SmartBirds
Photo: © Sylvia Zakkak
From 24 to 26 November 2025, the second working meeting of the LIFE project “LIFE Rhodope Vulture” took place in Dadia National Park, Greece. The event brought together representatives of all partner organizations from Bulgaria and Greece, as well as international experts from GREFA and the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF).
The main working session was held on 25 November at the Information Centre of Dadia National Park, where all partners — BSPB, Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation, GREFA, NECCA, SPBT, Homeotech, MEEN, 2nd HCO, HCS, DUTH, VCF and Callisto — presented the project’s progress and results from each work package.
Key topics discussed included progress on project activities, financial implementation and documentation, as well as upcoming tasks, deadlines, milestones and expected outcomes. The afternoon concluded with a meeting of the Project Steering Committee.
On 26 November, participants visited the field areas of Dadia National Park, including observations from the raptor viewing tower, a visit to the area around Mount Kapsalo, and a walk along the trail to the Petrified Forest. The field tour provided the experts with the opportunity to experience the conditions in one of the most important habitats for the endangered Cinereous and Griffon Vultures.
The working meeting in Dadia reaffirmed the importance of international cooperation in efforts to restore the Cinereous Vulture population in the Rhodopes. Partners expressed confidence that by 2029 the project will achieve significant conservation results and contribute to the long-term recovery of the species in the Balkans.
