The griffon vulture was once widely distributed across Bulgaria. But by the early 1970s, it was thought to have disappeared completely, largely due to the decreasing availability of food, habitat loss, persecution and poisoning. On the face of it, vultures aren’t the most endearing birds. But closer investigation reveals just how amazing they really are, and why their conservation is so important. Join us and discover what it took to ensure a successful comeback of vultures to the Bulgarian/Greek cross border area of eastern Rhodope Mountains and why this was crucial for creating a healthier, more naturally balanced ecosystem.

This webinar will present the work of the European Rewilding Networks' member, Rewilding Rhodopes, with an emphasis on the results from the successful completion of the LIFE Vultures Project.

Starting in 2016, the five-year LIFE Vultures initiative was developed by Rewilding Europe, in collaboration with the Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation, the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds, the Vulture Conservation Foundation, WWF Greece and the Hellenic Ornithological Society.

The European Rewilding Network would like to invite you on a 1-hour journey through one of Europe’s biodiversity hotspots in the Bulgarian/Greek cross border area of eastern Rhodope Mountains. You will get the opportunity to hear all about the comeback, recovery and further expansion of the black and griffon vulture populations in this part of the Balkan region. You will learn about various innovative actions of the rewilding team, from establishing and running the first anti-poison dog unit, monitoring the dispersal and movements of vultures, boosting the availability of wild prey and carcasses through restoring the red and fallow deer population to reducing mortality through factors such as poaching, poisoning and collisions with power lines.

*Webinars organized by the European Rewilding Network, excluding 'Rewilding Intro' mini-webinars, are for members only. As an exemption, on the request of the ERN member Rewilding Rhodopes, this webinar is open to public. The reason for it is the presentation of the final results of the LIFE Vultures project – ‘’Conservation of Black and Griffon vultures in the cross-border Rhodope Mountains’’, ending this July .

Speakers

Stoycho Stoychev is the Team leader of the Rewilding Rhodopes team. He is the Conservation Director of the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds/Bird Life Bulgaria lives and works in the Rewiding Rhodopes area from the town of Haskovo. He is well known conservation leader with an excellent track record. His successful work in increasing the population of the imperial eagle in the adjacent Strandzha-Sakar Mountains brought him the Whitley Conservation Award for 2014. Stoycho has in depth knowledge of national and international conservation, including policy and legislation, in particular from the work with BirdLife International, and has excellent contact with stakeholders on national, regional and local level in the Rhodope Mountains.

Nelly Naydenova is Rewilding Rhodopes Communication officer for the last 5 years. She has started as a communication volunteer and her lasting interests in spreading the rewilding messages has kept her in the team ever since. She has 10 years of experience working as in different environmental organizations in Bulgaria and also some experience as an Environmental journalist. Nelly has a Master in Environmental Science and Policies.

Mei Abraham Elderadzi is the Coordinator of the European Rewilding Network at Rewilding Europe and is the webinar host and moderator.