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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 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

    Survey and Monitoring of the Status, Breeding Success, Food Availability and Threats to the Egyptian vulture in Macedonia - 2008

    2008

    1. Goal of the project:
    Monitoring of the breeding success and food availability of the EVs and identifying 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 unknown pairs.
    Objective 3: Gathering information on biology of the species, especially food availability
    Objective 4: Set basis for gathering data for survival of the juveniles and changes of partners in the EV pairs
    Objective 5: Gathering further data on the threats and limiting factors for the EV population in Macedonia
    Objective 6: 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 2007

    2007

    1. Goal of the Project
    Identify and apply the most adequate measures to improve the conservation conditions of all 4 species of vultures in Macedonia; firstly to
    stabilize their present status and then 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: Monitoring of all colonies (their condition, number of active pairs and nests, number of chicks and general population development) and initiating measures to improve nesting.
    Objective 3: 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 and the relationship with rival species.
    Objective 4: Check and evaluate all existing threats: poisoning, catching, hunting, as well as reasons for their decrease and disappearance.
    Objective 5: Raising public awareness and insights for the positive role of vultures in nature as a way to involve more people, to counteract threats for the vultures, and also involve the local authorities to become partners in the implementation of these activities.
    Project coordinator: Tome Lisichanets & Emanuel Lisichanets, FWFF-Macedonia

    Survey and Monitoring of the Status, Breeding Success and Threats to the Egyptian Vulture in Macedonia, with Implementation of Urgent Conservation Activities - 2007

    2007

    1. Goal of the Project
    Monitoring of breeding success of the Egyptian Vulture and setting 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 the biology of the species, especially food availability
    Objective 4: Gathering further data on the threats and limiting factors for the EV population in Macedonia
    Project coordinator: Metodija Velevski, Macedonian Ecological Society

    Vulture Conservation in Macedonia trough Implementation of Antidote and Educational Activities

    2007

    1. Goal of the Project
    In the long term, reversing the negative population trend of vultures in Macedonia, and in the short term, stopping the further decrease trough implementation of antidote and educational activities
    2. Objectives
    Objective 1: Maintain the last pair of Egyptian vultures near Skopje
    Objective 2: Gather new data for the presence of vultures in Macedonia (Babuna, Osogovo, Treska etc.)
    Objective 3: Improve the capacities of state bodies to prevent the illegal use of poison in nature
    Objective 4: Increase awareness amongst specific target groups (veterinarians, hunters and livestock breeders) for vulture conservation
    Objective 5: Increase public knowledge about the problem of vulture disappearance in Macedonia and on the Balkans
    Project coordinator: Metodija Velevski, Macedonian Ecological Society

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