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Farming for vultures: the results from the LIFE+ Feeding Scavengers project

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Changes in farming practices was one of the factors that contributed to the decline of populations of vultures across Europe. The LIFE+ Feeding Scavengers in Spain has been working over the last four years to work with livestock owners to develop carcass management techniques and policies that work well for farmers, vultures and other birds of prey.

An emerging threat to Cinereous Vultures in Spain

The Cinereous Vulture population in Spain now accounts for over 96 percent of the total European population, thanks to the dedicated actions of conservation projects over the last 40 years, that resulted in an increase of its population in Spain from just 200 pairs in the 1970s to well over 2,500 pairs today. However, with the increase in the population the threat of lack of food availability is emerging as an important factor affecting this population. The combination of measures to control the spread of Mad Cow´s Disease (BSE) such as laws requiring livestock owners to safely dispose of animal remains, the decline of the practice of extensive livestock grazing and stricter health controls from farms and slaughterhouses have resulted in a steep decrease in the food available for Cinereous Vultures and other birds of prey in some parts of the Iberian geography.

Cinereous Vulture in flight over agricultural land in Castilla y León
Cinereous Vulture in flight over agricultural land in Castilla y León

The LIFE+ Feeding Scavengers project led by CBD-Habitat Foundation, the regional Ministry of Development and Environment of the Junta de Castilla and León, and the Natural Heritage Foundation of Castilla y León, which came to an end in December 2018, aimed to deal with this situation in central Spain.

Collaborating with livestock owners

One of the 28 different consultation meetings held with livestock owners
One of the 28 different consultation meetings held with livestock owners

Key to the project was working with farmers across Castilla y León, covering the whole of the range of Cinereous Vultures in the region, to change practices to increase the food available to the species. In total the project have been collaborating with 550 farms and 30 livestock associations and cooperatives which cover around 500,000 ha.

Following the passing of Decree 17/2013 by the Castilla y León regional government, which authorises the use of animal remains from extensive livestock for the feeding of scavenger species, the project worked with farmers to develop new management techniques which included extensive consultations to understand the implications of the new law such as recording information about the location of the animal remains that would not cause risks to people or animals for example near water sources, homes or powerlines.

Farming for vultures

By the end of the project a total of 355 farms who practice extensive grazing have collaborated with the project and have been authorised by the regional governments to manage their herds in a more vulture-friendly way. This accounts for 85,793 sheep, 5,711 goats, 2,257 cows, 3,873 pigs and 442 horses – resulting in an annual mortality of around 376,000 kg of biomass.

By being authorised to leave the remains of the livestock in the natural environment this biomass becomes available to vultures and other birds of prey such as Iberian Imperial Eagle, Red and Black Kites and Golden Eagle.

This work also highlighted the economic benefits of this practice, which frees up significant amount of time for livestock owners and reduces carbon emissions by 30 tons / year of CO2 by eliminating the need for incineration of animal remains.

Increasing the food available in the natural environment is helping reduce the competition between vultures and the other birds of prey in the region, which will help the recovery of the Cinereous Vulture in the region and improve conditions for the Egyptian and Griffon Vultures.

The LIFE+ Feeding Scavengers project is a great example of collaboration between a non-governmental organisation, governmental agencies and livestock owners to change practices that has positive impacts on vultures.

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