Premature end at halftime? Our application for further LIFE funding was again rejected
Newsletter 02/06/2020
We recently got the information that the second application for a further LIFE project to continue the reintroduction of the Northern Bald Ibis was rejected. Ironically, this happens at a time when we cannot wish for a better course of the project.
Despite the significant COVID-19 caused management restrictions, more than 30 chicks can be expected in the two breeding areas Burghausen (Bavaria) and Kuchl (Salzburg State). Five breeding pairs breed for the first time in the niches of the magnificent conglomerate rock in Kuchl. This spring, five birds of the newly founded breeding colony in Überlinger have already arrived back in their breeding area and further five birds are already North of the Alps. This far exceeds our expectations and it makes us to the first project in the world succeeding in establishing a population of a migratory species, even with two distinct migratory traditions.
The success of the finalized first LIFE+ project is shown in the final report, which highlights that we were not only able to achieve most of the goals, but even exceeded them. For example, we could half the rate of losses due to illegal hunting in Italy. This is a great success in the overall fight against this significant environmental crime, but further commitment is required to achieve sustainable effects. Media coverage and scientific publications have made this LIFE+ project known far beyond the borders of the European Community. In more than 50 TV productions and more than 500 articles during the LIFE+ project, we were able to interest and inspire people in a positive context for nature and species conservation - Reason for Hope in a time that is dominated by crises and catastrophes.
The main reasons for the rejection of our first application for a LIFE follow-up project were financial and organizational aspects. For the second application, we seriously tried to take the criticisms from the first evaluation into account and we considerably reduced the cost scope. Unfortunately and very unexpectedly, the reviewers criticism focused largely on the same topics and the application was again rejected.
LIFE and NATURA 2000 are probably the largest and most successful nature and species conservation program in the world, an important and future-oriented initiative of the European Community. After the implementation of our first LIFE+ project we are very much convinced of this. A critical and objective evaluation of the applications is an important criterion for success. However, the recent rejection of our application due to financial and organizational criticism is difficult to understand, especially since the measures and objectives of the project were both times positively evaluated.
Modeling the survival probability of the European Northern Bald Ibis population founded in the course of the LIFE+ project provides a positive forecast. The goal of an independently viable European population is realistic but requires further management and release for several years. A premature end of the project at this point, almost at half-time, would likely lead to the renewed extinction of this European population.
That is why we keep going. Our commitment is vital for this endangered species and we are committed to all partners, sponsors, volunteers and friends. We hope for their further support to continue implementing the project for the time being. To secure the project in the longer term, we will submit a further LIFE application, in which the criticism of the experts will be considered even more comprehensively. The Northern Bald Ibis should get the chance to become again a permanent part of the Europe fauna. Our motto remains Reason for Hope.
Photo: Witnesses of success - three Northern Bald Ibises in Überlingen at Lake Constance; after 400 years, Northern Bald Ibises return to this former breeding area (photo Rudolf Beck).
