The event was organized by the Faculty of Biology - Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski, Fund for Wild Flora and Fauna, and Green Balkans, under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment and Water.
Reintroduction, translocation, recovery of species, re-enforcement of populations….
Specific terminology related to various nature conservation activities aimed at restoring and supporting threatened or locally extinct species in the context of biodiversity conservation and protection.
These were the main topics discussed at the First National Conference on the Reintroduction of Conservation-Reliant Species that was held in the period 18-20 November 2015 in the premises of the Faculty of Biology.
Once again, the conservation and scientific community in Bulgaria proved to be working in line with the latest trends. NGOs (Green Balkans, FWFF, BPPS, Balkani Wildlife Society), universities (Faculty of Biology - Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski), institutes (IBER-BAS), National Museum of Natural History, etc., not only make efforts to preserve rare species in Bulgaria, but also allocate significant resources for the restoration or recovery of protected species in places, where they have already gone extinct or their abundance has declined to a critical minimum. The participants in the Conference presented the results they achieved in terms of reintroduction of various species of plants, fish, tortoises, raptors (Griffon Vulture, Saker Falcon, Lesser Kestrel), and even Wisent (European bison).
The examples of particularly successful projects included those implemented by Green Balkans under LIFE program of the European Union – “Lesser Kestrel Recovery” LIFE11 NAT/BG/360 and “Vultures’ Return in Bulgaria” LIFE08 NAT/BG/000278 (implemented in partnership with FWFF and BPPS). As a result of these projects, the Lesser Kestrel – one of Bulgaria’s smallest raptors, and the Griffon Vulture – one of the largest birds in the country, have been successfully recovered and already breeding in places, where no sightings were recorded for the past few decades. Similar activities are also implemented within “Saker Falcon Reintroduction in Bulgaria” project realized by Green Balkans’ Wildlife Rescue Center. In addition, the goals and objectives of the recently launched “Vultures back to LIFE” LIFE14 NAT/BG/649 project were also presented to the audience. Based on the experience gained so far by Green Balkans, FWFF, and BPPS, the project will focus the organizations’ efforts on the recovery of the Black Vulture.
The results of the conference will be published in a collection of scientific reports, so that they can also be available to other interested parties.
THE GREAT RETURN, a side event organized as a part of the Conference, is an exhibition of animalist artists’ works, dedicated to the conservation and reintroduction of rare and protected species in Bulgaria. The exhibition has been arranged in the foyer of Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski, 15, Tsar Osvobodtel Blvd., and will be open for visitors till 21.11.2015.
The First National Conference on the Reintroduction of Conservation-Reliant Species was organized with the support of Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski, the projects implemented by the Fund for Wild Flora and Fauna and Green Balkans under LIFE program of the European Union, PENSOFT Publishers, the Scientific sector - Scientific Research Fund - Sofia University, Students’ Council – Sofia University, “Starling” Club at the Faculty of Biology, Union of Scientists in Bulgaria, etc.
For further information, please contact:
Gradimir Gradev, Green Balkans, Project Manager
Lesser Kestrel Recovery, LIFE11 NAT/BG/360
Mobile: +359 885 609 289; Е-mail: ggradev@greenbalkans.org
Reintroduction, translocation, recovery of species, re-enforcement of populations….
Specific terminology related to various nature conservation activities aimed at restoring and supporting threatened or locally extinct species in the context of biodiversity conservation and protection.
These were the main topics discussed at the First National Conference on the Reintroduction of Conservation-Reliant Species that was held in the period 18-20 November 2015 in the premises of the Faculty of Biology.
Once again, the conservation and scientific community in Bulgaria proved to be working in line with the latest trends. NGOs (Green Balkans, FWFF, BPPS, Balkani Wildlife Society), universities (Faculty of Biology - Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski), institutes (IBER-BAS), National Museum of Natural History, etc., not only make efforts to preserve rare species in Bulgaria, but also allocate significant resources for the restoration or recovery of protected species in places, where they have already gone extinct or their abundance has declined to a critical minimum. The participants in the Conference presented the results they achieved in terms of reintroduction of various species of plants, fish, tortoises, raptors (Griffon Vulture, Saker Falcon, Lesser Kestrel), and even Wisent (European bison).
The examples of particularly successful projects included those implemented by Green Balkans under LIFE program of the European Union – “Lesser Kestrel Recovery” LIFE11 NAT/BG/360 and “Vultures’ Return in Bulgaria” LIFE08 NAT/BG/000278 (implemented in partnership with FWFF and BPPS). As a result of these projects, the Lesser Kestrel – one of Bulgaria’s smallest raptors, and the Griffon Vulture – one of the largest birds in the country, have been successfully recovered and already breeding in places, where no sightings were recorded for the past few decades. Similar activities are also implemented within “Saker Falcon Reintroduction in Bulgaria” project realized by Green Balkans’ Wildlife Rescue Center. In addition, the goals and objectives of the recently launched “Vultures back to LIFE” LIFE14 NAT/BG/649 project were also presented to the audience. Based on the experience gained so far by Green Balkans, FWFF, and BPPS, the project will focus the organizations’ efforts on the recovery of the Black Vulture.
The results of the conference will be published in a collection of scientific reports, so that they can also be available to other interested parties.
THE GREAT RETURN, a side event organized as a part of the Conference, is an exhibition of animalist artists’ works, dedicated to the conservation and reintroduction of rare and protected species in Bulgaria. The exhibition has been arranged in the foyer of Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski, 15, Tsar Osvobodtel Blvd., and will be open for visitors till 21.11.2015.
The First National Conference on the Reintroduction of Conservation-Reliant Species was organized with the support of Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski, the projects implemented by the Fund for Wild Flora and Fauna and Green Balkans under LIFE program of the European Union, PENSOFT Publishers, the Scientific sector - Scientific Research Fund - Sofia University, Students’ Council – Sofia University, “Starling” Club at the Faculty of Biology, Union of Scientists in Bulgaria, etc.
For further information, please contact:
Gradimir Gradev, Green Balkans, Project Manager
Lesser Kestrel Recovery, LIFE11 NAT/BG/360
Mobile: +359 885 609 289; Е-mail: ggradev@greenbalkans.org
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