Project visit by the European Commission
Newsletter 12/07/2016
The reintroduction of the Northern Bald Ibis in Europe is co-financed by the European Community in the context of the LIFE+ program. LIFE is the EU's largest financial instrument supporting environmental, conservation and climate projects.
Since 1992, more than 4000 projects have been co-financed by the LIFE program. In the program´s funding period 2014-2020, about 3.4 billion euros have been budgeted for the protection of the environment and the climate. One focus of the program is the implementation of nature conservation and biodiversity measures within Natura2000 areas. Projects unrelated to Natura2000 are particularly supported when they have a strong innovative and demonstrative character, like it is the case with our project.
Once during the term of each LIFE+ project, an official visit of a LIFE+ delegation is scheduled. In our case, this meeting took place last week. The delegation consisted of two representatives of the LIFE+ Unit of the European Commission and the so-called Monitor, who supervises our project on behalf of the European Commission. The most essential part of the visit was a detailed examination of the technical and financial activities of the project. After 2.5 years, we were able to present the delegation with positive interim results. By now, the population of Northern Bald Ibises consists of 95 individuals, which is a significantly higher value than the number provided in the project application for this period (85 individuals).
In addition, the delegation also visited the training camp in Seekirchen am Wallersee, Salzburg, and the breeding colony in Burghausen, Bavaria. A particular highlight was the flight training with 32 hand-reared Northern Bald Ibises in Seekirchen. Following the flight training, the two representatives of the LIFE+ Unit were flown to Burghausen with two microlight aircrafts, piloted by the professional pilot of the project, W Holzmüller, and the project manager J Fritz.
The visit was concluded with a dinner hosted by the city of Burghausen, supporter of the project since 2004 and LIFE+ project partner since 2014. In Burghausen, the success of the project can be shown in a particularly impressive way. The free flying Northern Bald Ibises, circling the skies over the castle, is a familiar sight, and since 2014 this critically endangered migratory bird species is breeding on the defence wall of the castle of Burghausen.
The official report of the European Commission on this visit is still pending, but the preliminary feedback has been quite positive.
Picture: Flight training in Seekirchen am Wallersee; from left to right (standing): Felix Bergmann (NEEMO EEIG - Particip GmbH, LIFE+ Monitor); Emanuel Liechtenstein (Tierpark Rosegg; FV-Waldrappteam Chairman); Brunhilde Rack (Europ. Commission, Desk Officer); Johannes Fritz (LIFE+ Management & Pilot); Markus Unsöld (Bavarian State Collection of Zoology; LIFE+ Consultant); Andreas Gärtner (LIFE+ Consultant); Walter Holzmüller (LIFE+ Pilot); Bernhard Gönner (LIFE+ Management); Dørte Pardo López (Europ. Commission, Desk Officer); Barbara Eberhard (LIFE+ Management); from left to right (sitting): Corinna Esterer (LIFE+ foster mother); Anne-Gabriela Schmalstieg (LIFE+ foster mother)
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