We recently opened the registration for the Balkan Vultures Anti-Poisoning Workshop we are holding in between 8 and 10 April and today we can announce more details from the programme.
Over the course of the three days we will be looking at the single biggest factor that is preventing vultures making a comeback in the region, illegal wildlife poisoning. Bringing together a wide range of audiences we will share how the conservation projects in the region are protecting vultures and the future directions to tackle this threat in the region.
LIFE Projects
During the workshop participants will hear from the region’s four major European Union LIFE funded vulture conservation projects who will present their work protecting vultures from illegal wildlife poisoning. These include: LIFE for Kresna Gorge – led by the Fund for Wild Fauna and Flora and running between 2012 and 2016; Egyptian Vulture New LIFE – led by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds; LIFE Re-Vultures – this project led by the Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation and Vultures Back to LIFE – led by Green Balkans.
National Roadmaps
As part of the Balkan Anti-Poisoning Project we have been supporting partners in each of the target countries to engage with governmental organisations and other stakeholders in their country to develop Anti-Poisoning Roadmaps. During the workshop each of the national Anti-Poisoning roadmaps will be shared with participants highlighting specific issues occuring in each country and the route to address the threat of illegal wildlife poisoning.
Practical training course
During the three day workshop the representatives from Spanish authorities will lead a elementary training course based on their world-leading efforts to tackle illegal wildlife poisoning in Spain. Over the course of Day Two the training course participants will hear about the implementation of the Spanish strategy against wildlife poisoning and the course will cover several issues including the collection of samples, toxicological analyses and juridical procedures and persecution.
Field trip
On the final day of the workshop participants will visit the Griffon Vulture colonies at the Uvac Special Reserve.
Registration
This Workshop is aimed at wildlife conservation organisations, governmental organisations and individuals working in the Balkan region dealing with the issue of illegal wildlife poisoning. Spaces are limited and priority will be given to those attending from the Balkan region. The Vulture Conservation Foundation will cover accommodation and meals for most of the participants, although funds are limited so we would suggest that you complete the registration form as soon as possible and indicate if you are expecting sponsorship for these costs.
The registration for the Balkan Vultures Anti-Poisoning Workshop is open until Thursday 31 January and to register to attend visit our registration page.
This Workshop is organized by the Vulture Conservation Foundation, funds have been provided by MAVA and is being co-hosted in Serbia by Special Nature reserve Uvac, Bird Protection and Study Society of Serbia/BirdLife Serbia and Birds of Prey Protection Foundation and Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia.
Balkan Anti-Poisoning Project
The Balkan Anti-Poisoning Project is a cross-border initiative bringing together wildlife conservation organisations, governmental agencies and other stakeholder such as; hunting associations, farmers and scientists, in five Balkan countries to tackle illegal wildlife poisoning.
Funded by the Mava Foundation we aim to secure real and continued engagement of the relevant national governmental authorities in the Balkan region against illegal wildlife poisoning and increase their capacity to counteract it and working together to take positive steps to protect vultures.
The Balkan Anti-Poisoning Project is a partnership between us here at the Vulture Conservation Foundation and the Albanian Ornithological Society-AOS, Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania-PPNEA, Ornithological Society “Naše ptice”,Association BIOM, Hellenic Ornithological Society-HOS, Macedonian Ecological Society-MES.
The Balkan Anti-Poisoning Project also contributes directly into the implementation of the Vulture Multi-Species Action Plan by carrying out anti-poisoning actions in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece and Macedonia, and is building on our work for the last decade in the Balkans thorugh the Balkan Vulture Action Plan
