SECURING THE FUTURE OF VULTURES IN THRACE

THE NEED

Vultures and raptors are keystone species, providing vital ecosystem services. They control prey populations and feed on animal carcasses, thus reducing the risk of diseases being spread. Thrace is home to the only colony of Ciraneous vultures in Greece and the Balkans (except for some nests in Bulgaria, which have been detected in the last 3 years), the last five pairs of Egyptian vultures in our country, as well as many other birds of prey such as the golden eagle.

At the same time, the area is attracting a lot of interest for the development of wind farms and energy transmission infrastructure, structures that present a high risk of collision or electrocution to birds of prey.

Additionally, the increase in illegal use of poisoned baits, mainly due to increasing human-wildlife conflict, is rather significant, as predator populations spread into areas of agricultural and livestock production, causing them damage. Although poisoned baits are not intended for vultures, the risk of poisoning is very high as they feed on the carcasses of animals that may have been poisoned.

THE PROGRAM

The program aims to preserve the three species of vulture, the Cinereous, the Griffon and the Egyptian Vulture, as well as the Golden Eagle, through actions to reduce the threats that endanger their populations. The aim of the project is to prevent the installation of new wind farms in areas that would threaten the life of vultures, and to highlight alternative solutions to reduce the illegal use of poisoned baits (through monitoring, intervention, training, capacity building and promotion of solutions). The program aims to change perceptions and attitudes among stakeholders, whether policy makers or specific social target groups.