The 'NATURA 2000 in Bulgaria - NEW HORIZONS

The Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis) is a globally threatened species. This species has a moderately small population which appears to be declining over a short time period. The reasons for this decline are largely unknown. Trend calculations are complicated by interannual variation in survey coverage and reporting across its range.
 

The Bearded Vulture was selected as a target species due to its high conservation status, the fact that it is a beautiful and magnificent bird, the fact that it is considered extinct from Bulgaria and there are on-going efforts for its restoration and most of all, as it is considered the symbol of Bulgarian nature conservation /the emblem of a Bearded Vulture is placed on every protected area and tree in the country/. People still do not recognize the extreme economic and ecological benefits of restoring vultures. The threats for the species are fairly manageable and can be handled through awareness raising.

Bats have been selected as a target group due to their high conservation significance, vulnerability and negative image they have among ordinary people. This negative attitude is among the main threats to bats in Bulgaria and its overcoming through an awareness raising campaign would have a huge impact.

Cetaceans have been selected as a target group as they are very well-known and loved by people. At the same time they are actively persecuted by fishermen. Mobilizing wide public support and recruiting volunteers for their monitoring /for example, locating stranded animals/ are extremely important for their conservation.

The Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni, Fleischer, 1818) is a small falcon species, the size of a dove. It does not avoid people and can be seen perching on power lines, rooftops and other buildings.
The Lesser Kestrel was selected as a target species as it is a really appealing small falcon, which easily gains sympathy.

The Saker Falcon was selected as a target species as it is almost extinct from Bulgaria and there are concentrated efforts on its restoration. It is highly impacted by the negative attitude of pigeon breeders and hunters, which are not familiar with its biology and significance. Many of the threats are manageable through awareness raising.

The Griffon Vulture was selected as a target species due to its high conservation status, the fact that it is a beautiful and magnificent bird, the fact that it brings extreme economic and ecological benefits, little known by the wide public. The threats for the species are fairly manageable and can be handled through awareness raising.

The Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) is a globally threatened species. In Europe, the breeding population is estimated to number 1,300-1,900 breeding pairs, equating to 2,500-3,800 mature individuals.
The Imperial Eagle was selected as a target species due to its magnificence. In Bulgaria it is considered symbol of storms.

The Pygmy Cormorant (Microcarbo pygmaeus) is a relatively small fisheating bird, attached to wetlands – seas, lakes, dams, rivers, etc. The European population is estimated at 37,600-50,400 pairs, which equates to 75,100-101,000 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2015).
The Pygmy Cormorant was selected as a target species as it suffers from undeserved black image, planted by fishermen and fish breeders.

The Sandwich Tern was selected as a flagship species in order to stress on the need for conserving wetlands. The species has been restored as nesting in the Pomorie Lake, yet the nesting season is often compromised due to disturbance from kiters, hunters, sunbathers, etc. The main threats for the species are manageable increasing public awareness and involving institutions.