LIFE NATURE 2002 PROJECT ON: «CONSERVATION ACTIONS FOR GYPAETUS BARBATUS AND BIODIVERSITY IN CRETE» [LIFE02 NAT/GR/8492]

Transcription

1 LIFE NATURE 2002 PROJECT ON: «CONSERVATION ACTIONS FOR GYPAETUS BARBATUS AND BIODIVERSITY IN CRETE» [LIFE02 NAT/GR/8492] EVALUATION REPORT OF THE WORKSHOP ON THE CONSERVATION ACTIONS FOR THE BEARDED VULTURE IN EUROPE ELOS, MUNICIPALITY OF INACHORIO (CHANIA) 5-9 APRIL 2006 Authors: Beatriz Cárcamo Aboitiz, Site Attendant, NHMC Dr Stavros Xirouchakis, Scientific Coordinator, NHMC Dr Michalis Probonas, Public Awareness Coordinator, NHMC HERAKLION, MAY 2006

2 CONTENTS PAGE 1. INTRODUCTION 2 2. PROGRAM 2 3. PRESENTATIONS 5 4. CONCLUSIONS LIST OF INVITED SPEAKERS / PARTICIPANTS PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE WORKSHOP 14 1

3 WORKSHOP ON THE: CONSERVATION ACTIONS FOR THE BEARDED VULTURE IN EUROPE 1. INTRODUCTION The Natural History Museum of the University of Crete (NHMC) organised a Workshop on the Conservation Actions for the Bearded Vulture in Europe, which took place during the period 5 th to 9 th of April 2006 at the Bearded Vulture s Information Center of the Municipality of Inachorio, Prefecture of Chania, Crete, Greece. The Workshop was organised in the framework of the LIFE-NATURE Project on the Conservation Actions for Gypaetus barbatus and Biodiversity in Crete, Greece [LIFE02 NAT/GR/8492], which the Natural History Museum of Crete is implementing, and was within the LIFE Network on the conservation of the Bearded Vulture in Europe, which has already been established during previous LIFE projects. Briefly, the aims of this Workshop have been the following: Update our knowledge on the Bearded Vulture population status in Europe. Present the Bearded Vulture s conservation projects in Europe among different organisations and LIFE beneficiaries. Communicate the species conservation status and perturbation factors in the EU countries. Provide information by vulture experts on the most recent techniques for the study of vulture ecology and biology (e.g. satellite tracking). Set priorities for future research studies and management tools (e.g. genetics, habitat suitability studies, preparatory actions for captive breeding projects etc.). Exchange ideas of public awareness campaigns and information material. Discuss the statutory framework of the NATURA 2000 network and the conservation actions needed for its reinforcement. 2. PROGRAM The first two days of the Workshop, i.e. the 6 th and the 7 th of April 2006, were dedicated to the oral presentations of the participants, and two excursions were organised: the first one to the feeding station at Mt Agios Dikaios and the second one to the nesting area of Mt Agios Dikaios. The detailed program of the whole Workshop (5-9 April 2006) can be overviewed hereafter: 2

4 WEDNESDAY, 5 APRIL 2006 Arrival of participants in Chania and transportation to Milia s Agrotouristic Settlement. THURSDAY, 6 APRIL :00 09:00 Breakfast (Milia) 09:30 13:00 Presentations 14:00-16:00 Lunch (Elos) 16:00-18:00 Discussion 21:00 Dinner (Milia) 09:30 10:00 Mª Jesús García-Baquero Current Situation of the Reintroduction of the Bearded Vulture in Andalusia 10:00 10:30 Stoycho Stoychev Assessment of Eastern Rhodopes as a Bearded Vulture Reintroduction Site in Bulgaria 10:30 11:00 Rafael Heredia Status, Threats and Conservation of the Bearded Vulture in Spain 11:00 11:30 Marie Zimmerman Presentation of the LIFE Program International Programme for the Bearded Vulture in the Alps 11:30 12:00 Stavros Xirouchakis Population Status and Conservation of the Bearded Vulture in Crete 12:00 12:30 Thomas Roussos Conservation for the Bearded Vulture and Biodiversity in Crete: Actions of the Forestry Departments of Crete 12:30 13:00 Panos Azmanis Bearded Vulture Conservation in Mainland Greece 3

5 FRIDAY, 7 APRIL :00 09:00 Breakfast (Milia) 09:30 13:30 Presentations 09:30 10:00 Antoni Margalida The Use of a Solar-Powered Transmitting Video Camera for Monitoring Nesting Bearded Vultures: Results and conclusions after six years of study 10:00 10:30 Costas Grivas Evaluation of the Use of Mini-cameras in Nest Monitoring of the Bearded Vulture in Crete 10:30 11:00 Daniel Hegglin Satellite Telemetry Project Vultures on the Move, Supported by the LIFE Project BV in the Alps 11:00 11:30 Dimitris Vasilakis A Telemetry Study of the Black Vulture in the Dadia s Raptor Reserve (Prefecture of Evros, Greece) 11:30 12:00 Stavros Xirouchakis & Manolis Nikolakakis A Radio tracking Study of the Postfledging Dispersal of Bearded Vultures in Crete 12:00 12:30 Xenofon Kappas Conservation and Management of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) 12:30 13:00 Dimitris Vasilakis Ecotouristic Development in Special Protection Areas (SPAs): The case of the Dadia s Raptor Reserve (Prefecture of Evros, Greece) 13:00 13:30 Michalis Probonas Public Awareness for the Protection of the Bearded Vulture in Crete 14:00 16:00 Lunch (Elos) 16:00 18:30 Visit to the feeding station of Mt Agios Dikaios 21:00 Dinner (Milia) SATURDAY, 8 APRIL :00 10:00 Breakfast (Milia) 10:00 Visit to the Bearded Vulture nesting area of Mt Agios Dikaios 16:00 Arrival at the hotel in Chania 20:00 Dinner (Chania) SUNDAY, 9 APRIL :00 10:00 Breakfast (Chania) / Departure of participants 4

6 3. PRESENTATIONS Mª JESÚS GARCÍA-BAQUERO: Current Situation of the Reintroduction of the Bearded Vulture in Andalusia The last time that a Bearded Vulture was seen in southern Spain was in From 1988 onwards several actions have taken place aiming to the species reintroduction in Andalusia. Among them a LIFE Project, run by the Gypaetus Foundation started in In the frame of this project, important actions (completed or in progress) included: 1) the promotion of relationships with other teams working with Bearded Vulture conservation; 2) the promotion of the Guadalentín Breeding Centre in the mountain of Cazorla; 3) the development of feasibility studies, which provided data concerning habitat quality and the selection of suitable release sites; 4) the preparation of the hacking and monitoring techniques; 5) risk assessment for the identification of potential threats; 6) the elaboration of an ambitious Action Plan against Poisoning for obtaining information about the use of poisoned baits and their control and 7) public awareness for the involvement of society in the project. An advising Commission made up by diverse organizations, governmental authorities, associations, etc, evaluates the situation of the different actions of the project. STOYCHO STOYCHEV: Assessment of Eastern Rhodopes as a Bearded Vulture Reintroduction Site in Bulgaria The Eastern Rhodopes region, which consists of hilly to low mountains of an average altitude of 300m, is situated in the Southeastern part of Bulgaria, bordering with Greece. The closest Bearded Vulture population can be found in the Uludag Mountains in Turkey, about 350 km away, and the distance to the old breeding habitats in Greek Trace is around km. From March 1994 to May 2001 several observations of Bearded Vulture were made in the area. In this area there are an artificial feeding for Black, Griffon and Egyptian Vultures has been carried out by BSPB since 1988, two hunting reserves with Fallow Deers (Dama dama), Ovis musimom, Roe Deers (Capreolus capreolus) and Wild Boars (Sus scrofa), livestock husbandry activity and an important population of land tortoises (Testudo graeca and Testudo hermanni) which are regular prey of Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) and Egyptian Vultures (Neophron percnopterus). Concerning the breeding habitat, all big cliff complexes, mainly of volcanic origin, are situated along river Arda and almost all of them are included inside protected areas. BSPB has established partnerships with regional governmental structures, the National Hunting Union, schools, media and stockbreeders, as well as with other NGOs aiming to a Bearded Vulture reintroduction project. In addition an international cooperation with Greece is desired. Finally, some problems must be mentioned, such as the rather low altitude of the habitat and the presence of wolves and therefore the risk of illegal use of poisons. 5

7 RAFAEL HEREDIA: Status, Threats and Conservation of the Bearded Vulture in Spain The present distribution of the Bearded Vulture in Spain is restricted to the Pyrenees, where 102 territories and 89 breeding units exist, although one reintroduction/ recovery projects are currently running in Andalusia and the Picos de Europa (Northern Spain). The number of territories and breeding units has been increasing during the last two decades. The main mortality causes of the species are poisoning, collision with power lines and direct persecution by man. The reduction of these threats is one of the main conservation priorities of the Spanish Strategy for the Conservation of the Bearded Vulture. Other important actions include: 1) population monitoring, 2) habitat protection, 3) research, 4) public awareness and environmental education, 5) establishment of captive breeding centres and the creation of Spanish genetic stock, and 6) the reintroduction of the species in sites of its historical distribution. Concerning the two conservation projects in Andalusia and the Picos de Europa, several preparatory actions are being carried out, though it seems that the threat of poison is still very high. This is especially so in the corridor that connects the Pyrenean population with Picos de Europa and in the surroundings. MARIE ZIMMERMAN: Presentation of the LIFE Program «International Program for the Bearded Vulture in the Alps» The LIFE-NATURE Program 03/NAT/F/ The Bearded Vulture in the Alps, managed by ASTERS in partnership with seven other organizations from France, Austria, Italy and Switzerland, is being implemented during the period , and represents a continuation of the reintroduction program that started in Since then, 137 juvenile Bearded Vultures born in captivity have been released from four different sites using the hacking method, aiming to establish a natural, autonomous population of the species in the Alps. In 1997 the first birth in the wild took place, and by 2005 nine breeding pairs had been formed and about 16 territorial pairs. Current objectives are 1) to strengthen the population with releases of juvenile birds (6 to 8 per year) p to 2008, 2) to evaluate juvenile dispersion and monitor the settlement areas (by direct observation, satellite radiotracking by the Argos system and genetic monitoring), 3) to monitor and protect the pairs breeding in the nature by reducing disturbances (e.g. outdoor activities, power lines and ski resort cables), 4) to investigate the mortality causes, and 5) to promote awareness of the public. STAVROS XIROUCHAKIS: Population Status and Conservation of the Bearded Vulture in Greece In order to fulfil the aims of the LIFE project that is being implemented in Crete for the conservation of the Bearded Vulture in the island by the Natural History Museum of Crete, the Forestry division of the Region of Crete and the Municipality of Inachorio main conservation actions carried out have been: 1) the monitoring of the population (distribution and status of the territories, the status and structure of the population, its breeding performance, the nesting behaviour, 2) the artificial feeding, 3) the investigation of the mortality causes, 4) the assessment of the juvenile dispersal and settlement areas, 5) a genetic and toxicological analysis and 6) the public awareness campaigns and ecotourism promotion. 6

8 In , the population consisted of were six breeding pairs in Crete (of which four laid eggs) and seven additional territories occupied by solitary adults. The current total number of individuals has been estimated at 31 with a positive trend during the last five years. The use of a video camera in a nest has contributed to a better monitoring of the species breeding and nesting behaviour. Concerning mortality factors, shooting appeared to be the most important cause for the majority of the mortality cases until 2000 while poisoning was of similar significance as shown by toxicological analysis of other raptors species found dead during The genetic analyses of a relatively large sample of the population exhibited a sex ratio of 1:1, moderate levels of heterozygosity and a rather acceptable level of inbreeding for such a small and isolated population. Moreover, the NHMC operates seven feeding stations from late October to early May all over the island in order to promote the regular breeding activity of the existing pairs and to augment the survival of immature birds. Meanwhile a breeding pair is additionally supported with rabbits during the hatching and the first three weeks of the chick rearing period when the chick is not able to digest bones and depend on more soft food. THOMAS ROUSSOS: Conservation for the Bearded Vulture and Biodiversity in Crete: Actions of the Forestry Department of Crete The Forestry Department of the Region of Crete is in charge of several conservation actions in the framework of the LIFE Project Conservation Actions for Gypaetus barbatus and Biodiversity in Crete, Greece. The implement of Management Plans for agro-pastoral extensification at the two project sites of Agios Dikaios and Asterousia constituted a very important preparatory action, which included the assessment of the current situation of grazing, pasture, etc, and the supply with specific guidelines for the conservation-compatible grazing practices, always working for and with the livestock breeders. Furthermore, several non-recurring management actions were carried out such as: 1) the construction of a bird observatory, 2) the construction of small pounds for wildlife use and livestock water-troughs, 3) the fencing of sensitive areas, 4) the distribution of wasp traps to local beekeepers to prevent the use of poisoned baits, 5) the construction of infrastructure for the raising of chukar partridges of local genetic origin which were released in NATURA 2000 sites, 6) a pilot habitat restoration project through the afforestation of degraded habitat, and 7) the control of access at certain track roads. The Forestry Department also implemented recurring management actions, such as: 1) the operation of vulture feeding stations, 2) the restoration of foraging habitat quality by game management and 3) the patrolling and warding SPAs sites all over the island. Finally, regarding the public awareness and the dissemination of results, two main nature festivals have been organized and interpretative nature trails have been constructed. PANOS AZMANIS: Bearded Vulture Conservation in Mainland Greece / Vulture conservation in Pella prefecture (N. Greece) In mainland Balkans, the last individuals of Bearded Vulture were observed in the mountain complex of Tzena-Pinovo. This region is situated in Northern Greece, bordering with FYROM, includes steep rock faces and gorges, and hosts one of the biggest concentrations of Griffon Vultures in mainland Greece. A first systematic census in the area took place during and, during the IBA revision in 1996, 7

9 observations of Gypaetus barbatus were made. Later on, in the frame of a LIFE project during , more thorough surveys for all birds of the Directive 79/409 and especially on vultures and other scavengers were carried out, including: 1) population census, 2) identification of important nesting areas, 3) provision of supplementary food, 4) definition of threats, 5) proposal of conservation measures, 6) guarding and monitoring of the area and 7) the creation of a computerized monitoring system. Public awareness and the editing of a Special Environmental Report were also elaborated within the framework of the project. Furthermore, an evaluation of the Bearded Vulture site selection was made, which allowed the location of potential sites for artificial feeding: only three places passed the test, while one was found marginal. Nevertheless, an improvement in the method can be made and more experimental work in different areas is needed. Nowadays, international and local cooperation exists for the continuation of the actions funded by private organizations. ANTONIO MARGALIDA: The Use of a Solar-Powered Transmitting Video Camera for Monitoring Nesting Bearded Vultures: Results and conclusions after six years of study The biology of the nesting Bearded Vultures had been scarcely documented before video cameras were used for this purpose, aiming to know more about egg-laying and hatching asynchrony, sibling aggression and the chick s diet. During the period , 15 breeding attempts were monitored in the Catalonian Pyrenees with this system, obtaining interesting data about the clutch size, the egg-laying and hatching asynchrony, the chick-rearing period and causes of breeding failures. A remarkable result of this study was the knowledge of the age at which the second chick dies, due to the possibilities that it offers for its rescue and consequently for the conservation of the species. Another important result has been the data obtained concerning the diet: medium-sized mammals are the most important species, and prey items with higher meat content are very important during the first weeks of chick-rearing. This system, in conclusion, has appeared to be a successful tool to study Bearded Vulture breeding behaviour without affecting its productivity. COSTAS GRIVAS: Evaluation of the Use of Mini-cameras in Nest Monitoring of the Bearded Vulture in Greece During the last three breeding periods, a mini-camera has been installed inside a Bearded Vulture nest in Crete, with objectives to establish a nest monitoring system or to investigate cainism and the lifetime of the second chick. The whole system consists of a main monitoring system in the nesting area and a recording system. The energy supply in the first one is provided by a solar photovoltaic panel, and images and sounds received by it are in the end stored in a DVD-library. Several factors tend to cause technical problems, such as power deficiency, bad weather conditions or wire damages. The information obtained can be directly used in the population management, by estimating the periods for provision of meat to the nestling and for its marking, by detecting poisoning symptoms or fertility problems, etc. During the first to breeding periods, a coverage of 59% and 50.4%, respectively, was achieved, and some conclusions have been drawn: the incubation period lasts days, there is a hatching asynchrony of 7 days, and the chick rearing period lasts around days. In addition, the potential rescue of the second chick has been considered inappropriate for the Cretan case. 8

10 DANIEL HEGGLIN: Satellite Telemetry Project «Vultures on the Move», supported by the LIFE Project Bearded Vulture in the Alps The project Bearded Vultures on the Move for the satellite telemetry of the Bearded Vultures in the Alps considered the advantages and disadvantages of the three ways of attaching the transmitter to the bird, and for this purpose, several field tests were made from 2004 on the released birds, using tail mounts (one bird in 2004) and pelvic harnesses (two birds in 2005). In this way, data about the movements of these Bearded Vultures have been obtained from August The behaviour of the birds after being marked has been continuously controlled during the first weeks, and for 2006 the marking of two other juveniles is previewed, as well as the improvement of the breaking device and the equipping of the transmitters with a GPS module. The project has been largely covered by the different media, and the data obtained from 2005 are available for the general public in the website of the project in the Internet. DIMITRIS VASILAKIS: A Telemetry Study of the Black Vulture in the Dadia s Raptor Reserve (Prefecture of Evros, Greece) In order to facilitate the management and conservation of the Black Vulture population, which is of high interest in the Dadia National Park (DNP), a telemetry study has been run, to determine the home range size, reveal the range use patterns, identify areas of special importance and identify the causes of mortality and high risk areas. Seven receiver stations were constructed in four watersheds/ valleys and fieldwork was carried out systematically during the 2004 breeding period. Overall six individuals of different ages and sex were monitored and their home ranges, core areas and overall occupied area were estimated. Consequently, some important results which have several implications for the management of the area were obtained such as: 1) attachment to the native colony, 2) differences in habitat use according to season, sex and age, 3) the foraging range covers a much wider area than the DNP. STAVROS XIROUCHAKIS & MANOLIS NIKOLAKAKIS: A Radiotelemetry Study of the Post-fledging Dispersal of Bearded Vultures in Crete During a preliminary radio tracking study was carried out in Crete, which provided us with useful results concerning dispersal flights and foraging range of juvenile Bearded Vultures during the post-fledging and dependence period. In the years , six chicks (one per year) were marked and radio tagged at nest and were followed by ground (every days) and aerial surveys. Different methods of analysing data were used, including four different home range estimators. In this way, the core areas in the post fledging dispersal of each bird were estimated, as well as their home range at different percentages, its size evolution and the foraging radius of 95% home range. In addition, the site fidelity in roosting places or the total daily distance traversed by a juvenile during its post fledging dispersal was calculated. Available data reveal that juvenile Bearded Vultures disperse 2-4 months after their fledging, follow their parents during the first few weeks depending on them for food and settle in certain areas during their first winter. Daily foraging trips are erratic and irregular though in a limited space in case food availability is high. Birds usually settle in this area and make long exploratory trips to neighbouring ones. 9

11 XENOFON KAPPAS: Conservation and Management of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) The Birds Directive 79/409 and Habitats Directive 92/43 were incorporated in Greece in 1982 and 2002, and until now there are 151 SPAs, 239 pscis and 359 sites in the Natura Network Several problems characterize the current situation in Greece, such as: 1) lack of approved Special Environmental Studies, 2) Management Bodies still don t work properly, 3) no master plan for the environment and protected areas in Greece exist, and 4) no political will is offered in order to support the system. Consequently, NGOs and municipalities have taken initiatives to protect certain areas: Prespa Lakes, Dadia Forest and Gialova Lagoon are some examples. The Society for the Protection of Prespa, composed by 10 NGOs, manages the first one, focusing on the involvement of the local community in the conservation and management actions. Some results are the increasing of the number of pelicans breeding in the area or the number of visitors. On the other hand, the Hellenic Ornithological Society (HOS) created the management infrastructure at Gialova Lagoon and got involved in a wide range of conservation actions, such as the bird monitoring, the management of the canals or the promotion of ecotourism. However, the future of SPAs in Greece is uncertain, mainly due to the indifferent attitude of the Greek state, and some steps still need to be taken. DIMITRIS VASILAKIS: Ecotouristic Development in Special Protection Areas (SPAs): The case of the Dadia National Park (Prefecture of Evros, Greece) The National Park of Dadia-Soufli-Lefkimi is situated in the prefecture of Evros in Eastern Thrace, in Northeastern Greece. Other tourist attractions are found around in the prefecture: the Evros Delta, which hosts thousands of birds during their migration, the island of Samothraki, Soufli, Didimoticho or Ardas River are some examples. The Park, with a surface of ha, includes different important habitats for raptors such as openings and mature forests, and as a result 36 of the 38 European diurnal raptor species occur in the area, the Black Vulture or the Imperial Eagle among them. The park has been a protected area since 1980 and since 1992 WWF Greece has been established there. The local population s economic activities are the livestock breeding, the agriculture, the logging and the nature tourism. Nowadays, the existing ecotouristic infrastructure comprises an Information Centre, visited by the half of the tourists, a hostel, a restaurant, an observatory, marked paths through the forest, and tourist guidance. Furthermore, a women cooperative exists, and other environmental and ecotouristic infrastructure can be found in the closest villages. The number of visitors (the 90% from Greece) is higher during the spring and summer months, and the main reasons for their visit is bird watching, recreation or the enjoyment of the natural landscape. To prevent the degradation of the ecological values, some precautions are taken. 10

12 MICHALIS PROBONAS: Public Awareness for the Protection of the Bearded Vulture in Crete One of the objectives of the LIFE Project Conservation actions for the Bearded Vulture and Biodiversity in Crete is to increase the local awareness and the public participation for the conservation of the species. In this framework, several actions are carried out: 1) a public awareness campaign, 2) the establishment of information centres and mobile exhibitions and 3) the production of public awareness material. The promotion of ecotourism include the organization of local meetings, the creation of a website, the production of information material for environmental education, the organization of Nature Festivals and the construction of interpretative nature trails in two NATURA 2000 sites. 4. CONCLUSIONS Overall the main conclusions of the Workshop could be summarised in the followings: 1. The Bearded Vulture population in Europe consists of 141 breeding pairs that are distributed in the Pyrenees (Spain and France), the Alpine range (France, Italy, Switzerland and Austria where the species has been reintroduced) and the islands of Corsica and Crete. 2. The most endangered Bearded Vulture populations in Europe are those inhabiting the two islands. The Cretan Bearded Vulture population shows signs of recovery though mortality factors such as poisoning and illegal persecution persist in certain parts of the island. The main problem of the Corsican population is the very low productivity, which has been practically null during the last decade. 3. The alpine population presently consists of 16 territorial pairs of 7 breed, thus releases are going to terminate by the year However the evaluation of juvenile dispersal, habitat protection, monitoring of the breeding population and public awareness will continue. 4. In any reintroduction project certain prerequisites have to be taken into account. The existence of the proper captive breeding stock, suitable habitat for release, monitoring and release techniques and above all the involvement of the public and the authorities. All of these criteria have been met in the Andalucian reintroduction project, which is in progress. The only perspective for a new reintroduction project in Europe concerns the Rhodopi Mountains in Bulgaria where suitable foraging habitat exists. 5. In mainland Greece, monitoring, operation of feeding stations and transborder cooperation are the main management actions that should be carried out for the conservation of the remaining Bearded vulture individuals and other vulture populations. 6. Vulture population uses a much wider area than the colony s actual home range which includes areas of extensive pastoralism. In development plans in rural areas traditional stock raising methods should be supported and in addition an area three times the size of the nesting nucleus should be prospected and taken into consideration for vulture management. 7. The area covered by juvenile Bearded vultures in Crete during their post fledging dispersal covers the whole island. However most of the foraging 11

13 activity takes place in 2000 sq. km. Birds settle in an area and perform short exploratory trips at a foraging radius of 4-10 km although daily trips of up to 30 km are normal. On average 4 months after fledging they settle in their wintering area where food availability and good weather conditions are critical for their selection. Similarly juvenile birds in the Alps are quite erratic performing large dispersal flights all over the alpine mountain chain with shifts in activity areas. 8. The use of video camera in nest monitoring can be a very effective tool in the study of the breeding behaviour and feeding ecology of the Bearded Vulture. The application of the technique for the rescue of the second chick is not advisable for the Cretan population since no prior experience exists. The technique could be functional after its testing in Spain. So far available data show that the best period for intervention is the age of 3 days for the 2 nd chick. Extra chicks could be used in reintroduction projects and promote the genetic diversity of captive breeding stocks. 9. Artificial feeding, habitat protection, warding and patrolling and public awareness have been the most effective management tools for Bearded vulture conservation all over Europe. Nevertheless the involvement of competent authorities has proved essential in the long-term conservation of its populations. Overall the conservation status of the species in Europe seems favourable though negative factors e.g. shooting and mainly secondary poisoning remains the main threats especially in the Mediterranean region. 10. New research techniques are available for the study of the specie biology and ecology and will certainly have more management applications in the future. 12

14 5. LIST OF INVITED SPEAKERS / PARTICIPANTS A/A NAME ORGANIZATION / COUNTRY TELEPHONE ADDRESS NUMBER 1 Maria Jesús García-Baquero Gypaetus Foundation, Spain mariajesus@gypaetus.org 2 Stoycho Stoychev Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds / BirdLife sakarbg@mbox.digsys.bg Bulgaria 3 Rafael Heredia Spanish Ministry of Environment r.heredia@wanadoo.es 4 Marie Zimmerman ASTERS, France marie.zim@asters.asso.fr 5 Stavros Xirouchakis Natural History Museum of Crete, Greece sxirouch@nhmc.uoc.gr 6 Thomas Roussos Region of Crete Forestry Department, Crete, Greece Panos Azmanis National Agricultural Research Foundation (NAGREF), azm_pan@hotmail.com Greece 8 Antoni Margalida Bearded Vulture Study & Protection Group (GEPT), Spain margalida@gauss.entorno.es 9 Costas Grivas Natural History Museum of Crete, Greece iespa@hol.gr 10 Daniel Hegglin SWILD Wildlife Research & Urban Ecology, Switzerland daniel.hegglin@swild.ch 11 Xenofon Kappas Hellenic Ornithological Society, Greece xkappas@ornithologiki.gr 12 Dimitris Vasilakis WWF Greece Dadia Project, Greece divasilakis@hotmail.com 13 Michalis Probonas Natural History Museum of Crete, Greece mprobonas@nhmc.uoc.gr 14 Beatriz Cárcamo Aboitiz Natural History Museum of Crete, Greece beatriz_carcamo@yahoo.es 15 Manolis Nikolakakis Natural History Museum of Crete, Greece nikolakakis@nhmc.uoc.gr 16 Christos Barboutis Natural History Museum of Crete, Greece barboutischr@gmail.com 17 Nikos Katsimanis Ornithologist, Private Sector, Chania, Greece nik_k@edu.biology.uoc.gr 18 Tasos Sakoulis Forestry Department of Chania, Crete, Greece tasos@maich.gr 19 Emmanouil Flouris Forestry Department of Rethymno, Crete, Greece Evridiki Eseridou Region of Crete Forestry Department, Crete, Greece veseridou@yahoo.gr 21 Ioannis Arnellos Natural History Museum of Crete, Greece arnellos@yahoo.com 22 Konstantinos Koukourakis Municipality of Inachorio Mayor, Crete, Greece dinaxor@cha.forthnet.gr 13

15 6. PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE WORKSHOP 14

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