Lesser Kestrels will be placed on roofs of the building and neighboring houses to resemble a colony and stimulate the released juvenile Lesser Kestrels to nest. The artificial dummies will be in a real size and colouring.

The action will start in from the begining of 2013 yet the installation of additional nesting boxes will continue throughout the project to secure nesting sites for the birds and after their return from migration.

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) Lesser Kestrels are incredibly phylopatric (Negro et al. 1997; Serrano et al. 2008; Serrano and Tella 2003). Adults are rather reluctant to disperse from familiar areas, returning to the colonies on the basis of conspecific attraction, and the number of birds in the existing colony is used by the prospecting birds as an indicator of the patch quality (Serrano and Tella 2003). They are therefore expected to return and nest in the area of the release sites, which presently do not provide sufficient suitable nesting sites. Lesser Kestrel is a species that is not building its own nest and usually occupies human artifacts or existing niches in river banks or uses old nests of other species – Magpies, Rooks, etc (Barov 2002; Cramp and Simmons 1987; Kmetova et al. in press; Parr et al. 1997; Patev 1950; Simeonov et al. 1990; Tella et al. 1996). There are no rookeries present for the Lesser Kestrels in the release sites selected in Sakar SPA. The approach of installing nest boxes on existing buildings or erecting special nesting structures has been already successfully used in Spain (DEMA, GREFA), Portugal (LIFE02 NAT/P/008481) and France (LIFE05 NAT/ F/000134) and has provided excellent results. This method allows for approximation of the natural conditions sought by the Lesser Kestrels – roofs of buildings and vertical river banks. The existing buildings in the target areas do not offer suitable nesting conditions (tiles with openings, roofs with niches, etc.) at present and this explains the need of re-constructing potentially suitable buildings. This will secure nesting sites for the birds when they return from migration after their release. The nest boxes design will also allow for studying the nest box occupancy and the particular preferences of the breeding birds (height, particular size, exposition, etc.). It has also been proven that Lesser Kestrels base their nest site selection on the presence of conspecifics and colony size (Serrano et al. 2004). Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Reconstructed roof and walls of the building purchased in Action C.5. for installation of Lesser Kestrel nest boxes for the birds returning from their wintering grounds; • Installed 40 nest boxes or artificial nesting structures on the reconstructed building in Sakar SPA, 20 nest boxes in Byala reka SPA and 20 nest boxes in Krumovitsa SPA. • Created 10 nesting holes in vertical river banks at the last recorded breeding site of Lesser Kestrels in Sakar SPA to simulate the birds to reclaim a former breeding territory. • Installed 20 artificial real-size Lesser Kestrel dummies at the release site to stimulate the young returning birds returning from their wintering grounds to nest; • Secured sufficient suitable and safe nesting sites for the released Lesser Kestrels returning at their release sites in Sakar SPA. • Secured sufficient suitable and safe nesting sites to accommodate naturally expanding Lesser Kestrel

Page 72 of 157 populations in adjacent SPAs (Krumovitsa and Byala reka).

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 28 690 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 90 man-days, formed by two experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 4920 eur, at an average rate of 55 eur per day. The budget provides for covering the travel expenses and accommodation for carrying out the trips for building reconstruction and repair at an overall cost of 2820 eur. 10 000 eur are provided for the reconstruction and repair itself. Additional equipment – a ladder for checking the nest boxes will be purchased for 350 eur. The budget provides for external assistance in terms of alpinists (5000 eur) to complete the repair for 130 man- days and preparation of nest boxes (2400 eur) and Lesser Kestrel dummies (800 eur). Architecture statements and permits are also provided (1600 eur). The budget provides for consumables – field work equipment for 800 eur.

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Page 73 of 157 Action C.5 Establishing Lesser Kestrel hacking facilities in Sakar SPA Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) The aim of this action is to purchase, equip and prepare infrastructure for accommodating, maintaining and releasing translocated and captive bred Lesser Kestrels in Sakar SPA. The so-called “hacking facility” is a part of the methodology of the restocking programme, intended to guarantee that the young non-fledged birds will have time to adapt, acclimatize and accept the site as a “natal” site after their release. The entire hacking facilities will be built according to the “Ambiente de Colonia” Lesser Kestrel release method, developed by J. Antolin and DEMA in the nineties and tested during numerous successful reintroduction and restocking projects throughout Europe, adapting the provided designs to the existing infrastructure. Under this action, a building will be purchased in Sakar SPA, preferably in the village of Matochina. The building purchased will be a residential house, an agricultural building or deserted public building (an old kindergarten, community centre or library). The building’s walls and roof will be reconstructed under Action C.4. to install nesting boxes for Lesser Kestrels returning from their wintering grounds. In addition to that, on one of the walls (longer one) nest boxes will be placed (about 10) with an entrance for the birds from the outside and a door for placement of the juvenile Lesser Kestrels from the inside. Additional opening will be attached through a pipe for feeding, so that the chicks cannot see the keeper feeding them. The hacking pens constructed will be used for adaptation and acclimatization of the Lesser Kestrels hatched and raised in the Wildlife Rescue Centre (Action С.10) and those translocated from Spain (Action C.8). On the other wall of the building (one of the shorter ones), a metal construction covered with net will be attached in order to create an attraction aviary. The attraction aviary will be used to accommodate several (4-6) adult Lesser Kestrels in order to attract juvenile birds and keep them in the territory after they fledge. The net will provide visual contact between the birds in the aviary and the juveniles freely flying in the area. The experience of DEMA shows that in some occasions these adults act as “wet nurses” to fatten the chicks across the mesh. Using the new “Ambiente de Colonia” system of release, which provides for the permanent presence of the adults in the release site, will establish an environment resembling a wild colony. This natural environment of the wild colony is a key factor to considerably prolong the stay of the released Lesser Kestrels and stimulate the strong instinct philopatry, which is generic for the species. These adults will be mostly crippled adults, not suitable for release, collected from rehabilitation centres in Spain or Germany or birds recovered within the restocking programme which have suffered injuries not allowing them to adapt to living into the wild. The use of irrecoverable adults in the project, such as disabled specimens for wild life which stay confined in many centres or directly euthanized for their physical defects, offers a more decent alternative for these birds, plus possible captive breeding. DEMA will arrange the transfer of specimens to be used as “wet nurses” with Junta de Extremadura, Junta de Andalucía and the Junta de Castilla-La Mancha (under Action C.8). When the shipment is confirmed, Green Balkans will apply for the birds. At the same time under this action, the internal part of the building will be equipped with rooms for the staff, kitchen with freezers, cutting boards, utensils and other equipment for preparation of the bird food, storage premises, etc. The other two walls of the same buildings will be used to place nesting boxes (Action C.4) and attraction aviary for species with similar habitat preferences (Action C.6). In addition to that, the building will be fenced and warning signboards will be installed in order to limit the potential disturbance and guarantee no entrance of stray dogs and foxes.

The action will start in from the beginning of the project (2012), the hacking facility will be completed by 2013, yet it is expected that the building will be fully equipped by the end of 2014.

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) A Lesser Kestrel GIS habitat suitability model (Kmetova 2010) has identified the area of Sakar as among the most suitable to start releasing Lesser Kestrels in order to supplement and recover the national population. The chosen strategy for Lesser Kestrel restocking – “Ambiente de Colonia” is inspired by a number of successful projects, which have developed and tested the methodology and have managed to establish new colonies, strengthen and support the Lesser Kestrel populations throughout Europe. Such good examples are shown in Spain - Alberes and Algerri, Badajos, Alicante, Sevilla, Extremadura, Aragon; Portugal – Evora; Castro Verde Vale do Guadiana and Campo Maior; France – L’Aude. The presence of the unrecoverable adults in the release site and the possibility of physical contact across the mesh will allow the establishment of very important links among the released chicks and some of the adoptive parents. This will significantly contribute to the fixing of the individuals in the location of reinsertion. In addition to that, the chicks even associate the adults as foster parents at the release site, assisting the adoption of the hacking facility as a natal site. In birds bred in captivity it is very important to avoid the imprinting that can occur during the time the birds go under handling procedures. The main objective is to allow them to develop the adequate behaviour characteristic for the social complexity of the species. At the same time it will be possible to capture the attention of individuals from the wild population, which will be simulated to colonize the selected building for release, due to the used “Ambiente de Colonia” method. This use of the methodology can expect return of the young birds during the first two years of release, which they

Page 74 of 157 cause the creation or the recovery of a stable colony in the fourth or fifth project year.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Purchased a building in Sakar SPA to be equipped as hacking facility for the Lesser Kestrels to be released; • Purchased kitchen utensils, equipment and consumables to secure the operation of the hacking facility and the adequate care and maintenance of the Lesser Kestrels before release; • Equipped a hacking facility as a set of 10 nest boxes for accommodation, adaptation and release of juvenile Lesser Kestrels. • Constructed a cage for adult live lure Lesser Kestrels at the short side of the hacking facility; • Installed protective fence and warning signboards to limit disturbance and potential predation;

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 40 390 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 120 man-days, formed by two experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary , supported by two experts from DEMA. The overall budget for the personnel item is 9180 eur, at an average rate of 77 eur per day. The budget provides for a total of four trips by the DEMA experts to Bulgaria for consultancy and assistance at an overall cost of 8500 eur. The budget provides for external assistance for the preparation of nest boxes (600 eur). Under infrastructure costs, a building will be purchased (12 000 eur) and attraction cage and fence will be constructed (3400 eur). Furniture, utensils, equipment, spotting scope and binoculars will be purchased for 5150 eur, as well as additional consumables for bird handling – 1310 eur.

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Page 75 of 157 Action C.6 Improving Lesser Kestrel nesting conditions supporting the nesting of species of similar habitat preferences Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) Under this action an “attraction cage” for species of similar habitat requirements will be constructed along with the Lesser Kestrel hacking aviaries built under Action C.5 in Sakar SPA. These cages will be attached to one of the free short walls of the buildings purchased under Action C.5. and reconstructed under Action C.4 to assure sufficient number of birds resembling active natural colony of Lesser Kestrels, nesting with other species of similar habitat preferences. Common Kestrels, Little Owls and others captive bred or successfully treated birds in the Wildlife Rescue Centre of Green Balkans will be placed there. These will act as live lures simulating abundance of birds and existing colony for the Lesser Kestrels to be released and expected to return. The lures will be placed in the additional “attraction cage” in the period when the juvenile Lesser Kestrels are ready to fledge and leave the nest boxes. The cage will be covered with net in order to secure good visibility for the birds inside to both the surroundings, as well as to be in sight of the free flying Lesser Kestrels released. In this way the Lesser Kestrels bred in captivity will be released into an environment resembling a natural Lesser Kestrel colony mixed with other species as much as possible. On one short side of the building the juvenile Lesser Kestrels will have visibility to the attraction aviary with adult Lesser Kestrels (Action С.5), while on the other side they will see a similar cage with live birds from other species, typical for their natural colonies. The latter will be either released several days after the juvenile Lesser Kestrels start to fly or will be returned back to the Rescue Centre if permanently injured and release is not possible. This way in addition to the visual contact between the two groups, direct interactions will be established among the birds searching for food, rest and roost as well as during preparation for migration. The dispersal and behavior of all these birds will be monitored after their release. To keep the lure species in the target territory after their release, additional 30 specialized nest boxes of various sizes will be placed in the area of Sakar SPA. Some of these boxes can be manufactured and installed within the interactive educational programme provided for recruitment of local school-children and creating a sense of ownership and motivation to join the conservation efforts. The staff responsible for the care for the juvenile Lesser Kestrels (Action C.11) will also be caring for the live lures using the available equipment.

The construction of the aviaries will start in the beginning of 2013, while the installation of nesting boxes will continue throughout the project.

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) Lesser Kestrels is a gregarious, colonial species. Quite often the colonies are mixed with other falcon species (Common Kestrel), corvids (Rooks, Jackdaws), doves, Little Owl (Cramp and Simmons 1987; Forero et al. 1996, Kmetova 2010). The colony provides security for the nesting birds and facilitates searching for food. The colonies are formed on the basis of conspecific attraction and the number of birds in the existing colony is used by the prospecting birds as an indicator of the patch quality (Serrano and Tella 2003). In Sakar SPA and specifically in the selected release site such type of colonies do not existent at present. Lesser Kestrel is somewhat atypical due to its tendency to form breeding colonies that are sometimes too numerous, mixed an in a very small place. These characteristics result in the formation of complex behaviour derived from the intense interactions among the birds. In addition to that, at the first release as a starting phase, the number of released birds will not be sufficient to resemble a real colony. The impact of this potential limiting factor can be decreased through release of high number of birds from species of similar habitat requirements – mainly Common Kestrels, as well as placement of dummies of Lesser Kestrels on roofs of nearby buildings, chimneys, power pylons, etc (Action C.4, Action C.5). In addition to the direct effect on Lesser Kestrel within this action, a positive effect for the live lure bird species will be achieved. During their stay in the attraction cage these will have the opportunity to adapt to the environment and remain in the territory after release. This way some disadvantages of the “hard release”– fast and direct release of rehabilitated birds in which case these have very short time to adapt to the environment - will be avoided.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Constructed attraction cage for species of similar habitat preferences as a supplementary element of the hacking facility at the selected release site in Sakar SPA; • Secured facilities for keeping at least 20 individuals of species with similar to the Lesser Kestrel requirements in the release site in Sakar SPA per year; • Installed a total of 30 artificial nest boxes of various sizes to attract the similar species released to remain and nest in the area; • Attracted at least 5 pairs of species of similar habitat requirements to nest in the installed artificial boxes per release site; • Purchased equipment to monitor the birds dispersal after release;

Page 76 of 157 • Erected two fences around the attraction aviaries.

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 14 410 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 141 man-days, formed by two experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 7740 eur, at an average rate of 55 eur per day. The budget provides for covering the travel expenses and accommodation for carrying out the trips at an overall cost of 2820 eur. The budget provides for external assistance in terms of preparation of nest boxes (600 eur), alpinists to install the boxes for 30 man-days (1350 eur) and the construction of a cage (1900 eur).

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Page 77 of 157 Action C.7 Establishing database with the Lesser Kestrels available for captive breeding and release Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) The current project proposal provides for the establishment of a Lesser Kestrel captive breeding stock of up to 20 pairs in the Wildlife Rescue Centre at Green Balkans Stara Zagora and the translocation of Lesser Kestrels from Spain to secure birds for restocking purposes. The application of widely recommended management practices, such as the registration of crosses between individuals in proper stud books and the introduction of new individuals into the genetic pools, has been proven to satisfactory maintain high levels of genetic variation for Lesser Kestrels for release (Alcaide et al. 2009). Under this action various rehabilitation and breeding centres, as well as organizations with previous or ongoing LIFE NAT projects on Lesser Kestrel conservation will be contacted to check the availability of Lesser Kestrels for export and exchange with Bulgaria. Green Balkans has already guaranteed the import of minimum 170 Lesser Kestrels supplied by DEMA, Spain. However, in order to obtain a genetically diverse breeding stock, as well as to develop a contingency plan in case of breeding failure in the facilities of DEMA, additional contacts will be established in Spain, Portugal (LPN), France (LPO), Greece and Germany (Walsrode Bird Park). An electronic database with all potential suppliers will be established and constantly up-dated in the course of action. In case of such need, additional bird supply contracts and shipment schedules will be developed. The database will also contain information for the already imported birds which have entered the restocking programme, such as sex, age, particular origin and history. The database will then be gradually filled with additional information, such as individual marking (PVC, metal ring, transmitter), date of release, additional care and notes. In addition to that, a computer will be purchased. The staff of DEMA will assist the process, supplying the database developed with information from their own database for the birds shipped.

The compilation of a database will start as soon as the project is launched (2012) and will be carried out until its end.

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) Recent study (Alcaide et al 2009) did not detect significant evidence of reduced genetic variation or increased inbreeding in Lesser Kestrels despite the geographic fragmentation of the species. Although this study reported genetic differentiation, large enough population sizes and migration seem to be sufficient to mitigate genetic depauperation. It is therefore relevant to restock Bulgaria with Lesser Kestrels from Western Europe. Even though DEMA has undertaken to secure the birds required for releasing within the restocking programme in Bulgaria from its own breeding facilities, it is good to have established connections with other centres and zoos as a contingency step if a given breeding season occasionally fails. The contacts established would guarantee a successful shipment and release regardless the particular obstacles. They would provide for additional exchange of experience and know-how to back-up the gained ex-situ maintenance expertise of the Green Balkans staff. In addition to that, these contacts will create conditions for exchange of Lesser Kestrels between active breeding centres in case captive stock refreshment is required. Compiling a database and diversifying the breeding and translocated stock is required as the release of unrelated fledglings into the same area and the promotion of immigration are suggested as mandatory to counteract founder effects and avoid inbreeding in reintroduced populations of Lesser Kestrels (Alcaide et al. 2009). On the other hand, a database containing information on the history of every released bird would be crucial to secure adequate post-release monitoring of every individual and thus assess the effect of the restocking programme.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Compiled and regularly up-dated database of potential partners (NGOs, Rehabilitation and Rescue Centres, local authorities, etc.) in possession of captive Lesser Kestrels in Spain, Portugal, France, Greece and Germany; • Compiled and regularly up-dated database of the birds entering the restocking programme in Bulgaria; • Established contacts with all identified potential partners able to provide Lesser Kestrels for breeding in Bulgaria; • Provided opportunities for Lesser Kestrel exchange between active breeding centres in case of need for captive stock blood refreshment;

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 14 852 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 141 man-days, formed by four experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary, supported by an expert from DEMA. The overall budget for the personnel item is 8902

Page 78 of 157 eur, at an average rate of 63 eur per day. The budget provides for the design of specialized database software (2100 eur) and the purchase of a computer (950 eur).

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Page 79 of 157 Action C.8 Securing Lesser Kestrels for translocation from Spain to Bulgaria Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) Under this action, DEMA will supply the Lesser Kestrels required for the successful implementation of the restocking programme in Bulgaria. Following the methodology, called “Ambiente de Colonia” (Antolín, 2001), developed by DEMA during the successful Lesser Kestrel restocking and reintroduction programmes lead in L’Aude (South France) within the LIFE05NAT/F/000134 Project, as well as in other regions in Spain (Andalucía, Valencia, La Rioja and Extremadura), Évora (Portugal) and Tudela (Navarra), the optimal age of the chicks to be translocated for release is between 18 and 21 days and a minimum of 40-50 birds should be released at a time to secure a successful re-establishment of a colony. The only way to secure sufficient numbers of Lesser Kestrel chicks at the relevant age is to maintain a captive breeding programme. In order to address that, The Lesser Kestrel Breeding Centre of DEMA will assign part of its facilities and breeding stock to produce the Lesser Kestrel chicks needed to guarantee the planned releases for four years of the LIFE project span (2013-2017). For this purposes, an entire collective breeding module with 15 breeding pairs will be determined to the project objectives to obtain the necessary number of chicks. Therefore the chicks for the LIFE restocking programme in Bulgaria will come solely from the Lesser Kestrel Breeding Centre of DEMA. However if the coordinator of DEMA considers that there is a good reason to increase the number of chicks sent, it is possible to obtain agreements with other Spanish breeding centres of Lesser Kestrels who would secure additional individuals. Captive born individuals needs daily monitoring and maintenance: food, control of the reproduction, control of the breeding pairs and of the chicks by veterinarians, follow-up and management, related to the breeding procedures (incubation, management of a breeding programme, etc.). DEMA will undertake to carry out all necessary work and maintenance of the so-described captive breeding programme, having enough experience to guarantee the supply a sufficient number of chicks for a successful restoration programme of the species in Bulgaria. All chicks produced for the restocking programme in Bulgaria will be marked with a closed ring from CITES-Spain and a PVC ring for distant reading. Before their transfer, the chicks will all pass basic veterinary and microbiological examinations to guarantee their optimum health condition before released into their natural environment. The samples will be sent to the Department of microbiology at the Faculty of Pharmacy in the University San Pablo CEU in Madrid. The chicks will be shipped and they will be marked by the Green Balkans staff with an official Bulgarian ring after arrival. It is expected that DEMA will secure some 170 young Lesser Kestrels for four years (50 during the year 2013, 40 in 2014, 40 in 2015 and 40 more in 2016). The birds will be transported in special boxes, designed by DEMA especially to guarantee the safe transport of a small and fragile species such as the Lesser Kestrel. The transport boxes of DEMA have experienced already thousands of kilometers and have safely transported hundreds of Lesser Kestrels. It is expected that the transfer of the young Lesser Kestrels to Bulgaria could be done at maximum two shipments per year; however, additional trips could be done due to the irregular breeding cycle of the species. However, DEMA is planning to apply a best-practise technique to optimize the number of pairs laying eggs within a limited period of time. Preference will be given to air transport as for the transport of young Lesser Kestrels a 24-hour-trip would be the most advisable. In order to complete the successful shipment from Spain to Bulgaria, DEMA undertakes to manage the necessary documents as follows: - Permission for export issued by the General Department of Environment by the board of Extremadura - Certificated Community CITES issued by the office of CATICE by the industrial and tourism ministry and the trade ministry located in the territorial of Sevilla-Spain. Green Balkans undertakes to support the process, registering at Fauna's Grantees Registry before the shipping as requires by Junta de Extremadura. In the annual database maintained by DEMA each year will be filled with information on every pair, including all the incidents in the reproductive cycle of every nest, the genealogy of the chicks and the exact date of the monitoring of every individual from egg to the sending to the liberating project. That information will be used by Green Balkans to complete their database developed under Action C.7. In order to successfully carry out all logistics around the captive breeding programme maintenance and bird shipping, DEMA will allocate a full-time Breeding Programme Coordinator, as well as an assistant translator.

The transport missions (two or more) will be completed each year following the end of the breeding season in the period (2013-2016), while the maintenance of the pairs will continue throughout the project.

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) The Lesser Kestrel Breeding Centre of DEMA was created in 1990 with the aim of producing young Lesser Kestrels in order to release them in strategic places. The centre has participated in numerous projects such as: - Reintroduction programs in places where the species has disappeared.

Page 80 of 157 - Introduction programs in areas where the species never lived before but the environmental conditions are appropriate for their settlement. - Reinforcement programs for the wild colonies with a weak presence of the species. The main and really ambitious objective of the Lesser Kestrel Breeding Centre is to participate in the conservation of species in Bulgaria, the same way as it has been done at L’Aude (South France) with the Project LIFE05NAT/F/000134, as well as in other regions in Spain. Nowadays DEMA has two developing projects, one in Portugal and the other one in Navarra. - Reinforcement or enhancement programs of Falco naumanni populations into feral colonies with weak presence of the species with the recovery of nesting materials and also favouring them by installing artificial nests with special characteristics that prevent other species occupying those nests (such as Columba livia), the attack of predators (Corvus monedula), water leaking, chicks falling to the ground, etc. The technical and scientific work carried out over the years (from 1991 to 2011) has resulted in the releasing a total of 1553 chicks within several programmes developed throughout the European Union. It was DEMA’s own decision to strictly restrict the number of Lesser Kestrel chicks produced, to just cover the needs estimated for the release programmes established every year, in order not to exhaust the captive breeding pairs maintained with excessive and unnecessary production. However DEMA’s current experience and success shows that translocation and release of young chicks using the developed methodology has very high chances of success given the particular circumstances described under this proposal Beneficiary responsible for implementation: DEMA Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Maintained a breeding unit of 15 Lesser Kestrel pairs at the Lesser Kestrel Breeding Facility of DEMA, Spain, to secure birds for release within the restocking programme in Bulgaria. • Full-time Breeding Programe Coordinator allocated to maintain the logistics; • Secured transport boxes to guarantee the safe shipment of the Lesser Kestrels from Spain to Bulgaria; • Secured shipment of 170 young Lesser Kestrels for four project years (50 during the year 2013, 40 in 2014, 40 in 2015 and 40 more in 2016); • Completed veterinary examinations to guarantee the optimal physical conditions of the birds; • Ensured compliance with all the relevant authorities, veterinary and CITES requirements involved in the possession and transport of birds from Spain to Bulgaria. • Ensured transport of the birds with safety and health guarantees to Bulgaria.

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 265 001 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 1040 man-days of the Breeding Programme Coordinator of DEMA, supported by two experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 216 226 eur, at an average rate of 208 eur per day. The budget provides for external assistance in terms of bird transport from Spain to Bulgaria (3000 eur), securing project legal and financial advice (9416 eur), veterinarian care (1301 eur) and hiring an occupation and safety company (2457 eur). The budget provides for covering the food of the captive pairs, transport boxes and insurance at an overall cost of 34 701 eur.

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Page 81 of 157 Action C.9 Developing the infrastructure of the Wildlife Rescue Centre at Green Balkans to accommodate a supplementary Lesser Kestrel breeding programme Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) The Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre at Green Balkans is intended to supplement the Lesser Kestrel restocking programme with an additional stock of captive pairs. This action provides for the construction of four additional aviaries, purchase of additional equipment for the incubator and brooder room and support for the existing vivarium facilities, all in order to expand the capacity of the Rescue Centre to deal with a greatly increased number of both adult and young Lesser Kestrels for restocking. In order to accommodate the expanded Lesser Kestrel captive breeding stock, a total of four breeding cages for Lesser Kestrels sized 5*3*3 m will be constructed. Each of the cages will be suited to accommodate a maximum of 20 breeding pairs of Lesser Kestrels altogether. The cages will be equipped with nesting boxes, perches, feeding trays, water containers and video-surveillance equipment. The design and implementation of the cages will be based on the practical experience and advice of the organizations successfully breeding Lesser Kestrels visited under Action C.2 and DEMA. Thus the incubation and brooder facilities of the Rescue Centre (4 incubators and 4 brooders at present) will be expanded purchasing an additional incubator, a hatcher, other breeding tools and consumables (digital scale, thermometers, etc) and constructing four supplementary brooder boxes. The process and methodology for ex-situ breeding will be consulted by DEMA staff in order to reproduce the successful practises they have employed and tested at the Lesser Kestrel Breeding Facility they operate in Spain. The capacities of the vivarium facilities for mice will be expanded to serve the higher demand raised by the imported Lesser Kestrel stock. In addition to that, an automatic guarding system will be installed in order to guarantee the security and non- disturbance of the breeding birds. In order to avoid incidents with wild predators (foxes, stray dogs, and stray cats) that have happened in the past, electric fence will be installed and specialized equipment for trapping and transporting of small carnivores will be purchased. The staff room will be equipped with computers and special software to keep proper stud books and records. A vehicle will also be purchased to suit the needs of the Lesser Kestrel captive breeding and overall restocking programme – transport of birds, food supply, etc.

The action will start as soon as the project starts (2012), while some additional reconstructions will be taking place until mid-2015, while the maintenance will continue throughout the project.

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) At the time of the project start, the Wildlife Rescue Centre will have a breeding stock of 9 Lesser Kestrel pairs accommodated. This number of birds is not sufficient to produce the amount of chicks required to support a full- scale restocking programme and therefore the import of a minimum of 20 additional birds is planned under the current proposal (Action C.9). The captive bred offspring at the Wildlife Rescue Centre will be used to supplement the birds translocated from Spain, if some of them die out during the transport or fail to adapt and acclimatize. In addition to that, the maintaining and breeding of these birds will provide for conditions to train the team to handle the species and be able to develop a full-scale captive breeding programme and secure sustainability for fulfilling the goals of the project after its end. In addition to securing aviaries to accommodate the birds, it is crucial to secure sufficient fresh food of good quality to stimulate the birds for breeding and ensure the good physical condition of both the parents as well as the chicks to be released. The expansion of the capacity of the existing vivarium will at least partially solve this problem, providing excellent quality of fresh food of key importance during the entire breeding period from laying to fledging. Securing computers and special software for the Lesser Kestrel staff is required in order to adequately manage and keep a clear track of the entire captive breeding process – from maintaining a proper stud book, staying in touch with the Lesser Kestrel providers and international consultants to planning the every-day needs of the programme. The purchase of a vehicle will complement the entire ex-situ conservation actions carried out at the Wildlife Rescue Centre, providing means to transport the Lesser Kestrels and species of similar habitat (Action C.7., C.9), secure food supplies and be used by the staff for the other actions provided within the current proposal.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Constructed 4 breeding aviaries for Lesser Kestrels, equipped with nesting boxes and video-surveillance suited for accommodating up to 3 breeding pairs at a time; • Computers, printers • An incubator, a hatcher and four brooders purchased to improve the captive breeding facilities of the Wildlife Rescue Centre;

Page 82 of 157 • Expanded capacity of the existing vivarium to secure 5-10 % of the fresh mice required to maintain a breeding stock of 50 pairs of Lesser Kestrels during the breeding season; • Installed electric fence and purchased equipment for trapping and transporting predators; • Purchased a vehicle to support the ex-situ conservation activities; • Improved overall capacity of the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre to maintain and implement captive breeding of Lesser Kestrels for restocking purposes;

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 74 475 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 1140 man-days, formed by four experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary, supported by an expert from DEMA. The overall budget for the personnel item is 37 450 eur, at an average rate of 33 eur per day. The budget provides for covering the travel expenses and accommodation for transporting items and shipping at an overall cost of 4960 eur. The budget provides for the reconstruction of the 30 sq meters of the Rescue Centre premises (10 800 eur), the construction and legalization of a cage (3360 eur), the purchase of a car (3200 eur) and incubators (1040 eur), computers (2310 eur), additional power-supply (4100 eur) and video-surveillance (5000 eur). An electric fence (1025 eur) and trap for large predators (1230 eur) will be purchased.

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Page 83 of 157 Action C.10 Ex-situ breeding and maintaining of supplementary Lesser Kestrel captive breeding stock at the Wildlife Rescue Centre Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) This action will secure optimal care for the captive Lesser Kestrel stock transported to the Wildlife Rescue Centre of Green Balkans in Stara Zagora under Action C.8. The outcomes of Action C.7 and C.8 expected at the second year of the project include the formation of at least 20 breeding pairs of Lesser Kestrel, producing on average 10-30 chicks per year. This amount of birds will at times almost double the average numbers of birds normally present in the Rescue Centre. Under this action, a Manager of the Breeding Programme, an Assistant, an Aviculturist to care for the chicks and fledglings, a care worker and a veterinary will be employed to secure the smooth implementation of the ex-situ activities related to the Restocking Programme. • Wildlife Rescue Centre Manager – will be coordinating all ex-situ activities, securing the logistics around the captive breeding pairs – transporting and accommodating the birds, securing food, keeping correspondence with the partners, reporting to the Project Manager, negotiating and supervising the infrastructure developments (full- time). • Breeding Programme coordinator – will be coordinating the accommodation and maintenance of the Lesser Kestrels in the Rescue Centre, will monitor and participate in the process of pen construction and maintenance, video-surveillance installation and maintenance, bird transport logistics (full-time). • Breeding Programme assistant – will provide the required direct maintenance and care for the captive breeding pairs and their offspring and will also assist the treatment of birds in distress after the transport or the release. Will maintain the breeding facilities throughout the year (full-time). • Aviculturist – baby rearing – will be in charge of the every-day care for the eggs in the incubator room and the hand-rearing of the chicks in the brooder room during the active breeding season. Will maintain the breeding faciltities and aviaries throughout the year (full-time). • Veterinary – will be in charge of the optimal physical condition of the breeding stocks and the birds to be released. • Public relations – will be in charge of promoting the Lesser Kestrel activities taking place in the Wildlife Rescue Centre, keeping in contact with local media and authorities and organizing the local promotion events (part-time). In order to secure the optimal physical conditions for breeding or release, this action will also provide for securing sufficient quality and quantity of food throughout the years of the project duration. Following the experience of the successful Lesser Kestrel breeding projects visited under Action C.2, this action will secure one-day old chicks, laboratory mice, beef hearts, quail and insects, as well as probiotics and vitamins to boost the captive birds for the entire project span. The methodology used by DEMA to breed Lesser Kestrels in captivity and to be reproduced at the Wildlife Rescue Centre in Bulgaria in terms of know-how and infrastructure (Action C.9) is a well-designed mixture of artificial incubation, hand-rearing and foster-parenting, which allows for up to doubling the normal clutch of a pair. This is the way to secure a maximal number of young birds for release within the restocking programme from a minimum number of captive birds needing constant maintenance and care. The application of this methodology for the aims of the restocking programme requires the expansion of the incubation and brooder faculties purchasing additional equipment and repairing and adapting the existing facilities.

The action will start as soon as the project is launched (2012) and be carried out throughout the project duration.

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) An almost doubling of the birds normally present in the Rescue centre and especially the increased attention and care required by some 10-30 chicks per year will put a great pressure on the staff of the Centre. The receiving, accommodating and caring for the imported Lesser Kestrels all the way to the hatching, hand-rearing and further transporting of the chicks to the hacking facility will all require the full attention and time of well-experienced expert additional staff. Securing the proposed position will guarantee the smooth and successful implementation of all envisaged ex-situ activities in time. It will guarantee constant communication with the project partners, constant flow of birds to the hacking facility throughout the project duration, as well as easily approachable and highly- experienced advisors in case of problems with the birds on field. Food is a key prerequisite for the breeding success. The presence of diverse high-quality food is of crucial importance for the size of clutches and is of particular importance for the correct growth and development of the chicks before fledging. Therefore the fitness and release suitability of the young birds is related to a great extent to the provision of sufficient and well-diversified food. Both the staff and the food supply provided within this action will therefore guarantee optimal care and maintenance of the breeding stock, as well as excellent physical condition and fitness of the birds allocated for release.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters)

Page 84 of 157 • Guaranteed optimal care and maintenance of some 20 pairs of Lesser Kestrel captive breeding stock and their offspring until release; • Successful production of some 10-30 Lesser Kestrel chicks per year; • Formed team in charge of the overall coordination, implementation and logistics of the ex-situ activities; • Secured sufficient high-quality and diverse food to maintain the entire Lesser Kestrel captive breeding stock and its offspring before release throughout the project duration. • Secured optimal conditions for the captive Lesser Kestrel breeding stock and its offspring.

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 315 182 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 4030 man-days, formed by six experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 152 160 eur, at an average rate of 38 eur per day. The budget provides for external assistance in terms of supplying Lesser Kestrel adult birds for captive breeding (11 264 eur) and DNA analysis for sexing of the captive bred stock (528 eur). The budget provides for covering the travel expenses and accommodation for food deliveries at an overall cost of 4960 eur. Under this action, consumables for bird keeping and maintenance will be purchased – PVC rings, food, vitamins and supplements, veterinary consumables, etc. at an overall cost of 146 270 eur.

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Page 85 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - C1c Name of the picture: Ex-situ conservation activities - Bulgaria

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Add picture Delete this picture Page 86 of 157 Action C.11 Ex-situ breeding and maintaining of species of similar habitat preferences at the Wildlife Rescue Centre Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) This action will secure optimal care for species with similar habitat requirements to Lesser Kestrel in the Wildlife Rescue Centre. These are species such as Common Kestrel, European Roller, Little Owl, Pigeon, etc. These species will then be transported and used as live lures in the hacking facility for the colonially nesting Lesser Kestrels constructed under Action C.5 and C.7. This action provides for securing some 30-40 birds per year among the ones received for care and rehabilitation or the ones bred in the Wildlife Rescue Centre. These birds will be treated and stabilized as necessary, then collected and maintained to be transported to the hacking facility as live lures for Lesser Kestrels under Action C.13. This action will also provide for securing sufficient quality and quantity of food for these birds throughout the years of the project duration. Grain, fruits, one-day old chicks, laboratory mice, beef, goat and poultry meat, as well as probiotics and vitamins to boost the captive birds for the entire project span will be secured. • Aviculturist – breeding and baby rearing – will provide the required maintenance and care for the captive breeding pairs (Common Kestrels, Owls, etc.) and their offspring. Will maintain the breeding facilities. • Rehabilitator – will secure the acceptance and treatment of individuals from the target other species in distress and will secure the rehabilitation course to guarantee their optimal condition for release. Will assist the logistics around food supply and bird transport (full-time).

The collection of similar species will start from the second project year (2013) and continue until the last quarter of the fifth project year (2017).

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) It is proven that Lesser Kestrels as gregarious species, often nest in mixed colonies with Common Kestrels, Jackdaws, Little Owls and Pigeons (Cramp and Simmons 1987; Forero et al. 1996). The current proposal provides for an innovative method of getting the young Kestrels used to these species seeing them in an adjacent aviary at the time of fledging and later attracting them with the same species at the time of their potential return in spring. The live birds kept can simulate a diverse natural colony and teach the young birds to interact and seek for the presence of these species when choosing potential nesting and foraging sites, just as this would happen in their natural environment. The Common Kestrels, Little Owls and Pigeons to be used as live lures will be collected throughout the year from birds in distress received for treatment or among the ones bred in captivity in the Wildlife Rescue Centre. The Centre has already successfully bred Lesser Kestrels and Barn Owls and will therefore be able to supply live lures from even its captive bred stock as long as it can be maintained. The live lures will be shipped to the hacking facility (Action C.13) before the arrival of the Lesser Kestrels and will stay in the near-by attraction aviary (constructed under Action C.7) until the fledged Lesser Kestrels leave the area. The lures will be then either released if possible, or returned back in the Rescue Centre for wintering, together with the handicapped adult Lesser Kestrels kept as lures (Action C.6). The collection and maintenance of these birds will therefore require all-year care and attention.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Guaranteed supply, optimal care and maintenance of 30-40 birds (Common Kestrels, Pigeons, Little Owls) and their offspring to suit as live lures for Lesser Kestrels in the hacking facility (Action C.6) per year; • Secured sufficient high-quality and diverse food to maintain the live lures and their offspring throughout the project duration.

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 139 240 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 3960 man-days, formed by six experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 99 780 eur, at an average rate of 25 eur per

Page 87 of 157 day. The budget provides for covering the travel expenses and accommodation for food deliveries at an overall cost of 4960 eur. Under this action consumables for bird keeping and maintenance will be purchased –food, vitamins and supplements, veterinary consumables, etc. at an overall cost of 34 500 eur.

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Page 88 of 157 Action C.12 Transport, care and release of the birds (Lesser Kestrels and other species) at the release site in Sakar SPAs Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) Under this action the birds bred in the Wildlife Rescue Centre at Green Balkans – Stara Zagora (Action C.10 and C.11) and those translocated from Spain (Action C.9) will be transported to the hacking facility constructed under Action C.5 and C.6. The action will secure the maintenance and care for the birds for release, as well as the live Lesser Kestrel lures, accommodated in the attraction cage, constructed under Action C.5. and the live lure species of similar habitat requirements kept in the cage constructed under Action C.6. A vehicle will be purchased to serve the transport and release purposes. As described in Action C.11 the captive bred Lesser Kestrels will be hand-reared and then returned to foster parents until they are about to fledge (1-2 weeks before fledging). Before they fledge they will be transported to the hacking facility, where they will be fed without seeing people. As it is expected that the Lesser Kestrels bred in the Rescue Centre will reach suitable hacking age at different timing, under this action two transports of groups of Lesser Kestrels from the breeding facilities to the hacking pens will be organized per year for the target site (in Sakar SPA). The transport from Stara Zagora to the hacking facility will be organized using the same mini-van and route as the one used for the lure birds. The birds translocated will be aged 18-21 days, parent reared, shipped to Bulgaria before fledging (Action C.8). The translocated Lesser Kestrels will be shipped, following the provisions and schedule described in Action C.8. The hacking facility will also hold crippled adult Lesser Kestrels in a separate aviary but still visible for the chicks, in order to help the socialization and imprinting of the young birds on their own species and create a perception of a colony (Action C.5). The lure birds need to be transported within one transport mission prior to transporting the young Lesser Kestrels to the hacking facility in Sakar SPA. In addition to them, a group of species proven to also attract Lesser Kestrels (Common Kestrels, Little Owls, etc.) will be transported and released in the specialized pens in Sakar SPA before the arrival of the Lesser Kestrels. These birds will be collected among the patients received in the Rescue Centre during the year (Action C.11). The transport from Stara Zagora to the hacking facility will be organized using a mini-van and high-class roads whenever it is possible, to minimize the stress for the birds. All the birds will be taken care of during their entire stay in the hacking facility – regularly fed and monitored, to ensure their optimal condition for release. Following the “Ambiente de Colonia” release methodology developed by DEMA, both chicks and adults will be fed so they do not perceive the presence of people. The doors for the Lesser Kestrels will be open when the Breeding Programme coordinator gives their consent, through the so called “soft release method” – opening the hacking facility and providing food on regular basis, so the birds can choose when to leave the sites and at the same time recognize a familiar source of food they can use until the time they become completely independent. In addition to that, several public release actions with the participation of local authorities and stakeholders will be carried out in order to attract public attention and raise interest and awareness. Local students will also be invited to take part within their educational programme (Action E.3) thus providing them a chance to get personally involved and create a sense of ownership. Regular monitoring protocols will be kept to record the behavior and development of the birds during maintenance and hacking. At the age of 30- 35 days the chicks are expected to start hunting on their own and depend less on the food, which will be regularly provided in the release boxes. As they are getting more independent, they will explore the location, increasingly flying bigger distances from the release site. They will be expected to stay in groups and use the constructions provided under Action C.4. as roosting locations. On the other hand, the live lure birds will be placed in the hacking facility at a minimum age of about 1-2 weeks before fledging. They will be fed with suitable food until they naturally fledge, thus also using the “soft release method”. This method has been not only been successfully tested with other species such as Common Kestrels, Barn Owls, Little Owls, Long-eared Owls, etc, but has also proven its efficiency within the successfully completed and ongoing Lesser Kestrel conservation projects throughout Europe. Even though this is not considered a reintroduction, but a restocking programme, the release of birds in the release sites will follow and observe the IUCN Reintroduction Guidelines (1995) – releasing sufficient number of birds, selecting sites within the historical range of the species, securing follow-up monitoring after release, etc. In the late autumn after the releases the live lure adult Lesser Kestrels will be taken back to the Rescue Centre in Stara Zagora, to avoid their wintering in the area as they are a migratory species and especially as they would need constant feeding and care on site. The other live lure species will be released if suited for living in the wild or transported back to the Rescue Centre.

The transport and care will start from the second project year (2013) and be carried out every year until the end of the project (2013 - 2016).

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) The numerous reintroduction and reinforcement projects carried out in the past two decades have allowed DEMA to design, define and validate an own releasing method named “Ambiente de Colonia” (Antolín, 2001) which will be reproduced and adapted by Green Balkans. The application of this method has assured the reintroduction Page 89 of 157 success, with positive results in all the projects that DEMA has developed until now. The restocking programme in Bulgaria will follow the 21-year successful experience of DEMA of restocking and reintroducing Lesser Kestrels releasing translocated captive bred birds on suitable sites throughout Europe. The behaviour of Lesser Kestrel suggests that the learning process has bigger influence than in non-colonial species, so the presence of adults of the same species and other species with similar habitat requirements in all growth stages of the chicks, from their hatching to independence is an essential element for the post-release adaptation of the birds. The methods of captive breeding and release used by DEMA and reproduced by Green Balkans will guarantee the presence of adult birds at all growth stages of the chicks and will be a prerequisite for their successful adaptation and post-release survival. The experience of DEMA in other project shows that approximately 26% of the released chicks will be expected to initiate nesting in the release sites as soon as the second release year.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Completed two transport missions (from the Wildlife Rescue Centre to the hacking facility and back) for transporting adult live lure Lesser Kestrels and other indicator species (Common Kestrels, Little Owls) for release site per year (one early spring and second late autumn); • Completed or two shipments of minimum 40 translocated juvenile Lesser Kestrels to the hacking facility per year. • Completed two transport missions for transporting young Lesser Kestrels from the Rescue Centre to the hacking facility per year; • Secured regular feeding, care and maintenance to guarantee the optimal health state and fitness for the birds to be released; • Kept up-to-date protocols on the birds behavior and status during maintenance; • Purchased vehicle to serve the release procedures. • Transported and released minimum 40-50 Lesser Kestrel chicks per year; • Transported and releases at least 15 birds of similar species as live lures in Sakar SPA; • Recorded first nesting attempt of Lesser Kestrels in the release site area;

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 64 572 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 60 man-days, formed by two experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 3330 eur, at an average rate of 56 eur per day. The budget provides for covering the travel expenses and accommodation for the release and maintenance at a cost of 3072 eur. Under this action monitoring protocols will be printed at a cost 450 eur. A car will be purchased for 20 000 eur, as well as a camera for 2000 eur and consumables – food, medicine, disinfection solutions, covers, etc. for 7220 eur. The budget also provides for payment of taxes and fees and equipment maintenance costs of 24 000 eur.

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Page 90 of 157 Action C.13 Establishing civic network for monitoring Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) Under this action, a series of meetings will be held in order to recruit public interest, create a feeling of local ownership and gain wide civic support for the Lesser Kestrel conservation activities among local authorities relevant stakeholders, e.g. farmers, hunters, Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water (RIEW), as well as support the Lesser Kestrel monitoring activities (Action D.1). These will be organised starting the second year and ending by the 5th year of the project lifespan. The objective is to keep a core of stakeholders, well-informed and prepared for bird identification, as well as potentially noting basic aspects of the species behaviour, which may inform other aspects of the status and well-being of the birds into the wild. Special equipment – mobile computer, UPS, a multimedia projector, etc. will be purchased. Special groups, such as border control authorities, local hunters, pigeon-breeders, vets, foresters, etc. will be particularly targeted, as these are people often on field, can be properly trained to identify the species and become a reliable source of information. A minimum of one meeting per site per year will be organised for about 20 participants each, starting from the second project year (2013). Thus it is expected to cover the stakeholders most active and interested in forming a network of informers and collaborators for reporting Lesser Kestrel observations and status. At these meetings the aims and current progress of the project will be presented, as well as means to identify the birds released and current activities everyone can get involved in, in order to support the restocking programme and Lesser Kestrel conservation activities. The release strategy, current colour marking scheme and tagging will also be presented. The meetings will also help to disseminate the guidelines for Lesser Kestrel friendly constructions, developed under Action A.6. and show particular examples of how artificial nesting structures can be manufactured and installed. This action relates closely as a complementary one to Action D.1., as it will increase the potential for in-depth well-coordinated monitoring of post-release status and dispersal of birds.

The action will start in 2013 and be carried out until the project ends (2017).

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) Local stakeholders (i.e. farmers and hunters mostly) are of crucial importance to secure the success of the restocking programme and its overall sustainability. If a sense of ownership, personal motivation and interest in conservation is created through overall awareness raising and providing a chance to get involved, this would significantly improve the chances of success. Such meetings can be useful not only to establish and maintain a network of local stakeholder willing to support and assist the restocking programme, but also get feedback and assess the socio-economic impact from the conservation activities, carried out. At the same time, local people are not familiar with the biology and general outlook of Lesser Kestrels in detail. Meetings to present the species, its behavour and applied marking scheme would be not only interesting for the people themselves, but would also significantly support the post-release monitoring of the species and its dispersal (Action D.1). Furthermore, farmers and hunters are a natural friend to the birds and their frequent stay in nature in areas of potential contact with the Lesser Kestrel is important for securing relevant care and acceptance of the birds. Developing a network of well informed and conscious local stakeholders will also significantly limit threats such as poaching attempts, potential nest robberies or general negative attitude, due to lack of information.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • A minimum of one meeting per site per year organised for about 15 participants each, starting from the second project year (2013-2017). • A network of local stakeholders, interested and motivated to assist the Lesser Kestrel restocking programme developed; • Purchased equipment for presentations – mobile computer, UPS, multi-media projector; • Minimum 20 re- sightings received from the local network developed.

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 13 467 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 145 man-days, formed by two experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 7920 eur, at an average rate of 55 eur per day. The budget provides for covering the travel expenses and accommodation for carrying out the meetings at a cost of 3597 eur.

Page 91 of 157 A hall will be hired (250 eur) and promotion leaflets will be printed (200 eur). In addition to that equipment for presentations will be purchased – USB, lap top and multimedia projector at an overall cost of 1500 eur.

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Page 92 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - C1d D. Monitoring of the impact of the project actions Action D.1 Monitoring of the environmental impact of the project activities and assessing the restocking success. Identifying of migration sites, period of return and preferred areas by Lesser Kestrel Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) Under this action the overall success of the restocking activities will be monitored, through special marking and follow-up monitoring of the birds released, filling-in special monitoring protocols and maintaining a database for bird re-sightings. Under this action a special monitoring protocol will be developed and maintained at the hacking facility to track the history of the restocking pogramme – date of accommodation of the birds in the hacking facility, duration of stay, date of release, exhibited behavior, preferred roost and date of disappearance from the release site (presumable autumn migration), date of re-appearance, nest box occupation, etc. The protocol will be filled by the field assistance while the database will be managed on a central level. All Lesser Kestrels involved in the restocking programme (both captive breeders and juveniles for release) will be marked with colour PVC and standard metal rings. Different colour of PVC rings will be fitted each year to enable quick identification of the age of the bird following its release. The rings will be fitted before fledging and when birds are caught for transport or examination so no trapping and additional stress would be involved. The ringing will make the birds returning to the release sites easily identifiable by the team preparing the next batches of juvenile Lesser Kestrels for release and will allow for a much wider public participation (Action C.13) in the post- release monitoring process. A total of 4 of the juvenile birds released will be tagged with satellite transmitters for each year of release (2013-2017). The birds will be marked at the hacking facility just before fledging. The transmitters will be attached to the birds using a standard “backpack” type of attachment using Teflon harnesses. Data from the transmitters will be received directly at the office via standard data transfer system requiring additional fees (ARGOS). Data will be processed by a GIS expert using specialized software. Transmitters will be attached starting from the first year of release (2013) which means project year 2. Data from the transmitters will be received and processed from the release of the bird in 2013 until the end of the project. Assessment of the restocking success will be carried out in all project SPAs as they are all considered potentially suitable as Lesser Kestrel nesting sites.

The preparation of the action will start in the second project year with the arrival of the birds at the hacking facility in Sakar (2013) and the action itself will be carried out until the end of the project (2017).

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) The main environmental impact expected from the project is the successful restoration of a free Lesser Kestrel colony in Sakar SPA. The current proposal provides for best-practice methods to carry out post-release monitoring, keeping track of the overall progress and exploring the behavior and location of particular birds. In addition to that, it provides for filling the gaps of knowledge on the breeding behavior, migration routes, site fidelity and survival rate. Maintaining a monitoring protocol and database will allow for keeping up-to-date information on the progress of the restocking efforts, as well as collecting information for the behavior and history of particular birds. The use of standard closed rings is an old, well-tested method, also successfully applied by DEMA, allowing for marking great number of birds. The rings are more durable and cheaper. Information can be collected even after the death of the bird if rings are recovered. Standard ornithological rings allow the identification of the bird tagged by experts from abroad, too. In addition to that, colour PVC rings will be used to provide specific information such as bird origin and year of release. Colour rings are also fairly easy to spot and report and will allow for wide public participation in the identification process. At present, there are state-of-art satellite transmitters of very small size (5 g) allowing for tagging of birds as small as Lesser Kestrels. This type of transmitters has already been successfully used to collect data on a species resembling Lesser Kestrel in size and ecology – the Hobby (Fiuczynski et al 2009). The information obtained processing the satellite data will allow for identifying key areas for the birds released in Bulgaria. This will allow for planning of new targeted conservation measures or correcting the ones already planned. The high costs of this type of telemetry explain the low numbers of tagged birds as compared to all birds released.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Established monitoring protocol for all the birds maintained and released from the hacking facility in Sakar SPA. • Gathered information for the database on the released birds’ recoveries and connecting it to the stud book developed under Action C.8. • Fitted 4 satellite transmitters onto a successfully fledged Lesser Kestrels each year of release (2013-2017). • Purchased 300 PVC rings and marked all juvenile Lesser Kestrel birds with colour PVC and standard closed

Page 93 of 157 metal identification rings. • Identified migratory roots and wintering sites of the Lesser Kestrels released; • Identified survival rate and site fidelity of the Lesser Kestrels released; • Purchased equipment for monitoring and observation;

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 60 212 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 340 man-days, formed by three experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 16 080 eur, at an average rate of 47 eur per day. The budget provides for covering the travel expenses and accommodation for field trips at an overall cost of 4752 eur. Transmitters will be supplied (12 150 eur), ARGOS fees will be paid (24 000 eur) and binoculars and spotting scopes will be purchased (2850 eur). Additional consumables – rings, teflon harnesses are also provided (380 eur).

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Page 94 of 157 Action D.2 Monitoring of the social-economic impact of the project activities Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) The current project proposal is expected to lead to certain socio-economic development of the target areas and bring some additional income to the local stakeholders thus securing sustainability for the conservation activities. The socio-economic impact of the project will be measured through a specific monitoring protocol – questionnaire to be filled once at the start of the project activities (prepared in 2012 and filled for a first time in 2013) and once at the end of each of the project (2017). The questionnaire format will be developed by experts in the field of civic research and public polls and coordinated with the project team to reflect all issues relevant for the project aims. The questionnaire will collect information such as: number of land-owners and land-users familiar with the process of applying for and accessing agro-environmental payments and number of land-owners and land-users benefiting from such payments; number of tourists in the target areas; areas maintained as pastures and grasslands; number of cattle raised in the project area. The questionnaire will mostly target the relevant authorities – municipal land boards, municipal authorities, tourist companies, as well as local people. The first filling of the questionnaire will be carried out at the beginning of the project, by the middle of the second year. The questionnaire will be then re-filled at the end of the project (2017) to allow for withdrawing conclusions and assessing the effect.

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) The questionnaire developed will enable the preparation of a snap-shot of the baseline situation at the start of the project activities, giving an overview of the current settings. The later filling of the same questionnaire will allow for an adequate assessment of the development and socio-economic benefits resulting from the implementation of the project activities. The initial results will also help improving the Annual Project Action Plan developed and up-dating the communication strategy (Action A.2). This will help to achieve maximum efficiency of the project planning and implementation process, guaranteeing adequate and timely treatment of the arising issues and providing an overview of the overall project progress. In addition to that, the process of filling the questionnaire will strengthen the relations with the relevant local authorities and provide a mechanism of informing them on the project progress and current results within informal meetings and talks.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Establishing a questionnaire for assessing the socio-economic impact of the project activities; • Securing the filling of the questionnaire by relevant authorities and local stakeholders twice during the project lifespan (in the beginning of 2013 and once in 2017). • Developed initial report to be taken into consideration for the development of the Annual Action Plan and the Communication Strategy; • Achieved better planning and implementation of the project activities, an overview of the project progress and its socio-economic impacts;

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 11 352 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 45 man-days, formed by two experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 2580 eur, at an average rate of 57 eur per day. The budget provides for covering the travel expenses and accommodation for field trips at an overall cost of 3072 eur. The questionnaire will be developed and polled by an external entity (5700 eur).

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Page 96 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - C1e E. Public awareness and dissemination of results Action E.1 Develop and maintain project website for dissemination of project objectives, activities and results Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) A dedicated Bulgarian and English language project website will become the hub of all activities to communicate this project (Action Е.2, Е.4, Е.5, E.6.). It will be resourced from Action E.7 (Generate the Project audiovisual archive) with photographic and video content, with text content being prepared by the Project Manager and project staff with help of external communication expert. The website will be used to firstly explain intended project objectives and actions, and then subsequently report on the progress of each action. The website will also be used to help build understanding of targeted species, of the 3 focal Project SPAs, and the project partners. The website will also meet the donor requirement to recognize the support from the EU Life+ budget line. The core of the website will explain the project objectives, project actions, target species, project SPAs and partners responsible for delivery. For example, one section of the website will explain all project actions, including the exciting map-based satellite tracking of Lesser Kestrels and the released birds (Action D.1.), which although included in order to inform key conservation actions, has been shown to be of great interest over the Internet. In addition to that it will provide opportunities to get involved with Lesser Kestrel conservation, such as schemes for constructing and installing artificial next boxes, advice on how to maintain and repair rooftops (Action A.6), space to fill in case of observation of a bird, etc (Action D.1). It will therefore assist motivating the wide public to take action and get involved with Lesser Kestrel conservation. The Project website address (to be decided) will be promoted through the official website of Green Balkans and the section devoted to birds of prey, as well as Facebook. It will be given high priority, and feature at the footer of all project emails, as well as in all printed materials (e.g. signboards, leaflets, business cards, letterhead, stickers) as well as in all media activities and at all events. To quantify the success of information dissemination through the website, the Project Team will monitor the number of Unique Users visiting the website, and the number of website hits on a monthly basis. These indicator data will be provided in project reports.

The action will start with the launch of the project (2012) and the site will be updated and further developed until the completion of the project in 2017.

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) Like establishment of project signboards (Action E.5), this action is a mandatory requirement for all LIFE+ Nature projects. The website will communicate all basic information as well as key messages about the project to all interested stakeholders through the Internet, and will be regularly updated. It will also provide ideas how to get involved in the project activities. The affect of human activities (positive or negative) will also be explained, and as stated above the issue of Natura 2000 will also be important as this remains a contentious issue and greater understanding is essential to widespread acceptance.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Established and regularly up-dated project website; • Disseminated information on the project objectives, activities and results;

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 10 600 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 130 man-days, formed by three experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 6480 eur, at an average rate of 50 eur per day. Pictures will be purchased and web-site will be developed (4120 eur).

Pictures (If you wish to add a table or a picture, save it as an image file and upload it) Page 97 of 157 Action E.2 Undertake series of integrated local, regional and national events to promote the Lesser Kestrel Friendly agro-environmental schemes, land-use measures and project objectives Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) This Action will be designed to work effectively at all levels from local to national, in order to create a sense of ownership needed to ensure the successful delivery of the Project and the long-term sustainability of the Project SPAs the target species that they support. At the local level of each of the three SPAs, the events will contribute to building awareness and ownership of the conservation of Lesser Kestrels, as well as momentum for long term conservation of the target species of this Project raising the awareness on Lesser Kestrel friendly agro-environmental payments and the means to access them. Under this action one meeting per year per target site will be held inviting representatives of the relevant state and local authorities (MAF, Municipality of Ivailovgrad) in the period 2015-2016. These meeting will provide for opportunities not only to explain and clarify the relevant agro-environmental schemes identified under Action A.4 and how to access them but will also be a chance for the local stakeholders to share their concerns and problems with the relevant authorities and receive expert advice and guidance. These meetings will also help to identify key motivated local stakeholders to participate in Action C.16 (tracking the success of the restocking) as well as construct and install artificial nesting structures. The events will be held with the participation of decision-makers and other important stakeholders, to ensure high level support and sustainability for the project and its objectives, as well to increase the chance of sharing best practice, and generating replication of key actions in other SPAs over time. The main focus will fall on promoting the identified “Lesser Kestrel friendly” land-use practices and agro- environmental schemes identified (Action A.5.). This will provide motivation and involvement in Lesser Kestrel conservation activities, at the same time guaranteeing sustainability of the favourable land-use practices. The series of information events will also improve the awareness and capacity of the local people to utilize the fairly poor known European mechanisms of rural support. In addition to that, the events will be used as an opportunity to present in an informal environment, using audiovisual tools and facilitation techniques to engage key audience, share information on the project objectives, actions and current results and disseminate its key messages. Events would give residents the opportunity to provide local information and for the project team to respond to questions from the target group on the project and its key issues. Wider issues such as human/predator conflict, rural development and Natura 2000 will also be aired and discussed as well as project specific issues.

This action will follow the identification of Lesser Kestrel agro-environmental practices under Action A.3 and be carried out from the third calendar year (2014 – 2016).

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) As with all communications activities, at the strategic level, it is of particular importance to widely announce and build understanding of the general public to the unprecedented large-scale and long-term conservation activities made possible by Life+ funding, in this case focused on Lesser Kestrel restoration. Furthermore, local communities do not have good understanding on how do agro-environmental schemes work and how these funds can be accessed. This leaves huge amounts allocated under Axis 2 of the National Rural Development Program available and unutilized. On the other hand agricultural measures (direct subsidies per ha of farmed land) supporting agriculture intensification are rapidly utilized by “large” and rich farmers who often are not local and usually have negative impact on biodiversity. Therefore promoting these agro-environmental schemes identified under Action A.4 included in the Bulgarian Rural Development Program among small farmers and local communities within the target SPAs can have significant impact on improving the quality of the foraging habitat at the same time providing some benefit for the land-users. Such utilization of funds will also improve the capacity of the local people to deal with European funding mechanisms and utilize allocated funds. Building awareness of potential impact of human activities (positive or negative) on the target species and the wider Natura 2000 sites will also be important as this remains a contentious issue and greater understanding is essential to widespread acceptance and long term sustainability.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Carried out 6 one-day-meetings with 10-20 local farmers (one meeting per target for four) in the project areas to consult and promote the identified Falcon Friendly agro-environmental schemes from the Bulgarian Rural Development Program and explain the ways to access the available funds; • Improved capacity and knowledge of at least 30-50 local stakeholders altogether on using agro-environmental schemes and Falcon friendly land-use practices. Page 98 of 157 • Submitted applications by at least 5 local farmers/owners for agri-environmental payments after the information campaign carried out.

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 3466 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 84 man-days, formed by three experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 4548 eur, at an average rate of 54 eur per day. The budget provides for covering the travel expenses and accommodation for the organization of the meetings at an overall cost of 1128 eur. A hall will be hired (240 eur), external lecturers (480 eur) and consumables (70 eur).

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Page 99 of 157 Action E.3 Educational programme for kids Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) Under this action, an interactive educational programme will be designed to improve the knowledge and interest of kids in Lesser Kestrel protection and general biodiversity conservation. The programme will be out-of-the-box interactive education, including a series of multimedia presentations, combined with practical activities such as nest box construction and one-day field trips to foster a sense of ownership and interest in the restocking activities. The presentations will comprise not only information on the target species and its habitats but also other biodiversity issues. Children will be shown the colour rings, wing-tags and transmitters and demonstrated the way to track and monitor the birds. Local primary and high schools, principals and biology teachers in the 3 release SPAs (Sakar, Byala reka and Krumovitsa SPAs) will be contacted to introduce the educational programme as an alternative or diversification of the mandatory outdoor or biology classes. The schedule of the classes and outdoor activities will be agreed and worked out with the target schools. The children involved in the programme will visit the Wildlife Rescue Centre to see the Lesser Kestrel breeding facilities, the hacking aviary and the Demonstration centre. In addition to that, they will be involved in the assembly and construction of the artificial nesting structures. Special 4-day camps will be organized at the release site, where children would learn new skills such as nest box installation, tent setting, cooking and survival, as well as have a chance to directly participate in the bird monitoring and release. The children will also take part in the public Lesser Kestrel releases, provided under Action C.12 in order to strengthen the feeling of stewardship and motivation to get directly involved. Every year a drawing/short story competition and a Bird Quiz will be organized in the target SPAs to further raise the awareness and motivate the children to take part in the conservation and monitoring activities. These events will all be promoted using mass-media and the specialized web-site of the project what will allow for including a wider range of kids. The action will start from 2013 and be carried out until the end of the project (2017).

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) One of the main prerequisites for the success of the restocking process is securing its long-term support by the local people, creating a sense of ownership and interest. Major way to achieve this is involving local children, raising their awareness, interest and motivation to devote time and effort in Lesser Kestrel conservation activities. Providing alternative out-of-the-box environmental educational programme, including multimedia presentations and manual outdoor activities will foster a sense of ownership and interest in the restocking activities and post- release bird monitoring. In addition to that, establishing contacts with local schools and teachers will set the grounds for future collaboration and overall improvement of the quality of the biodiversity awareness of the children. Furthermore, once designed, the educational programme would be suitable to use in other territories where Lesser Kestrel activities might be developed in the future.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Developed interactive educational programme to raise the awareness and motivation of kids to get involved with Lesser Kestrel conservation activities; • Developed and printed an interactive game (print 500); • Contacted at least 3 schools from the target SPAs; • Introduced educational programme in at least 3 schools in the target SPAs; • Organized 4-day children camps in Sakar SPA to involve XX children in direct Lesser Kestrel conservation measures and bring them closer to nature; • Involved minimum 90 children in the interactive educational programme; • Organized a total of 5 annual Bird Quiz, Drawing and Short Story Competitions, involving at least 100 children from the target areas and all over the country.

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 13 051 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 90 man-days, formed by two experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 5100 eur, at an average rate of 57 eur per day. A bus will be hired to transport the kids (1500 eur) and additional travel and per diem costs of the project team is provided (3456 eur). The budget provides for an interactive game in print of 500 at a cost of 2500 eur and consumables at a cost of 495

Page 100 of 157 eur.

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Page 101 of 157 Action E.4 Ensure effective national and international media coverage of the project Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) Local, national and international media are a very important and effective way to share key messages and important milestones and discoveries of the Project with key local, national and international audiences. Under this Action, print, Internet, radio and television media will all be considered as important outlets for information and news about this important project following the developed Communication Strategy (Action A.2). Both news coverage and features coverage are of interest to this project to inform key stakeholders on important developments (news), the overall project (features), as well as ways to get involved (installing artificial nesting boxes, taking part in the monitoring scheme). Information to key journalists through news releases, briefings, accompanied visits and press conferences will be provided under the initiation of the Project Manager. In all cases, funding from the EU Life+ Nature will be fully recognised. Action Е.7. (Audiovisual archive) is key to the execution of widespread and frequent news and features coverage. By providing high quality maps, photographs, video clips and audio recordings, this will significantly improve the chances of securing coverage for this project in all media outlets. The bulk of the media coverage is intended to be within Bulgaria, in order to help deliver the project objectives. As the project will focus on each of the 3 SPAs of key importance for the target species conservation in Bulgaria, it will be possible to generate local news coverage in local communities within and adjacent to SPAs whose actions can have a great bearing on the conservation status of these species and the Natura 2000 sites they live and will be re-introduced within. The first major coverage will be linked to the Project launch (Action A.1) and the action will continue throught the project duration. Under this action, a media contest will be set up to identify the national journalists or media, who have contributed the most for the promotion of the project objectives and results. A meeting with leading journalists and media will be organized in order to present the contest. The top 10 people will be awarded with a trip to the project sites and detailed presentation of the target species and implemented activities. This is intended to motivate the journalists, as well as increase their interest and bring them closer to the project objectives. To quantify the success of communications activity using the media, the Project Manager will monitor the coverage generated on a monthly basis. In each case basic data should be available on the number of readers, listeners, viewers, and unique visitors. These indicator data will be combined to produce a media impact report to be provided in project reports.

The action will start with the launch of the project in 2012 and be carried out until its end (2017).

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) The targeted species are endangered and therefore rarely seen. On the other hand, if present, especially in the case of Lesser Kestrel, they are very synantropic and easy to see. Furthermore, very little is known about their ecological role, habitat requirements, conservation status and importance on a national scale. There has never been an integrated and sustained campaign to build understanding of the targeted species with all stakeholder groups in Bulgaria, making a strong media strategy key to this project. The contest for media coverage will motivate the journalists to secure sufficient and objective coverage for the project activities, as well as increase their interest and bring them closer to the target species and project objectives.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Covered project activities by various media in order to promote the objectives and progress of the project’ • Improved awareness and interest in the project activities and the target species conservation among the wider public. • Database with the media coverage, accessible at any time for reporting and revision purposes; • Carried out work meeting with 15 journalists to present the project outcomes and launch a media contest; • Carried out contest for journalists who have promoted the project aims and activities the most, carried out field trip for 10 of the winners to the release site and target areas.

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 6240 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 50 man-days, formed by an expert from the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 3000 eur, at an average rate of 60 eur per day. A hall will be hired (240 eur), a meeting will be held (1200 eur) and a bus will be hired to transport the journalists to the release site (1200 eur). Consumables are provided (300 eur) and communication costs (300 eur).

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Page 103 of 157 Action E.5 Design and install information boards at project SPAs Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) The Project will install attractive and durable signs (approximately 1.8m x 1.0m) at the most suitable locations at the release site and the Wildlife Rescue Centre where as many people as possible will learn about the project activities to conserve and restore the Small Falcon populations and about European partnership efforts to save this part of Bulgaria’s natural heritage. Signboards will also be installed at installed artificial nesting structures in Byala reka and Krumovitsa SPAs. The signs will have metal frames with fixed hardwearing inserts providing information about all aspects of the project. Due to the scale and extent of project SPAs, it is planned to produce 4 signs in total. The signs will be produced in as environmentally sensitive a manner as possible, in line with the Project partners’ experience and standard procedures.

The activity will be carried out in by the end of 2013 to relate to the first Lesser Kestrel releases (Action C.10).

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) Like the establishment of a project website (Action E.1), this action is a requirement for all LIFE+ Nature projects. The signs will communicate key messages about the project to the thousands of residents and visitors who come to the target sites in the 3 SPAs every year. The main reason for installing information boards about this Life+ project is to provide residents and visitors alike in the project SPAs with information that explains project objectives and activities, including about the ecological and social value of the project target species – the Lesser Kestrel.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • In total 5 information boards will be installed at the hacking facility in Sakar SPA, the breeding facilities in the Wildlife Rescue Centre in Stara Zagora and at key sites in the other two sites (Byala reka and Krumovitsa SPAs).

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 2316 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 15 man-days, formed by two experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 6030 eur, at an average rate of 42 eur per day. The budget provides for covering the travel expenses and accommodation for field trips at an overall cost of 736 eur. The signboards design, printing and installation are estimated at 950 eur.

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Page 104 of 157 Action E.6 Prepare and disseminate printed communications materials integrated with the project website to improve awareness of and support for the project Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) A suite of printed materials will be produced to improve awareness of the project, its objectives, focal areas and results, to support the interactive educational programme (Action E.5.) as well to generate support for the project amongst key stakeholder groups at the local, national and international levels. Building awareness locally is a particularly important part of this project, as it is the long-term attitude and behaviour of local residents living within or adjacent to the project SPAs will be key to the future of the target species. Therefore, site-specific materials, linked to individual Project SPAs, which are attractive, accessible and regularly updated, will be just as important as project level printed materials. However, additional materials will be required that explain the whole project, the target species or specific actions. Printed materials are envisaged to include leaflets, folders, fact sheets, advertisements, stickers, pin badges and t-shirts. The priority needs for printed communications materials will be identified in the first quarter of each year. The printed materials being produced on an ongoing process according to identified need. The primary resource that will enable this action to be completed is the Project audiovisual archive (Action E.7.) that will underpin its implementation by providing images.

The action will start from the first project year (2012) and be carried out until the end of the project (2017).

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) The website (Action E.1) will become the hub of the integrated communications activities of the project as a whole. However, it is clear that given the characteristics of the target audiences (local stakeholders – land owners, land users and animal breeders, as well as kids) and their geographical spread, the website must be complimented by a suite of carefully prepared and targeted printed materials that can act as physical manifestation of the key messages and key content for a given occasion and location. This will allow key messages and facts to be re- explained and reinforced with key audiences. Internet access remains very limited in some rural areas of Bulgaria, and many older rural residents do not necessarily take up these resources even when available. Therefore, accessible locally relevant materials are of particular importance.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Printed set of leaflets (2000), folders (4000), fact sheets (4*1000), brochures (5000), stickers (4000), posters (4000), T-shirts (2000) and badges (4000). • Generated awareness of the project, its objectives, activities, focal areas and then its findings and results, among all target audiences.

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 24 176 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 65 man-days, formed by two experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 3270 eur, at an average rate of 50 eur per day. The budget provides for the design and printing of the following materials: leaflets (2000), folders (4000), fact sheets (4*1000), brochures (5000), stickers (4000), posters (4000), T-shirts (2000) and badges (4000), at an overall cost of 20 906 eur.

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Page 105 of 157 Action E.7 Generate an audio-visual archive of the project to resource all communication activities Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) A combined photographic, audio and video archive of the project will be assembled without copyright constraints to maximize the profile of the project with key stakeholders. This archive will be the source of all images, sound and video used on the project website, printed materials, education materials, events, media activities and reports. Many project activities are expected to be extremely attractive from the point of view of the general public in Bulgaria, as they are very new and currently little known in the country. Due to the growing public interest in such broadcasts, Green Balkans will produce a short documentary (15 – 30 minutes) about the target species and the project activities. Photography, interviews, sound recordings, and video recordings will be made at all Project SPAs at different points during the project, and will also record aspects of all key activities.

The action will be carried out throughout the entire project duration (2012 – 2017).

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) A high quality, robust and copyright free audiovisual archive is essential to underpin all of the communications activities essential to ensuring that all key stakeholders receive accessible high quality communications to ensure that project objectives are met. Green Balkans experience has shown that provision of professional quality is essential to turning news or features idea into a published reality in any media. Therefore investing in photographic, audio and video footage will be an entirely worthwhile, and generate a tangible return. Nature documentaries proved to be one of the most successful ways to inform, to educate and to provoke positive attitude amongst the people about the biodiversity and the need to be preserved. Synantropic species such as Lesser Kestrels are extremely good subjects to attract public attention and to serve as a flagship for promoting nature conservation.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Assembled photographic archive of the Project without copyright constraints to enable the use of images in the Project website, printed materials, education materials, events, media activities and reports. • Produced short documentary (15 – 30 minutes) about the target species and the project activities.

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 8 220 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 40 man-days, formed by two experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 2220 eur, at an average rate of 56 eur per day. A video filming and mounting is provided (5000 eur). The budget also provides for consumables for storing achieves (1000 eur).

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Page 106 of 157 Action E.8 Equipping a demonstration centre and information exhibition for Lesser Kestrel conservation in Matochina village Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) Under this action a demonstration centre will be established in the village of Matochina, Sakar SPA. The building is owned by Green Balkans, purchased with the financial aid of EURONATUR back in 2010 and currently used as a field station for the field experts working on Imperial Eagle in the target area. A part of the house will be reconstructed and renovated under this action to present and exhibit all project products – information materials, plans and strategies, artificial Lesser Kestrel dummies, dummy eggs, feathers, sample nest boxes, pictures, etc. An exhibition “Which is first: the egg or the chick” will present the road of the captive-bred Lesser Kestrels from hatching to fledging and their follow-up return and breeding. It will present the target species, its habitat requirement, biology and behavior in an interactive and interesting way so as to keep the attention and interest of not only the adults, but also the kids, which will be involved in the educational programme developed under Action E.3. During the period of incubation and raising the chicks in the Wildlife Rescue Centre in Stara Zagora, a nest camera will show to the visitors live picture on what is currently going on. The demonstration centre will be equipped with binoculars and spotting scopes to allow the visitors to observe interesting bird species in the region – Lesser Kestrels, Imperial eagles, Shrikes, etc. Additional promotion materials will be printed to present the Centre as a tourist destination. An Information Centre administrator will be hired to maintain the facilities and handle the visitors.

Reconstruction works will start from 2013 and be completed by 2014, though the maintenance will continue until the project end (2017).

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) Sakar SPA, being in the focus of the Lesser Kestrel restoration programme, provides numerous significant cultural heritage sites – a rock church, fortress ruins, remains from the Iron Curtain border fences. Furthermore, the village of Matochina, where Green Balkans already owns a suitable house, is situated on the very border with Turkish, what makes it among the ones closest to existing Lesser Kestrel colonies on the other side of the frontier. The existing cultural and historical sites attract more and more visitors despite the remoteness of the area. Up to 100 visitors sometimes spend their weekends in the small village of only 30 inhabitants. The Demonstration Centre will offer an alternative tourist product, following the requirements set out within the new political framework for tourism in Europe described in EC COM (2010) 352, providing for stimulating sustainable, responsible tourism development particularly in rural areas, promoting good practices and experience exchange. It will provide a unique opportunity to feel a part of the entire conservation effort not only presenting the ambitious way of the restocking programme but also promoting practical examples of how every visitor can get involved. The Centre will disseminate the Lesser Kestrel friendly agro-environmental schemes identified under Action A.4. and the roof-reconstruction guidelines, developed under Action A.6 being itself a practical example of their installation and maintenance. Establishment of a demonstration centre will present the project actions, the target species and the LIFE program. It will also provide an opportunity for development of eco-tourism thus supporting sustainable future conservation actions in the area.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Established and equipped a Lesser Kestrel Demonstration and Information centre in Sakar SPA; • Created and installed Lesser Kestrel exhibition. • Installed screen for observation of Lesser Kestrels connected to the demonstration centre; • Installed informational signboards; • Printed promotional leaflets, cards and photos to present the Centre; • Hired and trained administrator to present the exhibitions; • Created a thematic tourist product, providing for alternative sustainable development of a rural area in Sakar SPAs; • 1500 visitors passed through the centre throughout the project duration;

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 30 560 eur. Page 107 of 157 The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 1012 man-days, formed by four experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 18 960 eur, at an average rate of 19 eur per day. The Demonstration centre will be reconstructed (4000 eur), video-surveillance will be set up (1500 eur), furniture will be purchased and promotion materials will be printed (6060 eur). A log-book will be set up (40 eur).

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Page 108 of 157 Action E.9 Carrying out an international seminar for good practices in pasture maintenance through extensive grazing Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) Within this action a workshop will be organized on grassland habitat management with main focus on the requirements traditional pastoralism is facing in modern times. In total, 25 experts (10 international, 15 regional) from different sectors (nature conservation, agriculture, policy, science) will gather in order to exchange information about the current situation transhumance pastoralism is facing in Europe as well as to discuss adaptation of measures which can help to perpetuate extensive grazing schemes, resulting also to biodiversity protection. The workshop will also provide a chance to discuss the findings of the screening of the Rural Development Policy and Common Agricultural Policy provisions completed under Action A.3. The international experts will receive the chance to comment and share their expertise on the compiled guidelines and the developed proposal to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food for incorporation of additional schemes proved to be successful for the species in other EU countries in the new Bulgarian Rural Development Program to be developed for the period 2013 -2020. The experts will also have the chance to comment and improve the summarized recommendations for Lesser Kestrel friendly future development of the CAP and RDP in order to reduce the conflict between agriculture and nature conservation (Action A.3). The workshop will be held in Bulgaria in an area where extensive grazing schemes are still present (e.g. Sakar or Kotel mountains) in order to present the current situation in Bulgaria.

The workshop preparation and implementation will take place between mid-2015 and the end of 2016.

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) Lesser Kestrel is strongly attached to agro-environmental landscapes, showing high preferences towards maintained pastures (Barov 2002; Donazar et al. 1993; Franco et al. 2004; Garcia et al. 2006; Kmetova et al. in press; Parr et al. 1997). These habitats are also of crucial importance for a number of rare and threatened species of European conservation concern – Souslik, Imperial Eagle, European Roller, Shrikes, Larks, etc. At the same time, within the last decades, land use systems in Europe have significantly changed, especially in South-eastern Europe. In some areas farming is still largely small scale, extensive and traditional, while in other areas farming was ‘collectivised’ and traditional structures were destroyed. In many cases, use of these collective farms was abandoned. Due to significant rural–urban migration of former farm workers, many large pastures are presently abandoned and given over to natural succession, resulting in ecosystem changes and species reduction. Another aspect is that the long-range transhumance of traditional pastoralism which used to be common in many European countries is restricted, by national borders where previously there were none (especially applying for SEE), highly intensive transport infrastructure or increased urban development. Despite all that, pastoral grassland ecosystems are key areas in the European Ecological Network. Several indicator species for Natura 2000 sites depend on the preservation and long-term use of grasslands as meadows or pastures. With this background, governments have to face two challenges: to modernize farming in order to compete in the modern market and, also, to fulfil international commitments to conserve local biodiversity and landscapes, as well as agro-biodiversity which is an integral part of them. These challenges also have to be resolved in the context of planned or recent accession to the EU, which requires modern economy as well as alignment to EU regulations.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: EURONATUR Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Held international workshop with 25 experts to inform the participants about pastoralism and transhumance systems in different European countries and how theses adapted to changes; • Technical report is elaborated with measures and recommendations on how to continue transhumance and pastoralism in modern time. • Consulted and elaborated outcomes of the screenings of the RDP and CAP and the proposal to be submitted in the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Food and EC (under Action A.3)

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters)

Page 109 of 157 Overall cost estimation: 25 400 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 81 man-days, formed by two experts of EURONATUR, supported by four experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 13 250 eur, at an average rate of 164 eur per day. The action provides for securing the transport and accommodation costs of the workshop participants (10 650 eur), renting a hall (250 eur), translation (1000 eur) and consumables (250 eur).

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Page 110 of 157 Action E.10 Organizing an expert meeting for discussing the Balkan population status of Falco naumanni and disseminating the project results Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) The action is designed to share the expertise gained under the current project proposal, promote the overall project results and experience, proving for establishing a network of experts, working on Lesser Kestrel conservation issues on the Balkans. The action will gather some 25 experts (10 national, 10 regional and 5 international experts from other Lesser Kestrel projects, such as Spain, Portugal and France) in order to exchange information and share experience about the current situation of Lesser Kestrel populations in South-Eastern Europe (SEE) and measures to improve their breeding success and habitats. The international workshop will gather leading experts that have experience in elaboration of action plans and implementation of in-situ and ex-situ conservation measures for the species and its habitat. The proceedings of the workshop will be the most useful input in the process of development of a National Action Plan for the species (Action A.7). Thus European “best practice” will complement the local knowledge and experience in conservation of threatened species. The meeting will provide for establishing a network of experts in order to obtain an overall picture of the status of the Lesser Kestrel on the Balkans, follow the general trends and plan joint marking and monitoring schemes and direct conservation measures. This will foster the development of partnerships and joint actions for better results. The established connections will also secure the monitoring of the birds released under Action D.1. when they leave Bulgaria during their annual migration and dispersal. The workshop will be held in Bulgaria in an area where the restocking is planned and the species was widespread before.

The workshop preparation and implementation will take place between mid-2015 and the end of 2016.

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) The need of such a workshop, information exchange and expert networking on the Balkans became explicitly clear at the meeting for drafting the International Lesser Kestrel Action Plan held in Madrid in 2010. The discussions there showed that there is enough interest in the species conservation yet the methods to exchange information are not well developed on a regional level. In addition to that, there are still some knowledge gaps that can also be filled with joint actions, research, and planning. The status of the species is not too clear in Bulgaria, Macedonia, Greece and Turkey. For example, recent information from Macedonia confirms a massive shrinkage of the areas which had been populated by hundreds of pairs just few years ago (Stumberger in lit.). It is important to invite experts from these countries to assess the size of the regional populations, to discuss the potential and real factors threatening the sub-populations and to develop actions to fight the impacts. These findings will be reflected in the Action Plan and also help to preserve important source populations, such as the one in Macedonia. As several projects to save the Lesser Kestrel have been started in other European countries, it is important to also invite international experts, who will share examples of best practice for the management of the breeding populations and for captive breeding. At the same time the workshop will provide a chance to disseminate the expertise gained over the current project and promote the project results and achievements. The advantage of a joint workshop of national, regional and international experts is that not only the Bulgarian project will benefit from the activity. The workshop will trigger regional cooperation and set the foundation for potential trans-boundary conservation projects in the future. In addition to that, all projects for the conservation of Lesser Kestrel will benefit from the exchange of knowledge and know-how.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: EURONATUR Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Carried out two-day international workshop with 25 participants to compile the most actual and detailed information from other Lesser Kestrel programs and transfer it into national Action Plan and measures. • Published technical report of the results as well as a booklet to spread the results of the workshop to conservation experts and broader public.

Page 111 of 157 Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 21 480 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 49 man-days, formed by two experts of EURONATUR, supported by two experts from the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 9720 eur, at an average rate of 198 eur per day. The action provides for securing the transport and accommodation costs of the workshop participants (10 260 eur), renting a hall (250 eur), translation (1000 eur) and consumables (250 eur).

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Page 112 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - C1f F. Overall project operation and monitoring of the project progress Action F.1 Establish and make operational a Project Steering Group Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) A Project Steering Group will be established, comprising representatives from each project partner, and supported by the Project Manager. It will also include an observer by the Ministry of the Environment & Water as Life+ competent authority in the nature conservation field. The Steering Group will be the formal point of liaison between the project partners, and will facilitate collective decision-making. It will comprise a representative from each of the partners, together with the Project Manager. Other members of the project team and staff from the partner organizations will attend the Steering Group as required. A member of the Managing Board of Green Balkans will chair the Project Steering Group meetings. The Steering Group will meet 5 times during the lifetime of the Project, in the first and third quarter of each year. Whenever personal meetings are not explicitly required, considering the distance and the presence of partners from different European partners and the carbon footprint of the travels, meetings will be carried out via Skype. However there will be at least two personal meetings held in Bulgaria – one in the beginning of the project to facilitate the signing of the partnership agreements and discuss the project schedule and one in the last year to summarize the project outcomes and overall progress. Minutes will be taken, including recommendations to the Project Manager, and a record of each meeting will be circulated to all partners and the European Commission.

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) The Steering Group exists to ensure that Project Team delivers the agreed programme of work smoothly according to schedule and budget. The Steering Group will also encourage collective thinking, discussion and problem solving and will advise on the appropriate course of remedial action where necessary. This Action will contribute to the achievement of all the project objectives, and the project purpose and goal.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Carried out 5 meetings of the Project Steering group to ensure smooth and timely implementation of the project activities and overall coordination; • Implemented minimum 2 vis-à-vis meetings of the Project Steering group, one in 2012 and one in 2017. • Secured effective management and monitoring of the Project kept to schedule and budget. • Established and maintained strong open links between the project partners, and through the Project Manager, with the Project Team.

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 13 386 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 158 man-days, formed by two experts of the Coordinating Beneficiary, supported by two experts from EURONATUR and an expert from DEMA. The overall budget for the personnel item is 12 266 eur, at an average rate of 78 eur per day. The action provides for securing the transport and accommodation costs of the group participants (920 eur) and printing consumables (200 eur).

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Page 113 of 157 Action F.2 Establish and make operational a Project Team and role distribution Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) Effective project management will underpin the effective delivery and completion of the entire Project, on schedule, within budget, and according to objective indicators. The key steps in establishing and making operational the Project Team are: a) Job descriptions for project staff developed, advertised and project staff recruited, led by a Project Manager employed by Green Balkans who will lead the project team. The figure below shows the project management structure and their relation to the project partners. b) Terms of reference developed for the project team, and the project schedule finalized from the project timetable. • The Project Manager will ensure the smooth running of the project through co-ordination of staff undertaking actions, financial and budgetary control, and monitoring and review of project progress, with the assistance of the project steering committee, while at the same time will be specifically responsible for individual project aspects, e. g. public relations, work with institutions, etc. S/he will also provide a central focus for reporting processes and a contact point with the European Commission and its agents. In addition, he or she will co-ordinate the preparation of the inception report, the progress reports, and the mid-term and final reports with payment requests. • Financial manager, responsible for development of a structured system of financial documenting and reporting on project expenditure by each site subteam so as to ensure all formal project and legal requirements are observed and deadlines are met in time to provide summarised reports to the LIFE contracting body. • Coordinator EuroNatur will secure the overall coordination of the activities allocated for EuroNatur and be responsible for the reporting and accounting. • Biodiversity expert – EuroNatur – will secure transfer of expertise, knowledge and best-practices from the German context to contribute to development to the relevant policies and management in Bulgarian environment. • Breeding Programme Coordinator DEMA – will secure the overall coordination of the breeding efforts taking place in the Lesser Kestrel Breeding Facility of DEMA, Spain, will secure the logistics related to the bird shipping and documentations, will provide guidance and know-how for the Bulgarian team in terms of infrastructure development and methodology. • Assistant / interpreter – DEMA – will secure the smooth coordination of the project activities with the rest of the project staff, will assist the transfer of know-how and advise on the preparatory activities. • Field work coordinator - responsible for the overall coordination of the allocated field and release activities and their timely implementation. The field coordinator will perform the overall management of the operations, and report back to the Project Manager, ensure the communication with the local stakeholders and authorities, the transport of the birds and the post-release monitoring. • Field work assistant – the person who will stay at the hacking facility and ensure the care for the birds and their timely release and post-release monitoring. He/she will also need to take care of the adult Lesser Kestrel used as lures and the other species released to improve the quality of the adjacent habitat. He/she will maintain the existing facilities and run the Demonstration Centre in the village of Matochina. • Technical and GIS expert – responsible for the processing of the data sent by the PTT transmitters and the logistics related to the purchase, setting and operation of the transmitters (contracts, communication with ARGOS, etc.). Will provide maps for the field project activities, in order to locate the best sites for action, will support the preparation of presentations, information materials, articles and publication. • PR - will ensure appropriate coverage of the project activities, aims and results. Will be in constant touch with media and authorities, will maintain the audio-visual archives (Action E.7), assist the development of the web-site (Action E.1.) and advertising material (E.6) and will support all other E-actions for promotion and result dissemination. • Technical secretary – will assist the preparation of the narrative and financial reports, will keep track of the ongoing communication, will assist the logistics related to all public activities and meetings provided. • Captive breeding staff – Breeding programme manager, coordinator, assistant, aviculturist and veterinary (Action C.10) and rehabilitator and aviculturist (Action C.11). They will ensure the implementation of the supplementary Lesser Kestrel captive breeding programme, take care of some of the bird transport logistics and documentations and provide consultancy for the maintenance and care for the birds in the hacking facility. The team will also handle birds in distress found during the period of adaptation and dispersal. The way the project is developed, each action will be managed by a leading responsible beneficiary. It is therefore logical to have a responsible person at each partner responsible for the overall coordination of the allocated activities and their timely implementation. These coordinators will perform the overall management of the operations, and report back to the Project Manager at the Coordinating Beneficiary.

The project team will be assembled until the second quarter of (2013). Additional field workers and officers might be employed in the first quarter of every following year.

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) Efficient and effective project management is essential for the delivery of project objectives on schedule and within budget. The project Steering Committee will enforce the collective decision-making process on the project implementation

Page 114 of 157 and provide strategic guidance as regards project outcomes and actions. The Project Manager & Project Administration Team will follow up the decisions by the Steering Committee (Action F.1.) and will be responsible for the overall project implementation and project results. The Project Manager will be directly involved in a number of actions, incl. be responsible for the overall communication with public institutions, the media, the public; tourism component of the project, etc. Euronatur will provide ongoing backstopping assistance and consultations to the project implementation. Green Balkans and DEMA project staff will carry out the implementation of activities in relation to the respective responsibilities of each partner outlined under each action. External subcontractors will be selected through open tendering procedures to provide input to specific expert tasks in relation to project implementation or be involved in implementation of specific project work (e.g. infrastructure, etc.). The financial management of the project will be separately ensured in Action F.5, as required under Life+ regulations. Project management contributes to the delivery of all of the objectives of the project.

The agreements can be signed during the first meeting of the Project Steering Group (Action F.1), signed by the second quarter of 2013.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Developed ToR for the project team with indicated roles and responsibilities within the project; • Hired staff and formed operational project team, capable of the overall implementation of the project activities. • The Project is delivered on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with the objectives.

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 7270 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 59 man-days, formed by four experts of the Coordinating Beneficiary, supported by two experts from EURONATUR. The overall budget for the personnel item is 7270 eur, at an average rate of 123 eur per day. The action provides for cameral work for the team formation, ToR setting and contract signing.

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Page 115 of 157 Action F.3 Sign partnership agreement Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) Partnership agreement between the Green Balkans, EuroNatur and DEMA will provide a clear framework for successful delivery of the project. The agreement will outline the roles and responsibilities of each partner in delivering the project objectives, schedules for technical and financial reporting and distribution of the LIFE+ funds, and management processes. Partnership agreement will also ensure that partners are aware of and adhere to the Common and Special Provisions of the LIFE+ programme.

The agreements can be signed during the first meeting of the Project Steering Group (Action F.1), signed by the second quarter of 2013.

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) A Partnership agreement is an essential component for ensuring that the project objectives are delivered on schedule and within budget, and to safeguard the use of LIFE+ funds. This action contributes to all of the project objectives.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Partnership agreements signed by all beneficiaries • The project delivered on schedule, within budget and according to the objective indicators by the agreed partners.

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 6160 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 39 man-days, formed by two experts of the Coordinating Beneficiary, supported by two experts from EURONATUR and an expert from DEMA. The overall budget for the personnel item is 6160 eur, at an average rate of 158 eur per day. The action provides for cameral work for the elaboration and signing of the partnership agreement.

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Page 116 of 157 Action F.4 Experience exchange and networking with other LIFE projects Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) The management of LIFE+ projects is a hard task and requires a great deal of experience and good organization skills. Even though Green Balkans is already managing a LIFE+ project, there are still a lot of open issues and concerns that have remained open. This action will complement the gain of practical hand-on experience planned under Action C.2 and Action E.10. In order to compile the database with potential Lesser Kestrel supply organizations (Action C.7), priority will be given to contacting on-going and existing LIFE+ projects dealing with Lesser Kestrel and Red-footed Falcon conservation and captive breeding (DEMA, GREFA - Spain, LNP - Portugal, etc). Under this action members of the Project Steering Group will visit the relevant people, responsible for the management of the similar LIFE+ projects identified, in order to discuss managerial issues and share experience on the practical solving of the problems encountered. Additional communication via Skype and emails will also be initiated in order to sort out any additional problems or inquiries that may arise on a later stage.

The action will start from the second calendar year (2013) and continue throughout the project.

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) The action will strengthen and foster the development of networking and close collaboration of the organizations working on Lesser Kestrel conservation and managing LIFE projects throughout Europe. It will provide space for sharing experience, discussing common problems and identifying best practices and solutions. This action will provide basis for further collaboration, information exchange and joint activities among the organizations concerned, establish new partnership and provide opportunities for new joint projects and initiatives.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Attendance of the project staff to workshops and meetings of completed or on-going LIFE projects or other projects on birds of prey and Lesser Kestrel in-situ and ex-situ actions in particular. • Developed and strengthened network and relations among on-going and successfully completed LIFE+ projects throughout Europe in the field of birds of prey and Lesser Kestrel and Red-footed Falcon in particular; • Strengthened capacity of the Bulgarian counterparts to manage and coordinate a LIFE+ project and identified potential advisors on controversial issues.

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 7898 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 64 man-days, formed by two experts of the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 3768 eur, at an average rate of 59 eur per day. The action is intended to cover fees for participation in international meetings and seminars (600 eur) and travel and accommodation costs (3530 eur).

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Page 117 of 157 Action F.5 Reporting and audit Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) The Project Manager will co-ordinate the production and submission to the European Commission of the following reports: • Inception report before 31 March 2012 • Mid-term report and any payment request before 30 September 2014 • Progress report before 31 March 2016 • Final report and payment request before 30 September 2017 The Project Manager will also liaise with the LIFE+ External Monitoring Team according to their requests for information and for site/project evaluation visits. An independent auditor nominated by the coordinating beneficiary will verify the financial statements provided to the Commission in the final project report. This audit will verify the respect of national legislation and accounting rules and will also certify that all costs incurred respect the LIFE+ Common Provisions.

This action also provides for securing a bank guarantee and purchasing a computer to assist the accounting.

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) Regular technical and financial reporting is essential to ensure that all project objectives are achieved, and all actions are delivered on schedule and within budget. This Action will contribute to all the results of the project, and therefore to the delivery of all the project objectives.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Submitted Project Technical and Financial Reports according to the schedule outlined above. • Prepared Independent audit of the final project report. • Secured bank guarantee

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 131 510 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 1285 man-days, formed by four experts of the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 65 010 eur, at an average rate of 51 eur per day. This action comprises the external audit (16 000 eur), a lap top (800 eur), bank guarantee (47 000 eur) and bank fees for administering the project account (2700 eur).

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Page 118 of 157 Action F.6 Develop an “After- Life Conservation Plan” Description (what, how, where and when): (max. 10.000 characters) The development of an “After Life Conservation Action Plan” is a task to be implemented by the end of the project. Green Balkans shall develop this plan in Bulgarian and English. The plan will be a separate chapter of the final report. It will be produced in paper and electronic format. Our plan shall give out details on what further actions will be carried out, when, who will be the responsible implementing organization and how the future activities shall be funded. In addition to that, the obligatory Layman Report once the project is completed will be developed under this action.

This action will be carried out during the last half of 2016 until the end of the project in 2017.

Reasons why this action is necessary: (max. 2.000 characters) The ”After Life Conservation Plan” shall set out how the Green Balkans plans to sustain the activities initiated and outcomes achieved in the longer term. This is of particular importance considering the type of project comprising the establishment of captive stocks of birds and permanent facilities, which will both require maintenance after the end of the project. In this document we shall explain how we intend to further develop our activities. The longer term prospective for management of our target species shall be outlined by the plan. We believe the project will enable the government institutions to overtake its responsibilities for managing the project SPAs in the long run. The Layman Report is an obligatory element of all LIFE+ projects. It will provide for easily understandable promotion of the project activities, progress, success and lessons learnt.

Beneficiary responsible for implementation: GreenBal Expected results (quantitative information when possible): (max. 2.000 characters) • Prepared “After-Life Conservation Plan” • Prepared Layman Report

Cost estimation (verify consistency with F forms): (max. 2.000 characters) Overall cost estimation: 7150 eur. The overall man-days provided to carry out the action is 85 man-days, formed by three experts of the Coordinating Beneficiary. The overall budget for the personnel item is 4650 eur, at an average rate of 55 eur per day. This action comprises the printing of a Layman report in print 1000 at a total cost of 2500 eur.

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Page 119 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - C2 DELIVERABLE PRODUCTS OF THE PROJECT Number of the Name of the Deliverable (max. 50 characters) Deadline associated action

Printed materials - kick off meeting A.1 01-01-2013 - +

At least 8 media publications/emissions A.1 01-03-2013 - +

Communication Strategy A.2 01-04-2013 - +

Annual Action Plan A.2 01-04-2013 - +

Annual Action Plan A.2 01-04-2014 - +

Annual Action Plan A.2 01-04-2015 - +

Annual Action Plan A.2 01-04-2016 - +

Annual Action Plan A.2 01-04-2017 - +

List of positive/negative practices A.3 01-06-2014 - +

Guidelines for habitat management A.3 01-01-2015 - +

Proposal to the MAF A.3 01-01-2015 - +

Recommendations for CAP and EU RDP A.3 01-01-2017 - +

Guidelines for BG agro-environmental schemes A.4 01-01-2015 - +

Recommendations for SPA management A.5 01-01-2015 - +

Guidelines for construction A.6 01-01-2015 - +

ToR for LK Action Plan A.7 01-01-2013 - +

First draft of LK Action Plan A.7 01-01-2014 - +

Final version of LK Action Plan submitted A.7 01-01-2016 - +

LK Action Plan adopted A.7 30-05-2017 - +

Article on LK published C.1 30-05-2017 - +

Report from visit C.2 01-01-2015 - +

Database set-up and maintained C.7 30-05-2017 - +

Contracts ex-situ team C.10 01-04-2013 - +

Contracts ex-situ team C.11 01-04-2013 - +

Bird protocols maintained C.12 30-05-2017 - +

Page 120 of 157 Number of the Name of the Deliverable (max. 50 characters) Deadline associated action

Protocols from meetings C.13 30-05-2017 - +

Protocols for Lesser Kestrel monitoring D.1 30-05-2017 - +

Article published D.1 30-05-2017 - +

Questionnaire for assessment D.2 01-01-2013 - +

Baseline report D.2 01-07-2013 - +

Assessment report D.2 30-06-2017 - +

Website maintained E.1 30-06-2017 - +

Protocols from meetings E.2 30-06-2017 - +

Submitted payment applications E.2 30-06-2017 - +

Interactive educational programme E.3 01-01-2014 - +

Interactive game E.3 01-01-2014 - +

Database maintained E.4 30-05-2017 - +

Signboards installed E.5 01-01-2014 - +

Printed materials E.6 30-06-2017 - +

Archive maintained E.7 30-06-2017 - +

Short video E.7 01-01-2017 - +

Promotion materials E.8 01-01-2015 - +

Signboard installed E.8 01-01-2015 - +

Technical report E.9 01-01-2017 - +

Technical report E.10 01-01-2017 - +

Protocols from meeting F.1 01-04-2013 - +

Protocols from meeting F.1 01-04-2014 - +

Protocols from meeting F.1 01-04-2015 - +

Protocols from meeting F.1 01-04-2016 - +

Protocols from meeting F.1 01-04-2017 - +

Staff ToR F.2 01-01-2013 - +

Page 121 of 157 Number of the Name of the Deliverable (max. 50 characters) Deadline associated action

Contracts project team F.2 01-04-2013 - +

Partnership agreement F.3 01-04-2013 - +

Inception report F.5 31-03-2012 - +

Mid-term report F.5 30-09-2014 - +

Progress report F.5 31-03-2016 - +

Final report F.5 30-09-2017 - +

After LIFE Plan F.6 30-06-2017 - +

Layman Report F.6 30-06-2017 - +

MILESTONES OF THE PROJECT Number of the Name of the Milestone (max. 50 characters) Deadline associated action

Kick-off meeting A.1 01-01-2013 - +

Planning meeting A.2 01-04-2013 - +

Planning meeting A.2 01-04-2014 - +

Planning meeting A.2 01-04-2015 - +

Planning meeting A.2 01-04-2016 - +

Planning meeting A.2 01-04-2017 - +

Screening completed A.3 01-01-2015 - +

Identification completed A.4 01-01-2015 - +

Recommendations compiled A.5 01-01-2015 - +

Recommendations compiled A.6 01-01-2015 - +

LK Action Plan ToR submitted A.7 01-01-2013 - +

LK Action Plan draft developed A.7 01-01-2014 - +

Expert meeting held A.7 01-01-2016 - +

LK Action Plan submitted A.7 01-01-2016 - +

LK Action Plan approved A.7 30-06-2017 - +

Expedition held C.1 30-09-2013 - +

Page 122 of 157 Number of the Name of the Milestone (max. 50 characters) Deadline associated action

Expedition held C.1 30-09-2014 - +

Expedition held C.1 30-09-2015 - +

Expedition held C.1 30-09-2016 - +

Study visit held C.2 01-01-2015 - +

Pastures cleared C.3 01-01-2015 - +

Roof repaired C.4 30-06-2013 - +

10 nest boxes installed C.4 30-06-2013 - +

70 nest boxes installed C.4 30-06-2017 - +

House purchased C.5 31-03-2013 - +

Hacking facility fully equipped C.5 30-06-2014 - +

Cage constructed C.6 30-06-2013 - +

30 nest boxes installed C.6 30-06-2017 - +

Database established C.7 30-06-2013 - +

Database up-dated C.7 30-06-2017 - +

Lesser Kestrels shipped C.8 30-09-2013 - +

Lesser Kestrels shipped C.8 30-09-2014 - +

Lesser Kestrels shipped C.8 30-09-2015 - +

Lesser Kestrels shipped C.8 30-09-2016 - +

Captive breeding C.8 30-06-2017 - +

Main infrastructure developed C.9 01-01-2015 - +

Additional infrastructure C.9 30-06-2017 - +

Captive breeding C.10 30-06-2017 - +

Captive breeding and rehabilitation C.11 30-06-2017 - +

Bird transport and release C.12 30-09-2013 - +

Bird transport and release C.12 30-09-2014 - +

Bird transport and release C.12 30-09-2015 - +

Page 123 of 157 Number of the Name of the Milestone (max. 50 characters) Deadline associated action

Bird transport and release C.12 30-09-2016 - +

One meeting in each SPA C.13 31-12-2013 - +

One meeting in each SPA C.13 31-12-2014 - +

One meeting in each SPA C.13 31-12-2015 - +

One meeting in each SPA C.13 31-12-2016 - +

One meeting in each SPA C.13 30-06-2017 - +

Transmitters and rings supplied D.1 30-06-2013 - +

Transmitter and rings fitted D.1 30-09-2013 - +

Transmitter and rings fitted D.1 30-09-2014 - +

Transmitter and rings fitted D.1 30-09-2015 - +

Transmitter and rings fitted D.1 30-09-2016 - +

Database up-dated D.1 30-06-2017 - +

Article published D.1 30-06-2017 - +

Questionnaire filled D.2 30-06-2013 - +

Questionnaire re-filled D.2 01-01-2017 - +

Assessment done D.2 30-06-2017 - +

Website set-up E.1 30-06-2013 - +

Web-site updated E.1 30-06-2017 - +

One meeting in each SPA E.2 01-01-2016 - +

One meeting in each SPA E.2 01-01-2017 - +

Educational programme developed E.3 30-09-2013 - +

Schools identified E.3 30-09-2013 - +

Annual Quiz E.3 01-01-2014 - +

Annual Quiz E.3 01-01-2015 - +

Annual Quiz E.3 01-01-2016 - +

Annual Quiz E.3 01-01-2017 - +

Page 124 of 157 Number of the Name of the Milestone (max. 50 characters) Deadline associated action

Kids camp E.3 01-01-2017 - +

Media coverage secured E.4 30-06-2017 - +

Meeting with media and media contest E.4 30-06-2014 - +

Trip for top-media E.4 30-09-2014 - +

Signboards installed E.5 31-12-2014 - +

Printed materials E.6 30-06-2017 - +

Archive set up E.7 30-06-2013 - +

Archive maintained E.7 30-06-2017 - +

Video prepared E.7 01-01-2017 - +

Building repaired E.8 31-12-2013 - +

Main exhibition set up E.8 31-12-2014 - +

Exhibition up-dated E.8 30-06-2017 - +

Seminar carried out E.9 31-12-2016 - +

Meeting carried out E.10 30-12-2016 - +

Steering group formed F.1 31-03-2013 - +

Meeting held F.1 31-03-2013 - +

Meeting held F.1 31-03-2014 - +

Meeting held F.1 31-03-2015 - +

Meeting held F.1 31-03-2016 - +

Meeting held F.1 31-03-2017 - +

Complete team formed F.2 01-04-2013 - +

Partnership form signed F.3 01-04-2013 - +

Meetings attended F.4 30-06-2017 - +

Final report submitted F.5 30-09-2017 - +

Audit submitted F.5 30-09-2017 - +

After LIFE Plan F.6 30-06-2017 - +

Page 125 of 157 Number of the Name of the Milestone (max. 50 characters) Deadline associated action

Layman report F.6 30-06-2017 - +

ACTIVITY REPORTS FORESEEN Please indicate the deadlines for the following reports: • Inception Report (to be delivered within 9 months after the project start); • Progress Reports n°1, n°2 etc. (if any; to ensure that the delay between consecutive reports does not exceed 18 months); • Mid-term Report with payment request (only for project longer than 24 months); • Final Report with payment request (to be delivered within 3 months after the end of the project); Type of report Deadline Inception Report 31-03-2012 - + Mid-term Report 30-09-2014 - + Progress Report 31-03-2016 - + Final Report 30-09-2017 - +

Page 126 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - C3 TIMETABLE Tick as appropriate. Action 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Action Name of the action number II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV A. Preparatory actions, elaboration of management plans and/or action plans : A.1 Kick-off event to present the main aims and objectives of the project ■ ■ A.2 Preparation of a Communication Strategy and Annual Project Action plans ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ A.3 Screening of the EU Rural Development Policy and Common Agricultural Policy ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ provisions for positive/negative practices affecting Lesser Kestrels A.4 Identification of Lesser Kestrel Friendly Agro-environmental measures in the ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Bulgarian rural development schemes A.5 Recommendation of appropriate management prescriptions for target species to be ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ incorporated into SPA management plans A.6 Development of recommendations and guidelines for Kestrel friendly constructions ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ A.7 Actualization and submission of a National Action Plan for recovery and ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ conservation of Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) populations in Bulgaria B. Purchase/lease of land and/or rights : C. Concrete conservation actions : C.1 Finding the closest active Lesser Kestrel colonies in Greece and Turkey ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ C.2 Sharing best practices on Lesser Kestrel in-situ and ex-situ conservation ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ C.3 Improving the foraging habitat for Lesser Kestrels in release areas through clearing ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ of grassland overgrown with shrubs C.4 Improving Lesser Kestrel nesting conditions - installation of nest boxes and other ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ artificial structures C.5 Establishing Lesser Kestrel hacking facilities in Sakar SPA ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ C.6 Improving Lesser Kestrel nesting conditions supporting the nesting of species of ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ similar habitat preferences C.7 Establishing database with the Lesser Kestrels available for captive breeding and ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ release C.8 Securing Lesser Kestrels for translocation from Spain to Bulgaria ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ C.9 Developing the infrastructure of the Wildlife Rescue Centre at Green Balkans to ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ accommodate a supplementary Lesser Kestrel breeding programme C.10 Ex-situ breeding and maintaining of supplementary Lesser Kestrel captive breeding ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ stock at the Wildlife Rescue Centre C.11 Ex-situ breeding and maintaining of species of similar habitat preferences at the ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Wildlife Rescue Centre C.12 Transport, care and release of the birds (Lesser Kestrels and other species) at the ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ release site in Sakar SPAs PagePage 127 127 of of 157 157 C.13 Establishing civic network for monitoring ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ D. Monitoring of the impact of the project actions: Monitoring of the environmental impact of the project activities and assessing the D.1 restocking success. Identifying of migration sites, period of return and preferred ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ areas by Lesser Kestrel D.2 Monitoring of the social-economic impact of the project activities ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ E. Public awareness and dissemination of results : E.1 Develop and maintain project website for dissemination of project objectives, ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ activities and results Undertake series of integrated local, regional and national events to promote the E.2 Lesser Kestrel Friendly agro-environmental schemes, land-use measures and ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ project objectives E.3 Educational programme for kids ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ E.4 Ensure effective national and international media coverage of the project ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ E.5 Design and install information boards at project SPAs ■ ■ ■ ■ E.6 Prepare and disseminate printed communications materials integrated with the ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ project website to improve awareness of and support for the project E.7 Generate an audio-visual archive of the project to resource all communication ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ activities E.8 Equipping a demonstration centre and information exhibition for Lesser Kestrel ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ conservation in Matochina village E.9 Carrying out an international seminar for good practices in pasture maintenance ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ through extensive grazing E.10 Organizing an expert meeting for discussing the Balkan population status of Falco ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ naumanni and disseminating the project results F. Overall project operation and monitoring of the project progress: F.1 Establish and make operational a Project Steering Group ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ F.2 Establish and make operational a Project Team and role distribution ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ F.3 Sign partnership agreement ■ ■ ■ F.4 Experience exchange and networking with other LIFE projects ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ F.5 Reporting and audit ■ ■ ■ ■ F.6 Develop an “After- Life Conservation Plan” ■ ■ ■

Do you want to show "TimeTable" for years 2018 - 2023? Yes ■ No

PagePage 128 128 of of 157 157 LIFE + Nature

FINANCIAL APPLICATION FORMS

Part F – financial information

Page 129 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - FA % of total eligible Budget breakdown categories Total cost in € Eligible Cost in € costs 1. Personnel 814,612 51.46 2. Travel and subsistence 99,717 6.3 3. External assistance 123,662 7.81 4. Durable goods Infrastructure 45,460 45,460 2.87 Equipment 67,455 67,455 4.26 5. Land purchase / long-term lease 0 0 6. Consumables 225,562 14.25 7. Other Costs 102,960 6.5 8. Overheads 103,555 6.54 TOTAL 1,582,983 1,582,983 100

Contribution breakdown In € % of TOTAL % total eligible costs Requested EU contribution 1,187,236 75 75 Coordinating Beneficiary's contribution 300,680 18.995 Associated Beneficiaries' contribution 95,067 6.006 TOTAL 1,582,983 100

Page 130 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - FB Breakdown of costs for Actions in Euro (including overhead costs) 1. 2. 3. 4.a 4.b 5. 6. 7. 8. Action Name Personnel Travel and External Infrastru Equipment Purchase Consu Other Overheads TOTAL number of the action subsistence assistance -cture or lease of mables costs land Kick-off event to present A.1 the main aims and 9,267 3,250 120 0 0 0 0 0 12,637 objectives of the project Preparation of a Communication Strategy A.2 13,150 3,100 240 0 0 0 0 0 16,490 and Annual Project Action plans Screening of the EU Rural Development Policy and Common A.3 Agricultural Policy 6,195 0 1,490 0 0 0 0 160 7,845 provisions for positive/ negative practices affecting Lesser Kestrels Identification of Lesser Kestrel Friendly Agro- A.4 environmental measures 6,525 0 240 0 0 0 0 0 6,765 in the Bulgarian rural development schemes Recommendation of appropriate management A.5 prescriptions for target 2,525 1,080 0 0 0 0 0 0 3,605 species to be incorporated into SPA management plans Development of recommendations and A.6 4,785 0 500 0 0 0 0 0 5,285 guidelines for Kestrel friendly constructions Actualization and submission of a National Action Plan for recovery A.7 and conservation of 24,625 2,530 0 0 0 0 0 520 27,675 Lesser Kestrel (Falco

PagePage 131 131 of of 157 157 naumanni) populations in Bulgaria Finding the closest active Lesser Kestrel C.1 4,920 6,300 0 0 700 0 36 510 12,466 colonies in Greece and Turkey Sharing best practices C.2 on Lesser Kestrel in-situ 5,160 6,480 0 0 800 0 150 0 12,590 and ex-situ conservation Improving the foraging habitat for Lesser Kestrels in release areas C.3 2,490 1,584 4,560 0 1,050 0 660 0 10,344 through clearing of grassland overgrown with shrubs Improving Lesser Kestrel nesting C.4 conditions - installation 4,920 2,820 9,800 10,000 350 0 800 0 28,690 of nest boxes and other artificial structures Establishing Lesser C.5 Kestrel hacking facilities 9,180 8,500 600 15,400 5,150 0 1,560 0 40,390 in Sakar SPA Improving Lesser Kestrel nesting conditions supporting C.6 7,740 2,820 1,950 1,900 0 0 0 0 14,410 the nesting of species of similar habitat preferences Establishing database with the Lesser Kestrels C.7 8,902 0 5,000 0 950 0 0 0 14,852 available for captive breeding and release Securing Lesser C.8 Kestrels for translocation 214,126 0 16,174 0 0 0 31,531 3,170 265,001 from Spain to Bulgaria Developing the infrastructure of the Wildlife Rescue Centre at Green Balkans to C.9 37,450 4,960 0 14,160 17,905 0 0 0 74,475 accommodate a supplementary Lesser Kestrel breeding programme

PagePage 132 132 of of 157 157 Ex-situ breeding and maintaining of supplementary Lesser C.10 152,160 4,960 11,792 0 0 0 146,270 0 315,182 Kestrel captive breeding stock at the Wildlife Rescue Centre Ex-situ breeding and maintaining of species of C.11 similar habitat 99,780 4,960 0 0 0 0 34,500 0 139,240 preferences at the Wildlife Rescue Centre Transport, care and release of the birds (Lesser Kestrels and C.12 7,830 3,072 450 0 22,000 0 7,220 24,000 64,572 other species) at the release site in Sakar SPAs Establishing civic C.13 7,920 3,597 450 0 1,400 0 100 0 13,467 network for monitoring Monitoring of the environmental impact of the project activities and assessing the restocking D.1 16,080 4,752 150 0 14,850 0 380 24,000 60,212 success. Identifying of migration sites, period of return and preferred areas by Lesser Kestrel Monitoring of the social- D.2 economic impact of the 2,580 3,072 5,700 0 0 0 0 0 11,352 project activities Develop and maintain project website for E.1 dissemination of project 6,480 0 4,120 0 0 0 0 0 10,600 objectives, activities and results Undertake series of integrated local, regional and national events to promote the Lesser E.2 4,548 1,128 720 0 0 0 70 0 6,466 Kestrel Friendly agro- environmental schemes, land-use measures and project objectives

PagePage 133 133 of of 157 157 Educational programme E.3 5,100 3,456 4,000 0 0 0 495 0 13,051 for kids Ensure effective national E.4 and international media 3,000 1,200 1,440 0 0 0 300 300 6,240 coverage of the project Design and install E.5 information boards at 630 736 700 0 0 0 250 0 2,316 project SPAs Prepare and disseminate printed communications materials integrated with E.6 3,270 0 20,906 0 0 0 0 0 24,176 the project website to improve awareness of and support for the project Generate an audiovisual archive of the E.7 2,220 0 5,000 0 0 0 1,000 0 8,220 project to resource all communication activities Equipping a demonstration centre and information E.8 18,960 0 6,060 4,000 1,500 0 40 0 30,560 exhibition for Lesser Kestrel conservation in Matochina village Carrying out an international seminar for good practices in E.9 13,250 10,650 1,500 0 0 0 0 0 25,400 pasture maintenance through extensive grazing Organizing an expert meeting for discussing the Balkan population E.10 status of Falco 9,720 10,260 1,500 0 0 0 0 0 21,480 naumanni and disseminating the project results Establish and make F.1 operational a Project 12,266 920 0 0 0 0 200 0 13,386 Steering Group

PagePage 134 134 of of 157 157 Establish and make operational a Project F.2 7,270 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7,270 Team and role distribution Sign partnership F.3 6,160 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6,160 agreement Experience exchange F.4 and networking with 3,768 3,530 0 0 0 0 0 600 7,898 other LIFE projects F.5 Reporting and audit 65,010 0 16,000 0 800 0 0 49,700 131,510 Develop an “After- Life F.6 4,650 0 2,500 0 0 0 0 0 7,150 Conservation Plan” Overheads 103,555 103,555 TOTAL 814,612 99,717 123,662 45,460 67,455 0 225,562 102,960 103,555 1,582,983

PagePage 135 135 of of 157 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - FC Coordinating Beneficiary's contribution Total costs of Beneficiary's Amount of EU Member the actions in € Beneficiary short name own contribution State (including contribution in € requested in € overheads) BG GreenBal 1,202,718 300,680 902,038

Associated Beneficiaries' contribution Total costs of Associated Amount of EU Member the actions in € beneficiary's Beneficiary short name contribution State (including own requested in € overheads) contribution in € DE EURONATUR 78,750 19,688 59,062 ES DEMA 301,515 75,379 226,136 TOTAL Associated Beneficiaries 380,265 95,067 285,198

TOTAL All Beneficiaries 1,582,983 395,747 1,187,236

Page 136 of 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - F1 Are there any "Direct Personnel costs" foreseen? ■ Yes No Direct Personnel costs

Calculation => A B A X B Daily rate Number of Beneficiary short Action (rounded to Direct personnel Type of contract Category/Role in the project person- name number the costs days nearest €) GreenBal A.1 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 25 1,500 - + GreenBal A.2 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 60 3,600 - + GreenBal A.3 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 30 1,800 - + GreenBal A.4 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 40 2,400 - + GreenBal A.5 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 20 1,200 - + GreenBal A.6 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 10 600 - + GreenBal A.7 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 40 2,400 - + GreenBal C.1 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 30 1,800 - + GreenBal C.2 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 45 2,700 - + GreenBal C.3 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 20 1,200 - + GreenBal C.4 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 10 600 - + GreenBal C.5 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 20 1,200 - + GreenBal C.6 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 21 1,260 - + GreenBal C.7 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 45 2,700 - + GreenBal C.8 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 24 1,440 - + GreenBal C.12 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 15 900 - + GreenBal C.13 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 15 900 - + GreenBal D.1 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 20 1,200 - + GreenBal D.2 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 25 1,500 - + GreenBal E.1 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 50 3,000 - + GreenBal E.2 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 50 3,000 - + GreenBal E.3 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 40 2,400 - + GreenBal E.4 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 50 3,000 - +

PagePage 137 137 of of 157 157 GreenBal E.6 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 30 1,800 - + GreenBal E.7 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 30 1,800 - + GreenBal E.8 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 20 1,200 - + GreenBal E.9 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 10 600 - + GreenBal E.10 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 15 900 - + GreenBal F.1 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 140 8,400 - + GreenBal F.2 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 20 1,200 - + GreenBal F.3 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 10 600 - + GreenBal F.4 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 60 3,600 - + GreenBal F.5 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 60 3,600 - + GreenBal F.6 full-time labour contract Project manager 60 40 2,400 - + GreenBal A.1 Temporary position, full Technical and GIS expert 42 5 210 - + time GreenBal A.2 Temporary position, full Technical and GIS expert 42 10 420 - + time GreenBal C.3 Temporary position, full Technical and GIS expert 42 5 210 - + time GreenBal C.7 Temporary position, full Technical and GIS expert 42 36 1,512 - + time GreenBal D.1 Temporary position, full Technical and GIS expert 42 200 8,400 - + time GreenBal E.5 Temporary position, full Technical and GIS expert 42 5 210 - + time GreenBal E.9 Temporary position, full Technical and GIS expert 42 10 420 - + time GreenBal F.2 Temporary position, full Technical and GIS expert 42 5 210 - + time GreenBal C.9 full-time labour contract PR expert 27 320 8,640 - + GreenBal C.10 full-time labour contract PR expert 27 450 12,150 - + GreenBal C.11 full-time labour contract PR expert 27 370 9,990 - + GreenBal F.5 full-time labour contract Financial manager 50 1,140 57,000 - + GreenBal A.1 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 6 252 - + time GreenBal A.2 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 10 420 - + time GreenBal A.3 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 10 420 - + time

PagePage 138 138 of of 157 157 GreenBal A.4 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 10 420 - + time GreenBal A.6 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 5 210 - + time GreenBal A.7 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 25 1,050 - + time GreenBal C.1 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 10 420 - + time GreenBal C.2 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 20 840 - + time GreenBal C.7 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 10 420 - + time GreenBal C.8 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 10 420 - + time GreenBal E.1 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 70 2,940 - + time GreenBal E.2 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 24 1,008 - + time GreenBal E.5 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 10 420 - + time GreenBal E.6 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 35 1,470 - + time GreenBal E.7 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 10 420 - + time GreenBal E.8 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 20 840 - + time GreenBal E.9 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 20 840 - + time GreenBal E.10 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 10 420 - + time GreenBal F.1 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 7 294 - + time GreenBal F.2 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 10 420 - + time GreenBal F.3 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 14 588 - + time GreenBal F.4 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 4 168 - + time GreenBal F.5 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 15 630 - + time GreenBal F.6 Temporary position, full Technical secretary 42 15 630 - + time GreenBal C.9 full-time labour contract Wildlife Rescue Centre Manager 27 320 8,640 - +

PagePage 139 139 of of 157 157 GreenBal C.10 full-time labour contract Wildlife Rescue Centre Manager 27 450 12,150 - + GreenBal C.11 full-time labour contract Wildlife Rescue Centre Manager 27 370 9,990 - + GreenBal C.9 full-time labour contract Vet 24 140 3,360 - + GreenBal C.10 full-time labour contract Vet 24 200 4,800 - + GreenBal C.11 full-time labour contract Vet 24 800 19,200 - + GreenBal C.11 full-time labour contract Rehabilitator 24 1,140 27,360 - + GreenBal C.11 full-time labour contract Aviculturist 24 1,140 27,360 - + GreenBal C.10 full-time labour contract Aviculturist – baby rearing 42 1,140 47,880 - + GreenBal C.10 full-time labour contract Breeding Programme Assistant 42 1,140 47,880 - + GreenBal C.9 full-time labour contract Breeding Programme Coordinator 42 350 14,700 - + GreenBal C.10 full-time labour contract Breeding Programme Coordinator 42 650 27,300 - + GreenBal C.11 full-time labour contract Breeding Programme Coordinator 42 140 5,880 - + GreenBal A.1 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 25 1,350 - + GreenBal A.2 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 25 1,350 - + GreenBal A.3 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 15 810 - + GreenBal A.4 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 10 540 - + GreenBal A.5 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 5 270 - + GreenBal A.6 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 15 810 - + GreenBal A.7 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 100 5,400 - + GreenBal C.1 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 50 2,700 - + GreenBal C.2 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 30 1,620 - + GreenBal C.3 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 20 1,080 - + GreenBal C.4 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 80 4,320 - + GreenBal C.5 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 40 2,160 - + GreenBal C.6 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 120 6,480 - + GreenBal C.7 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 40 2,160 - + GreenBal C.12 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 45 2,430 - + GreenBal C.13 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 130 7,020 - + GreenBal D.1 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 120 6,480 - + GreenBal D.2 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 20 1,080 - +

PagePage 140 140 of of 157 157 GreenBal E.1 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 10 540 - + GreenBal E.2 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 10 540 - + GreenBal E.3 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 50 2,700 - + GreenBal E.8 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 60 3,240 - + GreenBal E.9 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 10 540 - + GreenBal F.2 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 10 540 - + GreenBal F.5 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 70 3,780 - + GreenBal F.6 full-time labour contract Field work coordinator 54 30 1,620 - + GreenBal C.12 Temporary position, full Field work assistant 25 180 4,500 - + time GreenBal E.8 Temporary position, full Information centre administrator 15 912 13,680 - + time EURONATUR A.1 Temporary position, full Euronatur coordinator 11 350 3,850 - + time EURONATUR A.2 Temporary position, full Euronatur coordinator 11 350 3,850 - + time EURONATUR A.7 Temporary position, full Euronatur coordinator 5 350 1,750 - + time EURONATUR E.9 Temporary position, full Euronatur coordinator 25 350 8,750 - + time EURONATUR E.10 Temporary position, full Euronatur coordinator 20 350 7,000 - + time EURONATUR F.1 Temporary position, full Euronatur coordinator 7 350 2,450 - + time EURONATUR F.2 Temporary position, full Euronatur coordinator 10 350 3,500 - + time EURONATUR F.3 Temporary position, full Euronatur coordinator 11 350 3,850 - + time EURONATUR A.1 Temporary position, full Euronatur Biodiversity expert 3 350 1,050 - + time EURONATUR A.2 Temporary position, full Euronatur Biodiversity expert 4 350 1,400 - + time EURONATUR A.7 Temporary position, full Euronatur Biodiversity expert 25 350 8,750 - + time EURONATUR E.9 Temporary position, full Euronatur Biodiversity expert 6 350 2,100 - + time EURONATUR E.10 Temporary position, full Euronatur Biodiversity expert 4 350 1,400 - + time EURONATUR F.1 Temporary position, full Euronatur Biodiversity expert 2 350 700 - + time

PagePage 141 141 of of 157 157 EURONATUR F.2 Temporary position, full Euronatur Biodiversity expert 4 350 1,400 - + time EURONATUR F.3 Temporary position, full Euronatur Biodiversity expert 2 350 700 - + time DEMA A.1 full-time labour contract Breeding Programme Manager 5 211 1,055 - + DEMA A.2 full-time labour contract Breeding Programme Manager 10 211 2,110 - + DEMA A.3 full-time labour contract Breeding Programme Manager 15 211 3,165 - + DEMA A.4 full-time labour contract Breeding Programme Manager 15 211 3,165 - + DEMA A.5 full-time labour contract Breeding Programme Manager 5 211 1,055 - + DEMA A.6 full-time labour contract Breeding Programme Manager 15 211 3,165 - + DEMA A.7 full-time labour contract Breeding Programme Manager 25 211 5,275 - + DEMA C.5 full-time labour contract Breeding Programme Manager 20 211 4,220 - + DEMA C.7 full-time labour contract Breeding Programme Manager 10 211 2,110 - + DEMA C.8 full-time labour contract Breeding Programme Manager 1,006 211 212,266 - + DEMA C.9 full-time labour contract Breeding Programme Manager 10 211 2,110 - + DEMA F.1 full-time labour contract Breeding Programme Manager 2 211 422 - + DEMA F.3 full-time labour contract Breeding Programme Manager 2 211 422 - + DEMA C.5 Temporary position, full Assistant / Translator 40 40 1,600 - + time TOTAL => 22,671 814,612

PagePage 142 142 of of 157 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - F2 Are there any "Travel and subsistence costs" foreseen? ■ Yes No Travel and subsistence costs

Calculation => A B A + B Outside Purpose of travel/number Total travel and Beneficiary short Action Destination EU of trips and persons Subsistence Travel costs subsistence name number (From / To) (YES / travelling,duration of trip costs costs NO) (in days) GreenBal A.1 Different cities -Sofia NO Kick-off meeting/1/30/2 days 750 900 1,650 - + GreenBal A.2 Project area to project area NO working meetings on 1,400 1,700 3,100 - + Communication Strategy and annual action plans, 10 persons, 5 times, 2 days + 30 accommodations х 20 еuro; GreenBal A.5 Plovdiv/St. Zagora/project area Sakar NO meetings with 750 330 1,080 - + administrations and stakeholders, 1-2 person/s, 15-20 mtgs, 1 day GreenBal A.7 different cities, Plovdiv and Sofia to Sakar NO data verification on site 800 1,100 1,900 - + 25/2/2 days GreenBal A.7 different cities, Plovdiv and Sofia to Sakar NO workshop/1/30/1 day 300 330 630 - + GreenBal C.1 Plovdiv/St. Zagora to Greece and YES trips - 4 х 3000 km х 0,20 - 3 2,400 3,900 6,300 - + European Turkey part. x 5 days GreenBal C.2 Bulgaria-Spain, Portugal NO 1 trip х 10000 km х 0,24, - 4 2,400 4,080 6,480 - + participants for 12 days GreenBal C.3 Plovdiv/St. Zagora to Sakar NO trips -12 months х 600 км. х 1,080 504 1,584 - + 0,15, - 1 participant for 2 days GreenBal C.4 Plovdiv/St. Zagora to Sakar NO buildings reconstruction, 2,160 660 2,820 - + repairs, equipment transport - 24 m х 600 km. х 0,15 GreenBal C.6 Stara Zagora-Sakar NO construction of species 2,160 660 2,820 - + similar species, evaluation of effect and nest box occupations 24 m х 600 km. х 0,15

PagePage 143 143 of of 157 157 GreenBal C.9 different cities - to - from Stara Zagora NO Travel and subsitence for 3,750 1,210 4,960 - + transport costs food and other related to breeding programme - 0.15*25000 GreenBal C.10 different cities - to - from Stara Zagora NO Travel and subsitence for 3,750 1,210 4,960 - + transport costs food and other related to breeding programme - 0.15*25000 GreenBal C.11 different cities - to - from Stara Zagora NO Travel and subsitence for 3,750 1,210 4,960 - + transport costs food and other related to breeding programme - 0.15*25000 GreenBal C.12 Stara Zagora-Sakar NO 4 trips х 4 years 1000 km х 2,400 672 3,072 - + 0,15, - 1 person 2 days per site GreenBal C.13 Project area to project area NO 15 participants *10 meetings 0 525 525 - + *3.5 GreenBal C.13 Stara Zagora-Sakar NO 4 trips х 4 years 1000 km х 2,400 672 3,072 - + 0,15, - 1 person 2 days per site GreenBal D.1 Plovdiv/St. Zagora to Sakar NO attachment of transmitters, 3,240 1,512 4,752 - + checking of data in the field - 36 months х 600 km х 0,15 - 1 part., 2 days GreenBal D.2 St. Zagora-Sakar NO 4 trips х 4 years 1000 km х 2,400 672 3,072 - + 0,15, - 1 person 2 days per site GreenBal E.2 Sofia/St. Zagora/Plovdiv - project area NO presentations, meetings, 600 528 1,128 - + events organising - 6 meetings/4 participants/2 days GreenBal E.3 project area NO presentations, meetings, 2,400 1,056 3,456 - + events organisation - 4 years/12 months/1 trip/2 person GreenBal E.4 project area NO Workshop with journalists - 0 1,200 1,200 - + 15 persons/2 days/ GreenBal E.5 project area NO info boards installation - 4 400 336 736 - + trips/2 persons/2 days GreenBal F.1 Plovdiv/Sofia NO project workshop - 1 125 55 180 - + trip/5person/1 day GreenBal F.4 Bulgaria-non EU states YES trip Х 2 person Х 3 days х 2 1,200 1,020 2,220 - + GreenBal F.4 Bulgaria-EU states NO 1 trip Х2 person Х 3 days х1 800 510 1,310 - +

PagePage 144 144 of of 157 157 EURONATUR A.1 Radolfzell-Sofia NO Kick-off meeting 2 1,000 600 1,600 - + participants Х 500, 2 days Х 150 euro per day with accommodation EURONATUR E.9 International flights to BG YES Transhumance 1,000 650 1,650 - + workshop/2/2/days EURONATUR E.9 International flights to BG NO Transhumance 3,000 5,000 8,000 - + workshop/1/10/2 days EURONATUR E.9 National participants NO Transhumance 500 500 1,000 - + workshop/1/15/2days EURONATUR E.10 International flights to BG YES Species workshop/1/10/4 2,500 2,060 4,560 - + days EURONATUR E.10 International flights to BG NO Species workshop/1/10/4 2,000 2,000 4,000 - + days EURONATUR E.10 National participants NO Species workshop/1/10/4 1,000 700 1,700 - + days EURONATUR F.1 International flights to BG NO Project formation /1/1/2 days 500 240 740 - + DEMA C.5 Almendralejo - Plovdiv / Plovdiv - NO 4 trips of around 5 days, 2 5,300 3,200 8,500 - + Almendralejo people for advising/ supporting/meetings TOTAL => 58,215 41,502 99,717

PagePage 145 145 of of 157 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - F3 Are there any "External assistance costs" foreseen? ■ Yes No External assistance costs

Beneficiary short Action Procedure Description Costs (€) name number GreenBal A.1 direct treaty hall rent 120 - + GreenBal A.2 direct treaty printing of conference materials 240 - + GreenBal A.3 direct treaty Habitat management manual 1,250 - + GreenBal A.3 direct treaty Agricultural policies consultant 240 - + GreenBal A.4 direct treaty Agricultural policies consultant 240 - + GreenBal A.6 direct treaty Layout and print of brochure with recommendations 500 - + GreenBal C.3 direct treaty Clearing of pastures 12 ha Х 255 euro 3,060 - + GreenBal C.3 direct treaty Transport equipment rent 1,500 - + GreenBal C.4 direct treaty architectural statements and licenses Х 80 sq. m. 1,600 - + GreenBal C.4 direct treaty Lesser Kestrels nest boxes after return in the area 2,400 - + GreenBal C.4 direct treaty climbing service - installation of nest boxes and decoys 4,500 - + GreenBal C.4 direct treaty Scraping of holes in steep banks 500 - + GreenBal C.4 direct treaty Production of Lesse Kestrel decoys 800 - + GreenBal C.5 direct treaty Nest boxes for keeping Lesser Kestrels - 10 600 - + GreenBal C.6 direct treaty Nest boxes of similar species 600 - + GreenBal C.6 direct treaty climbing service - installation of nest boxes 1,350 - + GreenBal C.7 direct treaty Data base software development 2,100 - + GreenBal C.10 direct treaty Delivery of birds from Spain - costs for logistiscs of the provider 11,264 - + GreenBal C.7 direct treaty Development of module on breeding 1,600 - + GreenBal C.7 direct treaty Web hosting, website, computers and data base maintenance 1,300 - + GreenBal C.10 direct treaty DNA analysis 528 - + GreenBal C.12 direct treaty Manipulations log books 450 - + GreenBal C.13 direct treaty hall rent 250 - + GreenBal C.13 direct treaty Information leaflet 200 - + GreenBal D.1 direct treaty Delivery of transmitters and ribbons 150 - +

PagePage 146 146 of of 157 157 GreenBal D.2 direct treaty Questionnaire and assessment 5,700 - + GreenBal E.1 direct treaty Photos website 120 - + GreenBal E.1 direct treaty Development of Website 4,000 - + GreenBal E.2 direct treaty Hall rent 240 - + GreenBal E.2 direct treaty Speakers 480 - + GreenBal E.3 direct treaty Interactive game for children - 500 items 2,500 - + GreenBal E.3 direct treaty Bus rent 1,500 - + GreenBal E.4 direct treaty Press-conference-hall rent, 240 - + GreenBal E.4 direct treaty Bus rent 1,200 - + GreenBal E.5 direct treaty Info boards 700 - + GreenBal E.6 direct treaty Printing of sticker (4 000 copies) 400 - + GreenBal E.6 direct treaty Printing of brochure (color 4+4, 5000 copies) 2,000 - + GreenBal E.6 direct treaty Printing of leaflets (color 4+4, 2000 copies) 1,600 - + GreenBal E.6 direct treaty Printing of fact sheets( color 4+4, 4*1000copies) 2,600 - + GreenBal E.6 direct treaty Printing of folders (color 4+0, 4000 copies) 2,000 - + GreenBal E.6 direct treaty Printing of posters (color 4+0, 4000 copies) 1,880 - + GreenBal E.6 direct treaty Printing of pin badges (4000 pcs) 3,926 - + GreenBal E.6 direct treaty T-shirts (2000 pcs) 6,500 - + GreenBal E.7 direct treaty Film making (script, shooting, montage) 5,000 - + GreenBal E.8 direct treaty Equipping of demonstration centre 2,000 - + GreenBal E.8 direct treaty Exhibition 2,500 - + GreenBal E.8 direct treaty Info boards, logos 160 - + GreenBal E.8 direct treaty Leaflets 600 - + GreenBal E.8 direct treaty Cards, photos 800 - + GreenBal F.5 direct treaty Project audit 16,000 - + GreenBal F.6 direct treaty Layman report 2,500 - + EURONATUR E.9 direct treaty Hall rent 250 - + EURONATUR E.9 direct treaty Translation 1,000 - + EURONATUR E.9 direct treaty folders, paper, pens, 250 - + EURONATUR E.10 direct treaty Hall rent 250 - +

PagePage 147 147 of of 157 157 EURONATUR E.10 direct treaty translation 1,000 - + EURONATUR E.10 direct treaty folders, paper, pens, 250 - + DEMA C.8 direct treaty Freight companies - transporting chicks from Almendralejo to 3,000 - + Plovdiv DEMA C.8 direct treaty Legal and financial advisor 9,416 - + DEMA C.8 direct treaty Vet 1,301 - + DEMA C.8 direct treaty Occupational safety and health company 2,457 - + TOTAL => 123,662

PagePage 148 148 of of 157 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - F4a Are there any "Durable goods: Infrastructure costs" foreseen? ■ Yes No Durable goods: Infrastructure costs

Beneficiary short Action Depreciation Procedure Description Actual cost name number (eligible cost) GreenBal C.4 direct treaty Reconstruction of building and roof with 10,000 10,000 - + suitable conditions - 1 GreenBal C.5 direct treaty Purchase of building 12,000 12,000 - + GreenBal C.5 direct treaty Construction of adult Lesser Kestrel aviary 2,600 2,600 - + GreenBal C.5 direct treaty Fences 800 800 - + GreenBal C.6 direct treaty Construction of similar species aviary 1,900 1,900 - + GreenBal C.9 direct treaty Breeding aviaries 3,360 3,360 - + GreenBal C.9 direct treaty Reconstrustion of breeding centre - incubation 10,800 10,800 - + room, hatching room, etc GreenBal E.8 direct treaty Reconstruction of demonstration centre 4,000 4,000 - + TOTAL => 45,460 45,460

PagePage 149 149 of of 157 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - F4b Are there any "Durable goods: Equipment costs" foreseen? ■ Yes No Durable goods: Equipment costs

Beneficiary short Action Depreciation Procedure Description Actual cost name number (eligible cost) GreenBal C.1 direct treaty Mobile navigation 350 350 - + GreenBal C.1 direct treaty Luggage roof rack - equipment 350 350 - + GreenBal C.2 direct treaty video camera - travel documents 800 800 - + GreenBal C.3 direct treaty trimmer 600 600 - + GreenBal C.3 direct treaty chain saw 450 450 - + GreenBal C.4 direct treaty Ladder - checking of nest boxes 350 350 - + GreenBal C.5 direct treaty Power supply - supplementary supply of the kitchen 600 600 - + GreenBal C.5 direct treaty Optical equipment - binosulars 800 800 - + GreenBal C.5 direct treaty Optical equipment - telescope 1,500 1,500 - + GreenBal C.5 direct treaty tripods 350 350 - + GreenBal C.5 direct treaty Mobile phones with data transfer options 800 800 - + GreenBal C.5 direct treaty freezers food storage 350 350 - + GreenBal C.5 direct treaty kitchen furniture - boards and cupboards 400 400 - + GreenBal C.5 direct treaty kitchen tools for preparation of food for LK chicks 350 350 - + GreenBal C.7 direct treaty Computer and software 950 950 - + GreenBal C.9 direct treaty Incubators 1,040 1,040 - + GreenBal C.9 direct treaty Car 3,200 3,200 - + GreenBal C.9 direct treaty Supplementary (reserve) electricity supply 4,100 4,100 - + GreenBal C.9 direct treaty Computers and software 2,310 2,310 - + GreenBal C.9 direct treaty Video surveillance 5,000 5,000 - + GreenBal C.9 direct treaty Electric fence 1,025 1,025 - + GreenBal C.9 direct treaty Special equipment for trpping and transport of animals 1,230 1,230 - + GreenBal C.12 direct treaty Car 20,000 20,000 - + GreenBal C.12 direct treaty Camera and lens - photo ID of released LK 2,000 2,000 - + GreenBal C.13 direct treaty laptop 800 800 - +

PagePage 150 150 of of 157 157 GreenBal C.13 direct treaty multimedia projector 600 600 - + GreenBal D.1 direct treaty Satelite transmitters 12,000 12,000 - + GreenBal D.1 direct treaty Optical equipment - binosulars 1,000 1,000 - + GreenBal D.1 direct treaty Optical equipment - telescope 1,500 1,500 - + GreenBal D.1 direct treaty tripods 350 350 - + GreenBal E.8 direct treaty Video surveillance equipment 1,500 1,500 - + GreenBal F.5 direct treaty Laptop computer 800 800 - + TOTAL => 67,455 67,455

PagePage 151 151 of of 157 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - F5 Are there any "Land purchase or long-term lease of land / use rights" foreseen? Yes ■ No Land purchase or long-term lease of land / use rights

Calculation => A B C (A x B) +C Estimated cost Beneficiary short Action Description of land purchase / long-term per hectare Area Associated Expected cost name number lease / one-off compensation (rounded to the (hectares) charges (€) (€) nearest €) TOTAL => 0 0

PagePage 152 152 of of 157 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - F6 Are there any "Consumables" foreseen? ■ Yes No Consumables

Beneficiary short Action Procedure Description Costs (€) name number GreenBal C.1 direct treaty maps 36 - + GreenBal C.2 direct treaty video tapes/discs 150 - + GreenBal C.3 direct treaty trimmer consumables - disks, grease, oil 200 - + GreenBal C.3 direct treaty chain saw consumables - chain, oil, guide bar 150 - + GreenBal C.3 direct treaty high octane petrol - chain saw, trimmer; 60 days х 10 l/d 130 - + GreenBal C.3 direct treaty Additional tool - pitch forks, gloves, rakes 180 - + GreenBal C.4 direct treaty Field work equipment 720 - + GreenBal C.4 direct treaty Chargers and rechargeable batteries, torches 80 - + GreenBal C.5 direct treaty Camera 250 - + GreenBal C.5 direct treaty Restriction signs 240 - + GreenBal C.5 direct treaty Field work equipment 720 - + GreenBal C.5 direct treaty Maintenance consumables - nails, wire, ropes, hammers, etc. 150 - + GreenBal C.5 direct treaty Consumables - canvas, mesh 200 - + GreenBal C.10 direct treaty Brooder 480 - + GreenBal C.10 direct treaty Rings for marking, tools 600 - + GreenBal C.10 direct treaty Breeding consumables 1,800 - + GreenBal C.10 direct treaty Food consumables (mice, rats, insects, vitamins) 48 months - 63,840 - + 40 birds GreenBal C.10 direct treaty Food and consumables for produced juveniles - 12 months - 60 24,000 - + birds GreenBal C.10 direct treaty Food and consumables for similar species 46,200 - + GreenBal C.10 direct treaty Electricity and water 4,400 - + GreenBal C.10 direct treaty Vet consumables 4,950 - + GreenBal C.11 direct treaty Electricity and water 13,200 - + GreenBal C.11 direct treaty Maintenance of Wildlife Rescue Centre 5,400 - + GreenBal C.11 direct treaty Improvement of security systems 6,000 - + GreenBal C.11 direct treaty Vet consumables 9,900 - +

PagePage 153 153 of of 157 157 GreenBal C.12 direct treaty transport consumables 400 - + GreenBal C.12 direct treaty Hacking faicility birds food 50 birds Х 3 months х 4 years 6,000 - + GreenBal C.12 direct treaty Medicines, consumables 100 - + GreenBal C.12 direct treaty Disinfection of cages, nest boxes 720 - + GreenBal C.13 direct treaty UPS 60 - + GreenBal C.13 direct treaty Screen 40 - + GreenBal D.1 direct treaty PVC rings 300 - + GreenBal D.1 direct treaty Teflon ribbons 80 - + GreenBal E.2 direct treaty USB sticks 70 - + GreenBal E.3 direct treaty Presentations consumables 495 - + GreenBal E.4 direct treaty Consumables for media coverage 300 - + GreenBal E.5 direct treaty Materials for boards installation 250 - + GreenBal E.7 direct treaty DVDs and other consumables 1,000 - + GreenBal E.8 direct treaty Visitor book 40 - + GreenBal F.1 direct treaty Prints and forms for the personnel 200 - + DEMA C.8 direct treaty Food for animals 30,000 - + DEMA C.8 direct treaty Transport boxes for young lesser kestrel 1,531 - + TOTAL => 225,562

PagePage 154 154 of of 157 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - F7 Are there any "Other costs" foreseen? ■ Yes No Other costs

Beneficiary short Action Procedure Description Costs (€) name number GreenBal A.3 Information Access fees 160 - + GreenBal A.7 access fees to special internet libraries 320 - + GreenBal A.7 purchase of scientific books 200 - + GreenBal C.1 insurance fees 240 - + GreenBal C.1 licenses 270 - + GreenBal C.12 Taxes, maintenance costs for equipment used in the project 24,000 - + GreenBal D.1 Argos fee 24,000 - + GreenBal E.4 Communications for media relations 300 - + GreenBal F.4 International workshops and seminars fees 600 - + GreenBal F.5 Bank fees - 60 months 2,700 - + GreenBal F.5 Bank guarantee 47,000 - + DEMA C.8 Insurance for vehicles and facilities 3,170 - + TOTAL => 102,960

PagePage 155 155 of of 157 157 LIFE+ Nature 2011 - F8 Overheads

Beneficiary short name Total direct costs of the project in € Overhead amount GreenBal 1,099,163 103,555 EURONATUR 78,750 0 DEMA 301,515 0 TOTAL => 1,479,428 103,555

PagePage 156 156 of of 157 157 DATA VALIDATION

Validation of compulsory fields and rules Validate

Last validation: 16-07-2011 Extract data to xml

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