Return of the Neophron in northern Bulgaria

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Last week the Return of the Neophron project team organized a series of important meetings in northern Bulgaria. The main issues were action planning for this season, as well as for the next four seasons in the Russe, Shumen and Varna regions. The general concept of the project was presented to experts from the Regional Inspectorates of the Environment and Waters from Russe and Shumen, and employees of Russenski Lom Nature Park, Shumensko Plato Nature Park, students, volunteers and friends of the Society from Shumen, Provadiya and Varna.
Every presentation was followed by a discussion of the forth-coming challenges for the conservation of one of the rarest birds of prey in Bulgaria. Feeding, nest monitoring, communication and education actions were among the most discussed topics. During the week-long trip in the region the team met with over 60 colleagues and friends who expressed their support and their will to join us in our efforts in the next five years. We are profoundly grateful to all of them!
As a team we strongly believe that the active cooperation between institutions, nature conservationists and the general public will provide a basis for the creation of a strongly bound community aware of the need for a clean, diverse environment.
The Return of the Neophron project is funded by the LIFE+ Programme of the EU and the A. G. Leventis Foundation. It includes 27 target Natura 2000 sites (12 in Bulgaria and 15 in Greece) and is the result of the combined effort of 4 partners from 3 countries to protect the last remaining Egyptian vultures on the Balkan Peninsula. There are intentions for additional actions in countries in Africa and Asia – along the species migration routes.
The Egyptian vulture is one of the four European vulture species, and a symbol of the BSPB. In half of the European countries where it used to breed in the past it is no longer. The reasons are found in the changing conditions in Europe where the environment is being transformed according to human standards, and – quite often – against the laws of nature. Today on the Balkans there are less than 90 pairs; they live in Bulgaria (32-35), Greece (25-35), FYROM (20-25), Albania (10-15) and European Turkey (2-5).
In 2007 the Egyptian vulture was included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as ‘endangered’. The main reasons for its decline are poisoning, electrocution on unprotected electric poles and direct pursuit by man. These threats for the species are present not only in Europe but along its migration routes and in its wintering sites in Africa too.
For contacts:
Nikolay Terziev
Communications Officer
 mob: +359 878 599 374

@: nikolai.terziev@bspb.org