In Cyprus, the future of the Griffon Vulture is not secured. Following the extinction of the Cinereous Vulture, conservation efforts intensified to prevent the loss of the critically endangered Griffon Vulture. This urgency led to the LIFE with Vultures project, aimed at mitigating serious threats like poisoning and electrocution and reinforcing the local population by transporting and releasing Spanish birds. A key aspect of the project is to understand and highlight the ecosystem services vultures provide, raising awareness about their importance among key stakeholders.
Within this project, the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF) conducted a study to determine the potential benefits of vultures to society. The study assessed the impact of redirecting livestock carcasses to vulture feeding stations instead of processing plants. It revealed that approximately 2,500 carcasses could meet the annual food needs of up to 200 vultures, ensuring their long-term viability. This strategy could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transportation costs by 43-61%.
Additionally, a healthy vulture population can boost ecotourism, with potential annual revenue of up to €648,818 from activities like birdwatching and photography, contributing to Cyprus's €2.7 billion tourism industry.
As the study demonstrated, promoting the conservation of these vital scavengers not only restores essential ecological functions but also provides socio-economic benefits.
The LIFE with Vultures project in Cyprus shows how targeted conservation efforts can support these goals, ensuring mutual benefits for vultures, the environment, and local communities.
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27 июн 2024
