The Project LIFE19 NAT/BG/001017 ”LIFE for Lesser Kestrel” is co-financed by the European Union Life Financial Instrument. This 5-year project targets the Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni), included in Annex I of the Birds Directive and in the Ornis Committee list of priorities birds. The project’s targets are the connection of all the subpopulations in Greece and Bulgaria and an overall increase and improvement of the species’ status in the South East Balkans. The overall goal is to expand the nesting distribution of the species ensuring the existence of independent colonies. The existence of at least two linked population cores in the project countries is a prerequisite for survival if an accident, illness, predator attack, natural disaster, etc. occurs in one of the subpopulations. It will aid the propagation of the birds in a wider area and will improve the conditions for future natural recolonization of the species from restored/established colonies. Key objectives are: to halt the decline and improve the species conservation status not only in Bulgaria and Greece (especially in NATURA 2000 sites), but also in the entire southeastern Balkans; to stabilize and strengthen the newly established Lesser Kestrel colony in Bulgaria; to assist the natural expansion and recolonization; to gather data and assist the conservation of the scattered colonies in different countries in the southeastern Balkans; to demonstrate and further encourage sustainable arable land management of key Lesser Kestrel foraging habitats; to replicate, further develop and improve the best Lesser Kestrel reinforcement practices in Bulgaria and Greece, transferring experience of other EU countries and LIFE projects. The coordinating beneficiary is Green Balkans (Bulgaria) and the partners are HSPN and University of Thessaly (Greece).
For more information visit the project website
