SmartBirds
© Iordanka Lukanova/BSPB
Over forty experts from twelve organizations across Bulgaria, Greece, Portugal, and Spain gathered this week in Ivaylovgrad to officially launch the cross-border LIFE project titled “Restoration of the Cinereous Vulture Population and Trophic Chain in the Bulgarian-Greek Cross-Border Region”. This ambitious five-year initiative is co-funded by the European Union’s LIFE programme and Rewilding Europe.
The meeting, hosted by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) as the coordinating organization, gathered key stakeholders, including the Bulgarian partner Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation and ten other organizations. The project’s goals were introduced to the public during a vibrant three-day Vulture Festival in Madzharovo earlier in September.
© Iordanka Lukanova/BSPB
Deputy Mayor of Ivaylovgrad, Ms. Svetla Mollova, opened the meeting by expressing strong municipal support for conservation efforts. Highlighting the local significance of the species, Dr. Dobromir Dobrev, Project Coordinator from BSPB, stated: “Vultures not only play a crucial ecological role by preventing the spread of diseases but also attract tourists to the area. Their conservation is key to preserving the natural heritage of the Eastern Rhodopes.”
© Iordanka Lukanova/BSPB
Over the next five years (2024–2029), the project team will l reintroduce birds from Spain to establish a new colony in the Bulgarian Rhodopes while conserving the only surviving Cinereous vulture colony in Greece’s Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli National Park.Experts hope the Cinereous vulture will achieve a favourable conservation status in Bulgaria. The creation of a colony in the Bulgarian Rhodopes will contribute to the species’ survival in the Balkans.
25 vultures in Greece and 40 in Bulgaria will be tagged with GPS/GSM transmitters. These technologies will allow researchers to monitor the birds’ movements, their adaption in the wild, and address threats such as poisoning, poaching, and energy infrastructure collisions.
Efforts will focus on increasing the availability of food sources to support the vultures while also addressing human-wildlife conflicts, often indirectly affecting vultures.
© Bogdan Boev
The project aims to foster cooperation among local businesses, conservation initiatives, and stakeholders. Educational and outreach programs will also raise awareness about the ecological benefits of Cinereous vultures.
Efforts will also be made to improve collaboration among various stakeholders and organizations.
This first partner meeting is part of the “Restoration of the Cinereous vulture population and trophic chain in the Bulgarian-Greek cross-border region” project (Project No. 101148254 – LIFE23-NAT-BG-LIFE Rhodope Vulture), co-funded by the European Union’s LIFE programme and Rewilding Europe.
