Activities

Complex inventory on habitat requirements and quality

Action foresees in more detail the searching for unknown nest-sites (because only known nest sites can be protected) and analysing the previous conservation regime and its efficiency to the spotted eagles and black stork nest sites conservation. The most important part of the action is to estimate the efficiency of conservation measures and to elaborate optimal measures for conservation of the spotted eagles and black stork habitats.

Sociological study

The main perceived constraints regarding the nature conservation issues are related to the proper information availability; training, co-ordination and management on conservation issues concerning endangered species protection; environmental education for students and teachers; relevant NGOs institutional capacity; overall environmental awareness in society. To get information about the current situation a sociological study will be carried out by independent body. The goal of sociological study is to get information about attitude and readiness of people to face the restrictions what are connected to protection of eagles and black stork, and at the same time the study gives information and helps to prepare the actions targeted to public awareness rising activities

Development of guidelines for elaboration of additional criteria’s for conservation obligations

Current activity foresees the development of guidelines for elaboration of additional criteria’s for conservation obligations (extra pages for conservation obligations). To achieve the objective of the activity it is necessary to carry out analyses about the extent of protection zone, impact of clearcuts, maintanance possibilities of foraging habitats, inclusion the nest sites into existing nature reserves, establishment of new reserves for protection of certain species, protection arrangement of potential nest sites, creation possibilities for nesting and feeding in economical and private forests (the use of sustainable forest management near the protection zones). The final management suggestions for the landowner should be completed by an expert and by the local county environmental departments (following the developed guidelines).

Updating and reviewing the management plans

For greater spotted eagle new management plan (for years 2005-2009) will be composed during the project implementation. For lesser spotted eagle and black stork the management plans will be critically reviewed and relevant suggestions will be made for further amendment of the plans.

Studying foraging success and the effect of foraging biotope management

The importance of the availability and quality of different biotopes to the occupancy of spotted eagles and black stork nest sites and to its productivity has been remained unexplored. Moreover, before including the grassland management widely to the conservation practice, the management effects should be known. Under this activity appropriate criterias for the assessment of the foraging areas quality and usage by eagles and black stork will be elaborated. In detail, as a result of the activity it is possible further on to estimate the need for maintaining the relevant foraging habitats, which are used by the species. It is important to know the influence of different agricultural activities (land use) for the species foraging success. Also the further optimal conservation measures should take into consideration more broader scope beside the legal protection of nest sites.

Purchase of lands

To maintain favourite status of nestsite of spotted eagle and black stork, the best solution is to purchase these most critical nest sites (where human attitude is negative and with high probability the nest site is threatened by economical activities or interest) from those private landowners to the state in order to guarantee the optimal conservation of the sites.The lands within the most critical areas, where the impact of human activities is negative and protection of the species habitat/nest sites is not possible only with determining the protection zones and sending conservation obligations, will be purchased.

Public awareness and dissemination of results

An important part of the project is to deal with landowners’ problems and to inform the public about the need for environmental protection. The achievement of the project goals depends on public inclusion – information and public awareness rising about black stork and eagles, about identification of different nests, about protection of nest sites, maintenance of foraging areas and about threats and risks relevant to the species.Therefore, there are several different action for raising public awareness in project:

• Video-clip about eagles and black stork in Estonia
• Booklets “Eagles and Black Stork”
• Extra pages for landowners whose lands are occupied by eagle nests
• Regional seminars and learning days
• Web updating, creating version of English and Russian language
• Introduction of eagles and black stork in media (radio, TV, papers)
• Composing a layman´s report.