After the Salt of Life project manager made a presentation about our activity and about the area, the Polish colleagues also presented their organization and their project aimed at the White Stork - a species from Annex 1 of the Birds Directive. The 18 Natura 2000 sites covered by the project are important for the white stork. The sites are characterised by extremely high-density populations, high stability of numbers and good conservation conditions. However, public acceptance of large stork nests on chimneys and roofs is declining, which, together with other socio-economic changes, could have a negative impact on
the white stork population in Poland.
The LIFEciconiaPL project aims to maintain the good conservation status of the white stork in the river valleys of eastern Poland, where the population of the species is about 1,600 pairs.
The project activities are:
- Protecting some 400 nesting sites;
- Increasing public tolerance of stork nests on buildings;
- Reducing white stork deaths caused by power lines;
- Improving the effectiveness of two white stork rehabilitation centres; and
- Halting the loss of biodiversity by protecting this umbrella species.• Protection of about 400 breeding grounds;
At the end of their visit, we let them at the Point to enjoy the passing buzzard, The lesser spotted eagles and the red-footed falcons.
The exchange of experience between LIFE teams throughout Europe is of great benefit both in improving nature conservation activities and in sharing education and communication techniques, including better project management.
