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Vulture crisis in Aragón (North Spain)

PRESS NOTE by Fondo Amigos del Buitre (FAB), ANSAR and Grupo Triacanthos (Aragón, Spain).

It is now three years ago that the Government of Aragón (GA) approved a new law (DECRETO 207/2005), closing traditional “Muladares” and starting to collect dead livestock, mainly sheep, goats and cattle. Traditionally an important part of dead livestock has been available to Griffon
Vultures and other scavengers that now lost one of their essential food sources. Local groups on nature conservation and Farmer Associations asked the GA repeatedly to adapt their legislation to the European rules reflected in a Spanish National Law (Real Decreto de 25 de mayo de 2007).

Since many years the Fondo Amigos del Buitre (FAB) studies the population of Griffon Vultures at the pre-Pyrenees of Aragón (Riglos, Guara). In these areas we find important colonies, representing about 5% of the Spanish population in 1999 (SEO/BirdLife).

In 2008 the population of Griffon Vultures in this area has fallen by 21% and the number of fledged young by 48%, as compared to the 5-year period before the crisis. In 2008 62 out of each 100 nests failed. The 2007 results were quite worse. As the Griffon vulture can life more than 20 years we still can’t see the final result of these new politics. The future of the populations depends on the now reduced number of new fledglings each year. In future numbers will keep going down as a result of lack of food and no natural death causes as crashes with windmills, car accidents and increasing intoxications.

Since 2006 the press published numerous “attacks” on weak and ill livestock, as well as situations of Vultures waiting at farm roofs for an animal to die, eating garbage and dying by road accidents. Farmers, birdwatchers and conservationists still cannot believe their Government is not acting to resolve this crisis.

The Government set up 34 feeding artificial feeding sites. At these stations some 80 tons of food a month have been distributed in 2007, mostly by the governmental company Sirasa (www.sirasa.com). This policy of feeding sites is based on a report that confirms that 24.000 Griffon Vultures live in Aragón. Our calculations show that these 80 tons of food represent less than 15% of the food needed by these vultures.

Local conservation groups conclude that the actual policy of the regional Government is the direct cause of the loss of the Griffon Vulture population in Aragón, and probably of other pecies as the Egyptian Vulture and the Red Kite. Again we ask the Government to take new steps to improve the situation, based on National (Real Decreto 664/2007) and European rules, and to comply with the obligations set in the Bird Directive. The French model with farmers managing their own Muladar is the best solution for the conservation of Vultures and other carrion eating birds in Spain.

More information in English about the Vulture crisis in Spain on:

http://save-vultures.blogspot.com/

PREMIERE RENCONTRE NATIONALE

4 au 6 avril 2008

Caravaca de la Cruz- MURCIA- Espagne

Traduction Michel TERRASSE


Cette réunion a été motivée par l’application rigide par l’Espagne des récentes réglementations européennes concernant l’équarrissage en liaison avec les risques liés aux Encéphalopathies Spongiformes Transmissibles (EST), telle que la maladie de la vache folle. Les conséquences ont été à la fois un impact économique considérable pour les éleveurs et de graves problèmes affectant les populations de vautours d’une grande partie de la Péninsule Ibérique (réduction des effectifs, baisse ou perte de productivité, retard dans le cycle de reproduction, accroissement considérable de la mortalité liée à la faim dans les Centres de soin, changement dans les déplacements …).
La politique actuelle d’élimination des cadavres issus de l’élevage, choisie par de nombreuses régions espagnoles, constitue une menace grave pour la biodiversité et affecte fondamentalement cet important processus écologique qu’est la nécrophagie.
Un constat s’est imposé : il n’est pas moralement ni scientifiquement acceptable que les populations de rapaces nécrophages de la Péninsule Ibérique se concentrent seulement dans un nombre restreint de « muladares ». Le type de nourrissage privilégié actuellement, associé à la diminution de l’élevage extensif, conduit irrémédiablement à la stabulation des vautours. C’est le contraire de la situation antérieure où la présence des rapaces nécrophages était le reflet du bon état de conservation de notre patrimoine naturel.
Cette première rencontre a vu naître un Groupe de Travail ouvert et participatif d’experts en rapaces nécrophages dans leur biologie et dans la gestion de leurs ressources trophiques ;
Ils se sont mis d’accord sur l’urgence à faire appliquer ces 15 résolutions :

Organiser au niveau national et régional une harmonisation de la réglementation concernant l’équarrissage naturel dans le strict respect de la biologie alimentaire des vautours et de la situation particulière de la Péninsule Ibérique. La stratégie choisie par la Société Espagnole d’Ornithologie-BirdLife Espagne, doit être appuyée.
Défendre un modèle mixte de nourrissage basé sur un réseau complet de « muladares », assez nombreux pour ne pas favoriser les concentrations (observées sur des « mégacharniers « où plus de 1000 vautours peuvent stationner en permanence), joint à une possibilité pour certaines exploitations de fournir des cadavres de façon traditionnelle et permettant le libre nourrissage des autres espèces (y compris les Milans royaux, le Vautour percnoptère et le Gypaète barbu).
Obtenir une coordination inter administrative qui garantisse que la gestion de ces ressources ne puisse pas dépendre d’autres intérêts.
Appuyer le maintien des activités traditionnelles participant à l’élevage extensif, comme générateur de biodiversité incorporant à la fois des mesures favorisant son maintien et d’autre part la conservation des rapaces nécrophages. Obtenir une législation favorable à l’utilisation des cadavres provenant de l’élevage extensif et écologique (moins de traitements phytosanitaires, production d’une nourriture de meilleure qualité), par rapport à ceux issus de l’élevage intensif.
Obtenir entre le Ministère de l’Agriculture et les Communautés autonomes, la création d’une indemnité spécifique pour mise à disposition des cadavres aux rapaces nécrophages, d’un coût moindre que celui de l’équarrissage industriel et géré par des entités publiques ou privées concernées par la protection de ces oiseaux.
Exiger que les cadavres de la faune sauvage cynégétique et leurs restes, excepté ce qui est destiné à l’alimentation humaine, ne soient pas retirés, pour favoriser leur consommation par ces espèces (Décret Royal 664/2007).
Obtenir qu'au moins dans les zones "éloignées", dans les ZICO (ZEPA) et autres espaces protégés, on permette d'abandonner à nouveau certains cadavres et les restes, tels que ceux provenant de l'agriculture extensive et écologique avec le moins de restriction possible.
Le système actuel de récupération des cadavres (transport et incinération) n’est pas soutenable à moyen et long terme, ni du point de vue économique, ni de celui de la consommation d’énergie, ni environnemental sans même considérer les risques sanitaires et épidémiologiques qu’il génère.
Prenant en compte les nouvelles données sur le sujet, nous proposons que soient analysés 4% des cadavres d’ovins et de caprins âgés de plus de 18 mois, afin de pouvoir librement utiliser cette source de nourriture pour les vautours.
Solliciter les autorités européennes pour étudier et rechercher comment homologuer les méthodes de détection des ESB et EST, dans le but de favoriser de façon rationnelle la mise à disposition des cadavres pour les oiseaux nécrophages.
Alerter les administrations environnementales compétentes sur les graves risques que les fermes éoliennes et leurs lignes d’évacuation du courant électrique, installées de plus dans des zones vitales pour les vautours, font peser sur ces espèces. Recommander que les nouveaux projets soient accompagnés d’Etude d’Impact prenant ce risque en compte.
Sachant que le poison constitue la principale menace pour les oiseaux nécrophages, il est impératif de dynamiser au maximum toutes les mesures préconisées pour éradiquer le poison dans le milieu naturel. Trouver des solutions alternatives aux bergers pour leur éviter les dommages ou les contrariétés générés par les oiseaux nécrophages.
Insister sur d’autres menaces très graves comme l’électrocution, les dérangements dans les colonies, la destruction de l’habitat… A cet égard, différents travaux dans des zones Natura 2000 avec des effets parfois lamentables sont cités ( ZEPA de la Sierra de Mojantes-Murcia, piste forestière dans le P. Naturel due l’Alto Tajo, Sierra de las Quilamas, Sa de Castril, Sendera Larga dans les Hoces del Riaza…).
Solliciter les administrations centrales et régionales pour mobiliser avec la SEO ou tout autre organisme coordinateur, les moyens humains nécessaires à la réalisation des recensements nationaux des Vautours fauve, moine et percnoptère dans la Péninsule Ibérique.
Intégrer les conclusions des III Journées sur les Vautours de l’UNED, célébrées en Juillet 2007, à Plasencia, aux présentes décisions.


Asociacion para la Defensa de la Naturaleza
CARALLUMA
http://www.caralluma-associacion.blogspot.com

Conclusions of the National Conference on the Management of Necrophagous Raptors and Muladares (vulture feeding sites).

Translated by Claire Graham.

The current management strategy for carcasses, a natural resource, is a serious threat to the preservation of biodiversity. The result of this management is that one of the pillars sustaining a large portion of the ecological processes is altered at the base.

The rigid implementation of general regulations issued as a result of EET has caused, apart from a considerable financial burden on many stockbreeders, serious problems to vulture populations in most of Spain: among others, decrease in numbers in some colonies, loss of productivity, delays in reproduction, increase in the number of dead or undernourished individuals admitted into recovery centres, and possible changes in their movements and etiology.

It is neither environmentally nor morally acceptable to have the populations of necrophagous birds of the Iberian Peninsula concentrating only at a few muladares with directed feefind. With the decrease in extensive cattle breeding and the health measures imposed, vultures are inevitably doomed to a situation similar to stabling. The presence of scavenger raptors in an ecosystem is a reflection of a good conservation status of our natural heritage.

During the First National Conference on the Management of Necrophagous Raptors and Muladares held on 4, 5 and 6th April 2008 in Caravaca de la Cruz, a new open and participative working team was created, made up of experts on necrophagous raptors and their trophic resources in order to act as observers integrating the research, management and conservation studies on scavenger birds and their feeding resources.

For this purpose, the 1st Conference agrees:

To suggest adaptations of the EU Regulatory Directives on the supply of trophic resources for scavenger birds to the situation in the Iberian Peninsula, requesting the creation of committees taking part in the appropriate adaptations of these regulations appropriately and to support the actions put forward by the Sociedad Española de Ornitología (Spanish Birdlife, SEO/BirdLife) in that direction. The administrations that so far, have not implemented preventive measures on the access to food must implement urgently a series of preventive measures within the limits established in the current legislation.

Regarding the issue on the access of necrophagous birds to additional feeding, this 1st Conference puts forward a mixed model involving the upkeep or creation of a complete network of feeding stations to provide a higher number of stations than at present. They would be supplied in such a way so as not to induce bird concentrations, and there would also be a network of muladares associated with cattle farms, both networks aiming to compensate for the deficient food supply resulting from the current management of carcasses. This would help restore a working ecosystem which would better simulate the natural supply of carcasses (it takes into account the fact the trophic resources are expected to be taken over by the largest gregarious species) and it would help access to other scavenger raptors (Egyptian vultures, kites and lammergeiers) that, in addition, are under a bigger threat, as shown by the marked decrease in the numbers of Red Kites in Segovia, the Northern Plateau and other areas of Spain. The amount, size and frequency of food supplies should therefore be taken into account.

To call upon the coordination between Administrations to avoid subordinating the appropriate management of the natural environment to other interests. A specific regulation needs to be established by the Administration of the various corresponding Autonomías to avoid withdrawal of carcasses of wild animals, free-range cattle and hunting remains.

To support the upkeep of traditional activities in the rural environment, especially the ecological extensive cattle breeding, as one of the main sectors that generate biodiversity, introducing measures to help make it viable and help the conservation of necrophagous birds. Ecological extensive cattle breeding should be clearly separated in the legislation on scavenger birds from intensive breeding. The former uses fewer drug treatments therefore generating better quality food, and priority should be given to the former over the latter.

To urge the Ministry of the Environment and the Comunidades Autónomas to create a specific insurance for the collection of carcasses to be given to scavenger birds, with a cost below the current one, adjusted to the needs of the populations of scavenger birds, and managed by public entities or by private entities involved in the conservation of these species.

To consider that carcasses or hunting remains from wild animals, except those for human consumption, must not be retrieved, thus making them available to necrophagous birds as established in the Royal Decree 664/20077.

At least in certain areas (such as remote areas, ZEPAs –special bird protection areas- and other protected areas, etc.) certain carcasses or remains thereof such as those coming from ecological extensive cattle breeding should be allowed, again, to remain in the countryside with the least restrictions possible.

The current collection, transportation and incineration of carcasses is not sustainable in the medium or long term, neither from the financial point of view nor the energy cost or environmental point of view, even without taking into account the health risks involved. The data presented during the Conference are conclusive.

Taking into account the new information obtained on the subject, we suggest the exemption of sheep and goat farms from the requirement to analyze 4% of the carcasses of animals over 18 months old so that they can be used as food for vultures.

To request the European Authorities to continue researching and to study the endorsement and approval of the methods without death already described for the detection of BSC and EET, which would enable a rational treatment of animal carcasses and their use for scavenger birds.

To insist upon the appropriate environmental administrations on the very serious risks for birds and more specifically necrophagous raptors caused by industrial wind farms and their associated power lines located in vital areas, home-range and additional feeding zones. For that purpose, the studies of locations and their corresponding assessments of environmental impact should be undertaken jointly.

At present, mortality from poisoning is one of the main threats to scavenger birds and we therefore consider that it is crucial to take precise actions to eradicate the illegal use of poison in the countryside. It is necessary to raise awareness of the fact that the use of poison is illegal and non selective, causing serious damage in the natural environment, and to offer alternative solutions to cattle farmers to avoid potential setbacks caused by scavenger birds.

We underline other serious threats for which measures must be taken to reduce their impact on scavenger birds such as mortality from power lines, interferences in breeding areas and during breeding periods, habitat destruction, certain avoidable and harmful works in protected natural areas. Deplorable examples of these are the track recently opened in the ZEPA of Sierra de Mojantes (Murcia), tracks in the Parque Natural del Alto Tajo (Guadalajara) and Sierra de Las Quilamas (Salamanca), the path in Cerro del Buitre in the Parque Natural de Sierra de Castril (Granada), the Senda Larga (Long Path) project and other projects in the Parque Natural de las Hoces del Riaza (Segovia), etc.

To request the central and autonomous authorities to open up to the full participation of collaborators such as the Sociedad Española de Ornitología or the appropriate coordinating body in order to take advantage of the full human potential of experts on scavenger birds during studies and national censuses of Griffon Vulture, Black Vulture and Egyptian Vulture in the Iberian Peninsula.

We endorse the conclusions of the III Symposium on Vultures of the UNED held in July in Palencia.

The localization of additional feeding points, muladares and feeding stations for vultures must be the object of a prior viability study specifying the required access, fencing, nearby infrastructures and safety measures for all the species of scavenger birds. In addition, we urge to speed up and find a solution, under these general viability criteria and in strict technical compliance of the requirements for these infrastructures deriving from the Decree on the Network of Muladares in the Region of Murcia, to the land register issue on the situation of the path leading to the vulture feeding station built by CARALLUMA on public land of the Sierra de Mojantes in Caravaca.


Caravaca de la Cruz, 6th April 2008

Asociacion para la Defensa de la Naturaleza CARALLUMA
http://www.caralluma-associacion.blogspot.com

CONCLUSIONS OF THE III SYMPOSIUM ON VULTURES

[Summer Course of the UNED-Spanish Open University- Plasencia (Cáceres), 9th to 13th July 2007]

The participants in the Symposium on Vultures would like to thank the UNED at Ávila in 2001, Barbastro (Huesca) in 2004 and Plasencia (Cáceres) in 2007 for their excellent welcoming, and the kind assistance received from other institutions, various public and private entities as well as a vast number of people.

Given the seriousness of the problems currently affecting the populations of vultures and the need to resolve them before it is too late, the participants to the III Symposium reassert the conclusions of the two prior symposia which are still valid today, especially if we take into account the recent worsening of some of the threats that were foreseen then. In addition, they particularly highlight the following points:

1) It is important to preserve the interactions of the vultures with the extensive cattle breeding in order to ensure the survival of both and to prevent an excessively rigid legislation from provoking a disaster.Vultures need to be urgently recognised as an essential part of sustainable development, as they:

- Get rid of dead animals in the most traditional, natural and economical way that can be imagined,

- Preserve a type of extensive cattle breeding which is very beneficial not only for biodiversity (of which the vultures are an important part) but also for humans (to obtain high quality products).

- Promote eco-tourism, which is in increasing demand and has to take place in a respectful way and in places where it does not cause significant alterations. Vultures are beautiful, the emblem of a well balanced nature and an hallmark of environmental quality.

- Avoid the release of many gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect. The collection, transportation and incineration of thousands and thousands of carcasses generate fuel consumption and a considerable release of carbon dioxide that could be easily avoided by allowing the vultures to carry out their function. This would contribute significantly to the removal of biomass and the reduction of pollution. It is a serious mistake not to take this into consideration for the future.

- Reduce the risk of disease transmission which is greatly increased with the collection and transportation of carcasses from one farm to another.

2) Implementation in a useful and effective manner, in all the Autonomous Regions, of the Royal Decree 664/2007 dated 25th May (official Gazette dated 5th June) regarding the feeding of necrophagous raptors is an urgent issue; so is the legalization of the dumping of remains from certain animal farms. Joint management and data interchange with local experienced NGOS is advisable.

The creation and management of vulture feeding places ("muladares") at every farm is recommended, thus decongesting some of the large muladares.With regards to the Egyptian Vulture, small muladares specifically aimed at this species are required. Additional ways of feeding near the breeding and roosting grounds also need to be taken into account and promoted.

With regards to the Lammergeier, the increase of the reproductive success of the pairs whose failure is linked to the lack of resources is recommended through additional feeding of these specific pairs in the area around the nesting grounds. The current management of the large feeding stations should be optimised.

At the national level, beyond the strategies of the Autonomous Regions and through the implementation of the legal settings of the European Union, a plan must be developed to allow the recovery (or stability, depending on the case) of the balance allowing the conservation of the current population of scavenger birds in Spain.

In Portugal, the situation should be clarified so that the remains of hunting species can be left in the field, without the need to set up muladares, in accordance with European Directives.

3) The illegal use of poisoned baits has alarmingly become generalised over the last few years and is having a big impact on the populations of scavenger birds, doing away with many of the conservation achievements obtained over the last decades.

Eradication of the use of poison is one if the most important measures for the conservation of all the species of vultures and in general of all the scavenger birds. The active fight against poison must include the creation of patrols with specially trained dogs (as is already done in some regions), as well as raising the awareness of the hunting associations.

Coordination between the different Autonomous Regions is required so as to improve the effectiveness of the strategies to eradicate the illegal use of poisoned baits. International cooperation with France and Portugal as well as the exchange of experience and procedures must also improve.

The main obstacle for the eradication of poison is due to the complicity between the various entities involved, including even sometimes the Environmental Administration itself.

4) The installation of wind generators near vulture territories, roosts and feeding grounds must be forbidden; they should be forbidden not only in the nesting areas but also in the feeding or resting areas, passage routes and connecting areas between vulture colonies.Maps indicating total exclusion zones for wind farms as well as preferential exclusion zones should be produced, taking into account the Important Areas for vultures and other birds (including protected species) as well as the Special Interest Habitats.

5) The installation of power lines and other infrastructures that alter the habitat are a cause of unnatural mortality of various species of vultures (as well as many other birds). The new structures must be placed in such a way as to prevent electrocution and collision. With regards to the existing power lines, measures should be taken to correct as much as possible the negative impact on the vultures and other birds.

6) The global conservation of habitats and the environment is essential to various species of vultures (including the rarest ones) and other birds. We condemn, specifically, unnecessary works conducted in natural protected areas and which are in conflict with the protection of habitats and species. It is unacceptable and hypocritical that the Administration's departments, responsible for conservation, accept or even promote the impoverishment and occupation of these habitats.

The conservation of habitats (and also of species) should be a priority in the PORN and PRUG plans that have to be developed and respected in protected areas; it should also be a priority in the other legal instruments linked to the management of scavenger bird populations and their habitats.

In properties where the black vulture lives, forest and agricultural management should be made compatible with the conservation of this species.

7) Human interference is in many cases a real problem that mustn't be underestimated, especially in the breeding areas and during the breeding seasons.

Except for very early and late cases, and taking into account local variations, the sensitive period for the breeding of vultures in the Iberian Peninsula is as follows:

For the Lammergeir: from 10th December to 15th August

For the Black Vulture: from 15th January to 30th September

For the Egyptian Vulture: from 1st March to 15th September

For the Griffon Vulture: from 15th December to 31st August

Where the black vulture breeds in cork oaks, the extraction of the cork should be done when the chicks in the nearby nests are 35 to 75 days old; if no monitoring has been conducted, then it should take place between the 1st of June and the 1st of July, always under the supervision of the rangers or qualified personnel.

In addition, educational, information and awareness campaigns are needed for children and adults.

8) Reintroduction projects involve a considerable effort that needs to be maintained in the very long term. They must be conducted in accordance with the directives of the IUCN, as has been done in some older projects that have been successful in Europe. More specifically, they should be conducted only once the causes of extinction of the species have disappeared, without harming the wild populations, and having previously obtained the maximum possible consensus between the involved parties.

9) With regards to other issues that affect vultures in Europe and in the World, we refer to the conclusions of the previous Symposia.

10) It is only fair to praise the great effort carried out in favour of the vultures and the wildlife by many individuals and entities. The current situation of the scavenger birds and their environment would be much worse without this noble and generous work, discreet but constant, and frequently thanks to real personal sacrifices that have not always been recognised as deserved.

This III Symposium is especially dedicated to some of the great naturalists whose work has been decisive and who died after the previous symposium: David Gómez Samitier, founding member of the Fondo Amigos del Buitre, his wife Lourdes Mairal, and their daughters Jara and Iris; also to the Swiss ornithologist Daniel Magnenat. Attached are summaries of their commendable work.The III Symposium is also dedicated to the great wardens of WWF/Adena at the Montejo Raptor Refuge (Montejo's Reserve for Birds of Prey), Hoticiano Hernando (current Honorary Warden) and Jesús Hernando Iglesias; to all the wardens that have managed to convert their vocation in a profession, even with very few means and recognition; and to all the naturalists who generously dedicate their lives to defend the wildlife and our valuable natural heritage overcoming much ignorance and many difficulties.

With regards to the scavengers, we wish to support especially the work conducted for decades by associations such as the already mentioned Fondo Amigos del Buitre in Aragón.In addition, all the participants (speakers and students) to the III Symposium on Vultures agree, also by unanimity, to congratulate the Fondo para el Refugio de las Hoces del Riaza, for its continued work in favour of these habitats and for all the battles fought to defend them, specifically supporting its opposition to the planned "senda larga" (long trail), opposition backed by the Ombudsman ("Defensor del Pueblo") in his report 16-5-2006 (05-MKB-AJF; file Nº: Q0502445; registration nº 06031482). They also wish to thank the support found with regards to this matter in many nature conservation associations and hope that this support may be extended to all associations in the future, to form once again a common front against a serious conservation threat. We can't forget the beautiful heritage that Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente left us.

On the other hand, the conservation of a protected area must have priority over its use for tourist activities, something especially important in a case like this one.We must also acknowledge the extremely valuable and varied work of other associations and organizations, in Spain as well as in other countries, to defend the scavenger birds and their environment.Finally, the participants to the III Symposium on Vultures reassert their congratulations to the UNED (Spanish Open University) and wish to encourage future Symposia.

(Translated by Claire Graham). Sept, 2007