This project in Bulgaria seeks to reduce threats to the endangered black vulture, and set up a local nature-conservation NGO.
Conservation of the Black Vulture is a European priority as the species is classed as Endangered. Populations in the Balkans have undergone significant decline over the past century, though recently a colony was found in Northern Greece.
The project's aims are to expand the nesting area of the species northwards, back into Bulgaria, mainly through:
-establishing favourable breeding conditions;
-reducing threats for the species in the Bulgarian part of Eastern Rhodopes; and
-building local capacity.
The key project activities will be:
-Regular feeding and monitoring of vultures on a specially built feeding ground; building of additional facilities on the feeding ground, and reconstructing the road to the area; building artificial nests; mapping habitats and rare species in the project region.
-Education campaign and seminars; providing conditions for environmental education.
-Registration of a local nature-conservation NGO and development of human resources - training, fundraising, running courses in ornithology and conservation biology.