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  • Macedonia

    Status of the Vultures and Conservation Activities in Macedonia
     
    Two out of the four species of vultures living in Macedonia went extinct on the beginning of the 21st century. Although both Bearded and Black vulture for the last time bred in the country in 1980's, it was possible to observe individual birds up to 2004 and 2005 respectively. In the same period, both Griffon and Egyptian Vulture populations strongly declined, mostly due to illegal use of poisonous bait for control of predators and feral dogs, but also food shortage, habitat loss and disturbance.
    Vulture conservation project in Macedonia was started in 2003, following signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of Republic of Macedonia and the Consortium of national and international NGOs. Since then, with the support of BVCF and FZS, but also European Commission, LUSH Ltd. and Whitley Foundation, conservation activities are taking place, including monitoring, supplementary feeding, education of target groups and antidote campaign. Since then, the declining population of Griffon Vultures has stabilized its trend and showed slight increase (from the minimal number of 14 pairs in 2006 to 21 pairs in 2008), but the population of the Egyptian Vulture has continued to decline, and from estimated 44 pairs in 2003, has reached the lowest figure of ca. 28 pairs in 2009.
    In the period from the beginning of the project, huge amount of data was gathered, leading to good understanding of the problems and identification of the priority actions for conservation. Local partnerships have been formed, and local communities have been involved. However, poisoning incidents where large numbers of Griffon Vultures are lost are still common, occurring at rate of approximately one incident per year.

    Action plan for exploration and conservation of the vultures in the central, eastern and southern region of the Republic of Macedonia 2010

    2010

    1.Goal of the project:
    Maintain the number of all species of vultures and  secure their reproduction as final result of many activities for helping the vultures. To possibly restore the deserted colony sites such as those of the Griffon and Egyptian vultures of Babuna/Topolka gorges, and the seriously reduced colony of Treska/Matka, and increase their population.
    2.Objectives
    Objective 1: Improvement of the food availability for the vultures by means of artificial supply of meat, offal or carrion at selected places and at regular intervals.
    Objective 2: To study all colonies, their condition, number of active couples- nest, youths until 5 years old and the population development.
    Objective 3: To evaluate the natural feeding base and the traditional way of feeding, the situation with flocks of sheep and cows present, emigrational flocks –number and location in the field, relationship with rival species.
    Objective 4: To check and evaluate all dangers which exist: poisoning, catching, shooting, and also reasons for their decrease and disappearance.
    Objective 5: Raising the public awareness and insight for the positive role of vultures in nature till highest administration levels.
    Objective 6: Adherence to the action plan for protection of the vultures, which R. Macedonia started in 2003, and to the memorandum of understanding which R. Macedonia approved for protection of the 4 species of vultures.
    Objective 7: Observing the success of the nesting and initiating some measures for improving.
    Objective 8: Involving more people in actions for popularization for solving the problems for the vultures: people, media, commercial material etc..., and involving the local authorities to become partners in the implementation of these activities.
    Project coordinator: Emanuel Lisichanets, FWFF-Macedonia

    Vulture conservation project Macedonia, monitoring and conservation of the Griffon vulture and the Egyptian vulture in Macedonia-2010

    2010

    1.Goal of the project:
    Monitoring of the breeding success for the Griffon and Egyptian vultures and improving food availability at Demir Kapija region.
    2.Objectives
    Objective 1: Monitoring of the colonies of the Griffon vultures in Macedonia
    Objective 2: Decrease risks from poisoning and food shortage for the Griffon vultures in Macedonia with maintenance of a feeding place
    Objective 3 : Raise public opinion and participation in vulture conservation
    Objective 4: Monitoring of the known breeding pairs of Egyptian vultures in Macedonia
    Objective 5: Search for new territories for presence of unknown Egyptian vulture pairs
    Objective 6: Gathering information on biology of the Egyptian vulture, especially food availability
    Objective 7: Set basis for gathering data for survival of the juveniles and changes of partners in the Egyptian vulture pairs
    Objectives 8: Gathering further data on the threats and limiting factors for the Egyptian vulture population in Macedonia
    Project coordinator: Metodija Velevski, Macedonian Ecological Society

    Survey and monitoring of the status, breeding success, food avaibility and threats to the Egyptian vulture in Macedonia 2009

    2009

    1. Goal of the Project:
    Providing information on the distribution and threats, emphasizing the breeding success, and to set priority actions towards preservation of the Egyptian vulture in Macedonia

    2. Objectives
    Objective 1: Monitoring of the known breeding pairs of Egyptian vultures in Macedonia.
    Objective 2: Survey of new territories for presence of pairs.
    Objective 3: Gathering information on biology of the species, especially food availability.
    Objective 4:Gathering further data on the threats and limiting factors for the EV population in Macedonia.
    Objective 5: Intensive nest monitoring and nest guarding.
    Project coordinator: Metodija Velevski, Macedonian Ecological Society

     

    Action plan for exploration and conservation of the vultures in the central, eastern and southern region of the Republic of Macedonia 2009

    2009

    1. Goal of the Project:
    The goal of the project is to identify and apply the most adequate
    measures to improve the conservation conditions of all 4 species of vultures in
    Macedonia; at the first place to stabilize their present status, than to increase
    their population. More nesting couples, better breeding success, ascertain that
    the birds will stay in the region, maintain their colonies and feeding areas also
    where they used to be will be the prime objectives.

    2. Objectives
    Objective 1: Improvement of the food availability for the vultures
    Objective 2: To study all colonies (condition, number of active couples, nest, youths, population development)
    Objective 3: To evaluate the natural feeding base and the traditional
    way of feeding.
    Objective 4: To check and evaluate all dangers which exist:
    poisoning, catching, shooting, and other reasons of desappearance.
    Objective 5: Raising the public awareness and insight for the positive role of vultures in
    nature till highest administration levels.
    Objective 6: Observing the success of the nesting and initiating some measures for improving.
    Project coordinator: Tome Lisichanets & Emanuel Lisichanets, FWFF-Macedonia

    Action Plan for exploration and conservation of the vultures in the central, eastern and southern region of the Republic of Macedonia 2008

    2008

    1. Goal of the project:
    Identifying and Appling the most adequate measures to improve the conservation conditions of all 4 species of vultures in Macedonia, at the first place to stabilize their present status, than to increase their population.
    2. Objectives
    Objective 1: Improvement of the food availability for the vultures by means of artificial supply of meat, offal or carrion at selected places and at regular intervals.
    Objective 2: To study all colonies, their condition, number of active couples- nest, youths until 5 years old and the population development.
    Objective 3: To evaluate the natural feeding base and the traditional way of feeding, the situation with flocks of sheep and cows present, emigrational flocks – number and location in the field, relationship with rival species.
    Objective 4: To check and evaluate all dangers which exist: poisoning, catching, shooting, and also reasons for their decrease and disappearance.
    Objective 5: Raising the public awareness and insight for the positive role of vultures in nature till highest administration levels.
    Objective 6: Involving more people in actions for popularization for solving the problems for the vultures: people, media, commercial material etc., and involving the local authorities to become partners in the implementation of these activities.
    Project coordinator: Tome Lisichanets & Emanuel Lisichanets, FWFF-Macedonia

    Vulture conservation in Macedonia trough implementation of antidote and educational activities 2008

    2008

    1. Goal of the project:
    On long term, reversing the negative population trend of vultures in Macedonia, and on short term, stopping the further decrease trough implementation of antidote and educational activities. 
    2. Objectives
    Objective 1: Gather new data for the presence of vultures in Macedonia (Babuna, Osogovo, Treska etc.)
    Objective 2: Improve the capacities of state bodies to prevent illegal use of poison in the nature
    Objective 3: Increase awareness among specific target groups (veterinaries, hunters and livestock breeders) for the vulture conservation
    Objective 4: Increase public knowledge on the problem of vulture disappearance in Macedonia and on the Balkans
    Project coordinator: Metodija Velevski, Macedonian Ecological Society

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