Society for the Protection of Biodiversity of Thrace: 2023 impact

Within the framework of the program “Securing the Future of Vultures in Thrace”, the Society for the Protection of Biodiversity of Thrace advocated in 2023 for the protection of the Egyptian Vulture, the Cinereous Vulture, the Griffon Vulture and the Golden Eagle by:

• Organizing and implementing 2 web conferences on the cumulative impacts of wind farms in Thrace. 193 people participated, representing authorities involved in licensing new wind farms, consultants’ offices, universities, researchers and NGOs.
• Participating in the European Vulture Conference in Caceres, Spain, with 2 presentations and 400 participants.
• Implementing 3 live seminars, for regional services (Alexandroupolis, Komotini, Xanthi) advising or licensing wind farms in the area, with the participation of 50 people.
• Participating in the consultation process for the licensing of a new wind farm, sending official letters accompanied by data and scientific studies to the Minister of Environment.
• Realizing 6 patrols of the antipoison unit.
• Monitoring the Egyptian Vulture’s population in Thrace, recording five (5) territories, four (4) breeding pairs and six (6) chicks.
• Presenting in a LIFE conference in Matera, Italy, with the attendance of 50 people.

Vultures and raptors are keystone species in the environments the live in, as they reduce risk of disease spread through:

• controlling prey populations
• scavenging

Located in Thrace, there are:

• the last 5 breeding pairs of Egyptian Vulture in Greece
• the only colony (30-36 pairs) of Cinereous Vultures in Greece and the Balkans
• 5-7 pairs of Griffon Vultures
• Golden Eagle pairs