On August 1st, an international project started, which aims to reintroduce the Bearded Vulture, the symbol of Bulgarian nature protection, to Bulgaria and the Balkan Peninsula.”Bearded Vulture LIFE” (project #101113869 LIFE22-NAT-BG-Bearded Vulture LIFE) unites the efforts of 8 partners from 3 European countries. Coordinator: “Green Balkans – Stara Zagora” NGO and partners – Fund for Wild Flora and Fauna, Foundation EkoObshtnost, EVN – Elektropradelenie Yug EAD, Northwestern State Forestry Enterprise – Vratsa – Vratsa, “Sinite kamani” Nature Park Directorate from Bulgaria, Vulture Conservation Foundation from the Netherlands and the Milvus group from Romania.We are grateful to the Governments of Extremadura and Andalusia, Spain who will provide as in-kind contributions the Cinereous Vultures for release in Bulgaria! The Bearded Vultures for release in Bulgaria will be secured by VCF who coordinates the Bearded Vulture EEP.The ultimate goal of the project is to establish a Bearded Vulture population in Bulgaria/Balkans and to strengthen the population of the already reintroduced Cinereous Vulture. And in Romania, it will start the vulture recovery program there.

For the reintroduction of the Bearded Vulture and strengthening of the Cinereous Vulture population in Bulgaria, work will also be done in many other key areas:
Activities to improve nesting conditions:
- Placement of artificial nesting platforms for Cinereous Vultures
- Pilot forest management to create nesting habitats for the Cinereous vulture in the long term
Improving the food base:
- Supporting local animal breeders, promoting extensive animal breeding,
- Reintroduction of the Balkan Chamois in the Sinite Kamani Nature Park
- Strengthening the populations of the Rock Partridge, European Souslik, and Tortoises in the key areas of the project.
Threat Mitigation:
- Securing dangerous electric poles to reduce electrocution mortality,
- Activities to prevent and detect crimes against nature, such as placing poisonous baits, poaching, increasing the capacity of responsible national institutions and others.
Tracking the outcome of reintroductions:
- Marking and tracking with satellite transmitters,
- Creation of an effective network of local supporters to save distressed vultures in Bulgaria and neighboring countries.
Promotion and transfer of experience:
- Transferring the experience of Bulgaria on the reintroduction of vultures in Romania,
- Educational activities with students,
- Activities to promote vultures and the threats against them
- Workshops with the target groups: state and municipal administrations, hunters, farmers, etc.

The duration of the project is 7 years (August 2023–July 2030). The budget is 5 173 446.71 EUR, of which the European Union provides co-financing of 3 880 085.05 EUR.

Since its formation, one of the goals that Green Balkans has set for itself is the reintroduction of the Bearded Vulture in Bulgaria. With the joint efforts of all partners involved, this dream is about to come true!

More about the project:
https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/projects-details/43252405/101113869/LIFE2027

https://greenbalkans.org/A-project-starts-reintroduction-of-Bearded-Vulture-in-Bulgaria-and-the-Balkans.-3-8038

Learn more about the previous project that recovered Cinereous Vulture as a breeder in Bulgaria:
https://greenbalkans.org/VulturesBack/en/Layman-s-report.c179
Learn more about the previous project that recovered Griffon Vulture as a breeder in Balkan Mountain:
https://greenbalkans.org/birdsofprey/life/indexdetails.php?menu_id=176&c_lang=2

“Bearded Vulture LIFE” (project #101113869 LIFE22-NAT-BG-Bearded Vulture LIFE) is financed by the LIFE program of the European Union.

The opinions expressed in the news are those of the author only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the grant provider can be held responsible for them.