Objective
The project objectives address the leading threats to the two species. These include preventing further degradation and loss of the birds' habitats, protecting, restoring and, in the longer run, expanding their natural range, minimising disturbance, reducing mortality from illegal shooting and accidental capture and finally, ensuring these measures continue beyond the life of the LIFE project.
The main actions which will be carried out to achieve these objectives are:
- Restore or create habitat features crucial to the ecology of the pygmy cormorant P. pygmaeus
Establish no-entry zones around all P. pygmaeus breeding sites to minimise disturbance and prevent trespassing
- Carry out wardening to prevent illegal activities within the birds' habitats and to guard nesting, roosting and feeding sites
- Monitor ecological parameters, bird populations, factors of disturbance, threats and socio-economic parameters as groundwork to formulate measures for national action plans and to assess project results
- Raise awareness amongst local communities
- Develop close collaboration with the Greek Environment Ministry's Operational Programme for the Environment
The pygmy cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmaeus) suffered sharp decline this century (65% population loss in Europe between 1970 and 1990). Its present world breeding population is estimated at 13,000 pairs, approximately half of which occur in Europe. Greece is the only EU Member State where the species breeds, and hosts the largest colonies (approx. 600 pairs) within the European range after Rumania and Turkey.
The lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus) is globally with less than 2,500 breeding pairs world-wide. The drastic decline in its population numbers has prinicipally been attributed to habitat changes in its wintering grounds. Greece and Finland are the only EU Member States with wintering populations: small ones totalling approximately 140 (Greece) and fewer than 50 (Finland) birds.
Topic(s)
Data not availableCall for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
10558 Athens
Greece