[22.08.2006]

In the frames of the Action Plan for Recovery and Conservation of Vultures on the Balkan Peninsula and Adjacent Regions, the Balkan Egyptian Vulture Working Group established in 2005 held the 2nd Special Workshop on the Egyptian Vulture. The working group met in Shtip, Macedonia, from 29th to 30th July 2006. The meeting was hosted by the Macedonian Ecological Society (MES), in the frames of the project "Urgent conservation measures for the Egyptian vulture on the Balkan peninsula" supported by Black Vulture Conservation Foundation (BVCF) and Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS).

Participants of the Workshop were Bratislav Grubac (INPS), Ben Hallmann (BVCF), Hans Frey (FCBV), Tome Lisicanec (FWFF-Macedonia), Lavrentis Sidiropoulos (Chrysaetos), Evelyn Tewes (BVCF) and Metodija Velevski (MES). Unfortunately, representatives from Bulgaria did not take part in the meeting.

(Foto: MES)

The group discussed upon several topics concerning the measures for conservation of the Egyptian vulture on the Balkans. This included update on the situation of the Egyptian vulture populations in the Balkan countries Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia and Serbia. Information on suspected decline in Greece, more or less stabilized situation in Macedonia and discovery of few new territories in Albania were presented. As there are no new pairs in Serbia discovered, the species is still considered extinct. Additional information from Bulgaria (M. Kurtev) speaks for presence of 61 pairs in 2006.

The group shortly passed through the threats table for the Egyptian vulture on the Balkan Peninsula developed in 2005. It was agreed that it should be completed as soon as possible, in order to serve as a basis or the forthcoming Action Plan for the Egyptian Vulture on the Balkan Peninsula. The action plan will be compiled by M. Velevski with extensive contribution of all organisations and individuals working on the species, and its content was agreed by the participants of the meeting.

Furthermore a discussion took place on the issues on common database and library. It was agreed that a list of papers on the species should be placed on the “Balkan Vultures” web page (www.balkanvultures.net). Also funding possibilities were discussed to highlight several potential financiers, like the future Life+, GEF Medium Grants Programme and Interreg III, but also conservation programs of European zoos.

It was agreed that the next meeting of the group will take place in Blagoevgrad (Bulgaria) in February 2007, under organisation of FWFF-Bulgaria.

(MES, Macedonia and BVCF, Mallorca)