LIFE07 NAT/LT/ FINAL Report

Transcription

1 LIFE Project Number LIFE07 NAT/LT/ FINAL Report Covering the project activities from 01/01/2009 to 31/03/2013 Reporting Date 02/04/2015 LIFE+ PROJECT NAME or Acronym Conservation of White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) in Lithuania Project location Lithuania Project start date: 01/01/2009 Project Data Project end date: 21/12/2012 Extension date: 31/03/2013 Total Project duration (in months) Total budget 2,425,168 Total eligible budget 2,425,168 EU contribution: 1,212,584 (%) of total costs 50 (%) of eligible costs 50 Name Beneficiary 51 months ( including Extension of 3,32 months) Beneficiary Data Lithuanian Ornithological Society Contact person Mr. Mantas Jancevičius (till 25/02/2011) Postal address Visit address Mr. Liutauras Raudonikis (after 25/02/2011) Naugarduko 47-3, LT-03208, Vilnius, Lithuania Naugarduko 47-3, LT-03208, Vilnius, Lithuania Telephone , Fax: Project Website liutauras.raudonikis@birdlife.lt

2 Summary of project LIFE07 NAT/LT/ final technical report

3 1. List of contents 2. Executive Summary Introduction Administrative part Description of the management system Evaluation of the management system Technical part Technical progress, per task Dissemination actions Objectives Dissemination: overview per activity Evaluation of Project Implemention Analysis of long-term benefits Environmental benefits Long-term benefits and sustainability Replicability, demonstration, transferability, cooperation Best Practice lessons Innovation and demonstration value Long term indicators of the project success Comments on the financial report Summary of Costs Incurred Accounting system Partnership arrangements (if relevant) Auditor's report/declaration Summary of costs per action Annexes... Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.1 Administrative annexes... Error! Bookmark not defined. 7.2 Technical annexes... Error! Bookmark not defined. 8. Financial report and annexes... Error! Bookmark not defined.

4 List of keywords and abbreviations used Final report, submitted on 27/02/ FR Inception report, 28/08/ IR Institute of Ecology of Nature Research Centre (formerly Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University) Nature Research Centre Lithuanian Ornithological Society Coordinating beneficiary, Ornithological Society, LOD Mid-term report, submitted on 21/03/2012&29/06/2012 MR Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania MoE Progress report, submitted on 17/03/ PR Special Protected Area - SPA Stock Company Easter Distribution Networks AB RST Stock Company LESTO AB LESTO Stock Company VST AB VST 2. Executive Summary The aim of the project was to ensure a long-term effective protection and favourable conservation status of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) in Lithuania. The species is widely distributed in Lithuania therefore this aim can be achieved by implementing actions affecting the species in the entire country. The main objectives of the project were: To prepare White Stork species action plan for Lithuania. To make a detailed inventory of White Stork s nests in the entire territory of Lithuania and create GIS-based database of White Stork s nests. To erect at least nesting platforms for White Stork on overhead electricity line poles to replace unsafe existing natural nests. To erect at least 500 nesting platforms on roofs of buildings to replace problematic nests of poor quality. To evaluate White Stork protection status and to identify areas the most valuable for the species. To increase public awareness on the biology, ecology, conservation needs of the White Stork. The main outputs: Complete detailed White Stork inventory covering the entire country, with data stored in a GIS database for easy management activity planning, data analysis, updating and presentation. The database is also accessible on-line for public information. Legal issues related to the White Stork nest conservation analysed and solved, nest protection measures improved. White Stork Species Action Plan prepared and officially approved by the Ministry of Environment before the end of the project. Level of current White Stork protection in Lithuania examined and areas most important for White Storks identified. 4

5 At least nests of White Storks managed by installing artificial nesting platforms on overhead electricity line poles and roofs of buildings. Awareness of the general public increased through the mass media, project leaflets, website, film, book, on-line nest database, public events. After the amendment of the Grant Agreement, some outputs as well as deliverables and milestones were modified. Those are related to the increase of the number of the managed White Stork nests up to nests. Modified outputs are instalment of at least platforms of storks nest on the electricity poles, at least 500 platforms on the roof of the buildings, and 15 properly managed natural nests on the trees. The key deliverables cover reports of all preparatory actions (A.1-A.6); prepared dissemination materials project leaflets, notice boards, book on the White Stork, film on the White Stork and Layman s report; and also monitoring reports and After-LIFE conservation plan. The project has 26 discrete actions, which were implemented in 51 months of the project. The Project was implemented by the Coordinating Beneficiary: the Ornithological Society, and two associated beneficiaries: the Nature Research Centre, and AB LESTO. Preparatory actions include Inventory of White Stork nests in Lithuania (A.1), Elaboration of White Stork nest GIS database and data analysis (A.2), Elaboration of White Stork nest management measures (A.3), Adjustment of legislation related to the protection of White Stork nests (A.4), Elaboration of White Stork species action plan for Lithuania (A.5); and Identification of most important sites for White Storks in Lithuania (A.6). Concrete actions in this project were aimed at the protection of White Stork nests Erection of nesting platforms on overhead electricity line poles in Eastern (C.1) and Western (C.2) Lithuania, and Erection of nesting platforms on roofs of buildings C.3. A very important component of the project also was comprised of various public awareness and information activities: Production and distribution of project leaflets (D.1), Production and erection of project notice boards (D.2), Creation and maintenance of project website (D.3), Development and maintenance of interactive on-line White Stork nest GIS-based website (D.4), Set-up of White Stork nest web-cams (D.5), Drafting, production and distribution of a book on the White Stork in Lithuania (D.6), Production of a film on the White Stork in Lithuania (D.7), Public awareness raising in media (D.8), Public events the White Stork Day (D.9) and Production of Layman s report (D.10). Finally project management activities were foreseen Project was management by the Ornithological Society (E.1), the Institute of Ecology (lately, after the reorganisation the Nature Research Centre) (E.2), AB RST (E.3) and AB VST (E.4), as well as Monitoring of the project achievements (E.5), Networking with other projects (E.6) and Project audit (E.7). All the activities, foreseen in the project, were implemented successfully and in full capacity, with original project goals in some cases being significantly exceeded: A comprehensive White Stork nest inventory was carried out in the entire country with ca White Stork nests being recorded; all data compiled in the specially designed GIS database. An on-line GIS database of White Stork nests was created and published on the Internet with open access to the public and the possibility of feedback. White Stork Species Action Plan was prepared and officially endorsed by the Ministry of Environment. 5

6 White Stork nest conservation measures had been elaborated and some of them already implemented during the project, while others were included in the Species Action Plan for implementation in the future. Methodology for the identification of areas most important for White Storks were prepared and a list of the most suitable SPAs was proposed for designation White Stork nests on overhead electricity lines poles were managed by installing special nesting platforms, i.e. the original project target of nests was almost doubled. 500 nests in poor condition on roofs of buildings were replaced by special wooden nesting platforms. As an additional measure, initially not foreseen in the project, 20 nests in trees in particularly poor condition were managed as a demonstration activity. Three project leaflets were published (9.000 copies in total). Project website was created, maintained and updated with the information on the project progress and on White Stork ecology and conservation. Project notice boards were installed in five locations of Lithuania. A film about White Storks White Storks always come back... was produced and broadcasted on local, regional and national TV channels, and uploaded on the Internet as well. A book on the White Stork White Stork in Lithuania. Nest Atlas was published and distributed to various stakeholders. It was uploaded on the project website. A live webcam broadcast from White Stork nest was organised during three breeding seasons of the project. Several public events like White Stork Days, or other festivals were organised, to raise public awareness about the species and its conservation need; project was presented in some other public events. The information about the project reached more than participants of those public events. Other public awareness and dissemination activities were implemented: o Project badges were produced and distributed in public events. o A project had a good media coverage in newspapers, magazines, on the Internet, radio and TV. A few video clips on the project were also created and demonstrated on TV and Internet. o There were two publications in international peer-reviewed scientific journals concerning the results and activities of the project. o Project results were presented in two international scientific conferences. o A doctoral dissertation, partly based on the LIFE project data, was successfully defended. The main objective of the dissemination actions was to increase public awareness on the biology, ecology, conservation needs of the White Stork. Successive objectives were: increase knowledge on the White Stork biology, ecology and importance in whole ecosystem; present the current species conservation status ant its protection needs; introduce public with threats, which species impact with; introduce public with Project conservation actions, which were implemented; present the following steps on the protection of the White Stork after the end of the project. 6

7 The most of the project dissemination actions were very effective in terms of number of general public informed. The project was carried out employing adaptive management principles what allowed effective response to different challenges. There were no clear phases that could be easily distinguished except almost 9 months length inception phase when the project setup was established: partnership contracts signed, core personnel employed, website created, introductory leaflets published, the most of preparatory and dissemination actions started, etc. This phase gave a solid ground for further implementation of the project. The project was driven by the project implementation team lead by the project manager, project assistant with support of the project accountant. This staff together with representatives of Associated Beneficiaries formed Project Implementation Group. Representatives of the Associated Beneficiaries were responsible for communication with Coordinating Beneficiary and implementation of the actions foreseen in the partnership agreements. All Associated Beneficiaries had employed Project managers (senior researcher at the Institute of Ecology) and accountants. In addition VST and LESTO employed senior workers and workers for the installation of the platforms on the electricity poles, while the Institute of Ecology researcher and several dozens of his assistants for the implementation of the White Stork s inventory and monitoring. A list of all positions of all project partners staff, type of employment contracts, Actions covered, and number of the working hours were presented in the annex 7 (FR). The project implementation group succeeded well in overcoming obstacles and achieving the project objectives. Good communication among the project beneficiaries was very important and having officially assigned representatives from each associated beneficiary served the purpose very well. The most significant difficulties encountered by the project were related to the change of the status of all Associated Beneficiaries that was followed by amendments of partnership agreements between the Associated Beneficiaries and Coordinating Beneficiary; and the Commission and the Coordinating Beneficiary. It coincided, that during the project all three Associated Beneficiaries that initially were project partners were reorganised. The associated beneficiary the Institute of the Ecology of Vilnius University was reorganised and became a part of the Nature Research Centre. Therefore, the Nature Research Centre became new Associated Beneficiary of the project. While two other Associated Beneficiaries AB VST and AB RST were merged to new legal entity AB LESTO, which became another new Associated Beneficiary of the project. Therefore, since 2011 the project was implemented together by the Ornithological Society and two Associated Beneficiaries. The Amendment of the Grant Agreement of the Project was also needed, because some changes of one concrete conservation action and inclusion of additional conservation measures were needed, and this also resulted to the enlargement of the project outcomes. The project amendment allows almost to double number of the installations of the White Stork nesting platforms on the electricity poles. The applied Project methodology in the most cases proved to be successful, while only in a few cases some technical problems were met which were solved during implementation of the project actions. Project implementation team see very positive outlook for the targeted species White Stork. First, it can ensure close collaboration between project beneficiaries (the Ornithological Society, the Nature Research Center, and AB LESTO) and the main stakeholder the MoE, after the end of the project. All these organizations are important stakeholders ensuring favorable conservation status of the species, because they have best scientific background and expertise; have good reputation among general public and continue awareness rising activities; capacities for practical 7

8 implementation of the conservation actions; possibilities to influence decision making, or as in case of MoE has a decision making power, and possibilities to improve current legislation; and raise the funds for solving of the most important problems. In general all project conservation actions, most of important dissemination actions, and monitoring of the White Stork population can be continued after the end of the project. All project beneficiaries and MoE will be responsible for continuation of the started actions using their own and raised funding. The prospects on the continuation the most important project actions are planned for at least 10 years after the end of the project. The project has big innovation and demonstration value. Thus, its experience can be easily repeated in other EU countries, where network of the overhead electricity distribution lines remains, and which have rather numerous population of the White Storks. The project had spent 93% of the total planned project budget. In general the expenditures were in line to the planned budget, and only one budget category travel exceed the planned project budget by 15%, however, the overspending is only EUR, and does not reach Eur thresholds when the project modification is needed. 8

9 Introduction The Lithuanian population of White Stork been estimated to be up to pairs (ca. 10% of the European population). Lithuania has the third most numerous population of the White Stork in the European Union (after Poland and Spain), hence the importance of the White Stork conservation in Lithuania for the species is unquestionable. Since this species is widespread no Natura 2000 sites have been designated specifically for this species in Lithuania. At the moment more precise numbers of breeding pairs are unknown even in SPAs that are being established for other specific species. Therefore, species-based conservation measures should support conservation status of this species. Implementation of this project in Lithuania has made a significant contribution to White Stork conservation. Implementation of the project actions in Lithuania will expand the area of effective and targeted protection across the Lithuanian Polish border thus ensuring the continuous range with favorable breeding conditions for the species. Implementation of these conservation measures in Lithuania is very timely, since Lithuania is currently at a turning point of agricultural practices, which may lead to rapid deterioration of breeding conditions for White Stork in Lithuania if no measures to prevent this taken. The aim of the project was to ensure a long-term effective protection and favourable conservation status of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) in Lithuania. The specific objectives of the project were: to prepare White Stork species action plan for Lithuania. to make a detailed inventory of White Stork nests in the entire territory of Lithuania and create GIS based database of White Stork nests. to erect at least nesting platforms for White Stork on overhead electricity lines poles to replace unsafe existing natural nests. to erect at least 500 nesting platforms on roofs of buildings to replace problematic nests of poor quality. to evaluate White Stork protection status and to identify areas the most valuable for the species. to increase public awareness on the biology, ecology, conservation needs of the White Stork. The project area covers entire terrestrial part of the Republic of Lithuania with a total surface area of ha. Although there was no special focus on the SPA and other sites of Natura 2000 network, the White Stork inventory covered entire Natura 2000 network and the national network of protected areas. The project exclusively targets one species of birds the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia). This species is included in the Annex I of the EU Birds Directive, but is not included in the Red Data Book of Lithuania. Since this species is widespread, no Natura 2000 sites have been designated specifically for this species in Lithuania. Therefore, species-based conservation measures should support conservation status of this species. The overall increase in White Stork population size in Lithuania allows assuming that during this period a favourable conservation status of the species was ensured on a national level. However one must note that this increase coincides with the disintegration of former Soviet farming system and overall decrease in farming activities in Lithuania, which has been undoubtedly favourable for the species (a lot of abandoned or extensively used land, very low use of fertilisers or chemicals, disruption of drainage system, etc.). An opposite trend is now becoming evident in 9

10 Lithuania. As EU member the country receives a big EU support for the agricultural sector, and in particularly for the intensification of farming activities, and establishment of large farms, which is likely to have a negative effect on the White Stork. Furthermore, because of the decrease of suitable nesting locations (old water towers have been taken down, only a little number of large trees remain in the countryside, etc.) the number of White Storks nesting on the overhead electricity line poles has increased out of proportion, and this causes the conflict between human activities and birds conservation needs, as electricity line exploitation rules require electricity distribution companies to remove birds nests, and direct threats to birds increase, because large nests of the species more often catch fire, or fall down because of poor support or broken electricity wires; birds become electrocuted because of the proximity of electric wires to the nests. Thus, the project actions are focused on the conservation of the whole national population of the White Stork. The threats, which have been identified before the start of the project and linked to the practical conservation measures are listed below: Threat 1: Lack of long-term White Stork conservation strategy. Threat 2: Destruction and disintegration of nests. Threat 3: Deterioration of feeding conditions. Threat 4: Lack of public awareness of White Stork conservation issues. Threat 5: Electrocution of birds on electric wires. Socio-economic context Since the White Stork is a typical countryside bird closely related to rural areas and farmlands, the majority of the nests were located in farmlands and villages, and prevailingly on a private land. However, it must be noted, that White Storks often build their nests on the electricity lines poles, and despite that these poles are often located on private land they are the property of electricity distribution companies that are project partners (at the beginning of AB VST and AB RST, and latter of associated beneficiary AB LESTO). Nests on buildings are almost exclusively located on private property. From one hand, natural nests on the roofs of the buildings quite often damage the roofs cover or even constructions what makes problems for the private property. From another hand, the most people in the countryside love this species and would like it to breed in close vicinity to their farms. This is why, special platforms on the roof is a positive solution when aiming to reduce damage for the buildings in the countryside and at the same allowing White Storks to breed in farms or their vicinities. As it was mentioned above the number of White Storks nesting on the overhead electricity lines poles increased almost by 50% of the national population quite rapidly, and at the moment about pairs breed there. This causes the conflict between human activities and birds conservation needs, as electricity lines exploitation rules require electricity distribution companies to remove birds nests. Moreover, due to the different kind of accidents that are caused by the nests the electricity companies face quite high financial costs for the losses of electricity caused by accidents as well as for the reparation of the electricity lines: the nests rather often catch fire, or cause breakage of wires because of corrosion and big weight of the nest that might fall on wires as well. But lately, those losses are calculated into the price of the electricity, and are covered by end consumer. In case, if platforms are installed on the electricity poles, the number of such kind of the accidents is reduced significantly. And finally, when wires are broken in accident local people in countryside do not have electricity supply until the 10

11 damaged electricity line will be repaired and renovated. Sometimes, it takes a day or even more and causes quite serious problems for farmers, as all electricity equipment does not work (including the ones important for farming). Expected longer term results Until beginning of the project concrete actions of White Stork nest conservation in Lithuania were limited to private initiatives by the electricity distribution companies (AB VST and AB RST) to erect artificial nesting platforms on overhead electricity lines poles. More than 500 of such platforms were erected until White Stork management plan for Rambynas Regional Park (in Western Lithuania), which boasts unique White Stork colony in pine trees, was prepared in 2007 along with some local public awareness activities being implemented. Other activities, not involving any concrete conservation actions, however influencing the conservation of White Stork in Lithuania include the complete inventory of White Stork in Lithuania in 1994 (implemented by the Ornithological Society). The Ornithological Society had carried out another partial White Stork survey in Finally, Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University prepared a review study on conservation measures for White Storks breeding on overhead electricity lines poles (the study was funded by the Ministry of Environment, AB RST and AB VST). This project focuses primarily on direct management of problematic White Stork nests, therefore direct impact on this species can be primarily evaluated through the number of nests that have already been managed. During this project problematic nests on electricity lines poles were removed and replaced with artificial nesting platforms, and that improved both the safety of the nest nests on such platforms become much more stable and very unlikely to fall down as opposed to the nests built directly on electricity lines, and the risk of birds (particularly the young ones) hitting electric wires and dying or becoming seriously injured was greatly reduced. Assessment of the occupancy of such platforms revealed a very high occupancy rate of these platforms nearly 90% of platforms on electricity poles contained White Stork nests. Thus it can be estimated that management of nests on electricity lines poles has already improved breeding conditions for at least adult birds and ca juveniles in every year to come. During the same period, ca. 500 wooden nesting platforms were installed on roofs of buildings. This also supported safe breeding conditions for adult birds and some thousands juveniles if the occupancy rate will be high enough. Those results make positive and long-term impact on the almost 4% of whole European White Stork population annually. 11

12 4. Administrative part 4.1 Description of the management system The project was carried out employing adaptive management principles what allowed effective response to different challenges. There were no clear phases that could be easily distinguished except almost 9 months length inception phase when the project setup was established: partnership contracts signed, core personnel employed, website created, introductory leaflets published, the most of preparatory and dissemination actions started, etc. This phase gave a solid ground for further implementation of the project. Implementation of the most actions usually went through the following phases: Preparatory meeting(s) necessary for achieving common understanding of the final results and the best project implementation strategy. Such meetings usually involved Coordinating Beneficiary and representatives of the relevant Associated Beneficiaries. A co-financer MoE, which is also the main stakeholder of the Project implementation process was also invited to the meetings if needed; Implementation of preparatory action by responsible beneficiary (or subcontractor), and evaluation of achieved results by Coordinating Beneficiary, Associated Beneficiaries and other key stakeholders; Finalizing of the preparatory action according to stakeholders comments; Implementation of the concrete conservation actions, which followed preparatory actions, or were implemented in parallel with some of them; Evaluation of achieved results by Coordinating Beneficiary, responsible Associated Beneficiary and other key stakeholders, including planning of the extending of some actions reaching higher quantitative indicators or planning even new activities; Additional improvements because of the unexpected problems, also including the quantitative enlargement of the project results with followed Amendment of the Project contract between Coordinating Beneficiary the Commission. The project was driven by the project implementation team lead by the project manager, project assistant with support of the project accountant. For the first two years of the project implementation (from 01/04/2009 to 23/02/2011) Project Manager was Mr. Mantas Jancevicius, while starting from 24/02/2011 he was replaced by the new Project Manager Mr. Liutauras Raudonikis. There was a replacement of the Project Assistant as well: for the first two years of the project implementation Mrs. Ausra Vaitauskaite was Project Assistant, (from 01/04/2009 to 22/03/2011). From the 22/03/2011 to 31/08/2011 she on the maternity leave while from the 01/09/2011 to 28/12/2012 on baby care vacation, and on the 28/12/2012 she was dismissed from her job) As starting from 21/02/2011 until the end of the project this position was taken by Mrs. Justina Liaudanskyte. Both, Project Manager and Project Assistant were responsible for daily administration of the project, communication with representatives, delegated by the project associated beneficiaries, co-ordination of Film Producer s work, technical reporting to and communication with the Commission and Monitoring Team. Project Manager was responsible for the overall implementation of the project, and reaching its goals and objectives, while Project Assistant was more responsible for the management of the 12

13 administrative and technical aspects of the project implementation. Both of them were employed by the Coordinating Beneficiary Project Accountant (Mrs. Diana Chemelskiene) was in charge of daily financial management and financial reporting as well as consultation of the financial managers of the Associated Beneficiaries and collecting and review of their financial reports for each three months period of the project. Project Accountant was employed by the Coordinating Beneficiary Film producer (Mr. Mantas Jancevicius) was hired by the Coordinating Beneficiary for a rather short from 24/02/2011 to 15/09/2011 period to ensure collection of the White Stork filming material and full production of the film. It must be noted, that although Mr. Jancevicius previously was a Project Manager, he was hired under a separate work contract for the film making, and at that moment he was not a project manager anymore. Mr. Jancevicius was hired exceptionally due to his film-making skills. This also can be proven by a fact, that latter the film of the project that was produced by Mr. Jancevicius had received a national award (please see Section 5 of Final Report.) All listed staff together with representatives of Associated Beneficiaries formed Project Implementation Group. Representatives of the Associated Beneficiaries were responsible for communication with Coordinating Beneficiary and implementation of the actions foreseen in the partnership agreements. All Associated Beneficiaries had employed Project managers (senior researcher at the Institute of Ecology) and accountants. In addition, VST and later LESTO employed senior workers and workers for the installation of the platforms on the electricity poles, while the Nature Research Centre researcher and several dozens of his assistants for the implementation of the White Stork s inventory and monitoring. A list of all positions of all project partners staff, type of employment contracts, Actions covered, and number of the working hours were presented in the annex 7 (FR). Two organigrammes of the project team and the project management structure are presented below. From the beginning of 2011 the Project had changed the management structure due to the reorganisation of Associated Beneficiaries. Management structure in 2010 Management structure from January

14 4.2 Evaluation of the management system The project implementation group succeeded well in overcoming obstacles and achieving the project objectives. Good communication among the project beneficiaries was very important and having officially assigned representatives from each associated beneficiary served the purpose very well. The most significant difficulties encountered by the project were related to the change of the status of all Associated Beneficiaries that was followed by amendments of partnership agreements between the Associated Beneficiaries and Coordinating Beneficiary; and the Commission and the Coordinating Beneficiary. The Amendment of the Grant Agreement of the Project was also needed, because some changes of one concrete conservation action and inclusion of additional conservation measures were needed, and this also resulted to the enlargement of the project outcomes. In general, the implementation of the project activities followed the timetable of the project proposal and there was no need for extension of the project duration. However, because of significant increase of the quantitative indicators for the actions C.1, C.2 and C.3, and increased work volume of the monitoring on the additional installed platforms (E.5), the Coordinating Beneficiary requested for the extension of the project duration for the period of more than three months, i. e. until 31 st March Partnership agreements with all three associated beneficiaries were officially signed during the project Inception period and annexed to the Inception report until 28/08/2009: with Institute of Ecology on 07/07/2009 (Annex 1_1 (IR)), with RST on 27/08/2009 (Annex 3_3 (IR)), and with VST on 27/08/2009 (Annex 4 (FR)). The content of the partnership agreements follows all the components required in the guidelines to partnership agreements. Additional amendments to the contracts were signed later on due to different reasons and are described below. During the project implementation period coordinating beneficiary organized a number of meetings with all project partners - there were more than 18 meetings of the Project Steering Committee in total. All issues related to ongoing activities were discussed during the meetings. In 2010, all three associated beneficiaries were reorganized: Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University was reorganized to the new legal entity the Nature Research Centre, starting from 1 January 2010 (more explicit explanation is given in Section 5.1 of this Final report, description of action E.2). The Nature Research Center took all the obligations of Institute of Ecology including everything what was related to project LIFE07 NAT/LT/ A new partnership agreement was signed on 29/06/2012 (Annex 9 (FR)). Two former project partners AB VST and AB RST were merged and became a new legal body AB LESTO in the beginning of 2012 (more explicit explanation is given in Section 5.1 of this Final report, under description of actions E.3 and E.4). AB LESTO took all the obligations of AB VST and AB RST including everything what was related to project LIFE07 NAT/LT/ A new partnership agreement was signed on 06/01/2012 and provided with the Mid-term report (Annex 5_47 (MR)). Because of these changes the Project modification request was submitted to the Commission. The modification request was approved by the Commission, and Supplementary Agreement No1 to Grant Agreement of the project LIFE07 NAT/LT/ was signed by the Ornithological Society and the Commission on the 22th June 2012 (Annex 9 (FR)). A new agreement with AB LESTO was drafted and signed on the 6 th January 2012 (provided with Mid-term Report), because of necessity to get the official top-management level commitment of AB LESTO on the increased number of the artificial platforms on the electric poles before the submission of the 14

15 modification request (Annex 5_47 (MR)). An amendment of the agreement with Institute of Ecology of Nature Research Centre was signed on the 29/06/2012 (Annex 9 (FR)). According to the Grant Agreement of the project, Coordinating beneficiary was responsible for the technical reporting and communication with the Commission and Monitoring Team. The communication with the Commission and the Monitoring Team was based on the correspondence, official letters, monitoring visits, a visit of the representatives of the Commission, kick-off meeting as well as presentation and comments on the official reports by the monitoring team and the Commission. In total, there were five official project monitoring visits during entire Project implementation period: - 30/06/ project visit of the external monitoring team; - 27/05/ project visit of the monitoring expert; - 08/06/2011 the Commission's and external monitor expert visit; -15/05/ project visit of the monitoring expert; - 17/12/ project visit of the monitoring expert. The Coordinating Beneficiary had received six official letters from the Commission with request on the additional comments on the project implementation actions after the Inception period: on the 18/05/2011, 05/07/2011, 06/09/2012, 16/11/2012, 22/01/2014, and on the 29/01/2015 (Annex 14). The description of the Administrative actions by action please find below. Action E.1. Project management by the Ornithological Society Foreseen end date: till the end of project Current status of action: completed Active project management was carried out during the implementation of project activities. Project manager and project assistant were very active in organizing and coordinating meetings with other partners, representatives of MoE, and other officials. All measures were taken to ensure stable implementation of the project activities and reaching project targets. At the start of the project there were 3 Associated Beneficiaries: Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University, AB VST, and AB RST. Contracts with them were signed at the beginning of the project: with Institute of Ecology on 07/07/2009 and provided with the Inception report (Annex 1_1 (IR)), with RST on 27/08/2009, also provided with Inception report (Annex 3_3 (IR)), and with VST on 27/08/2009 (Annex 4 (FR)). An agreement with co-financer was signed on 28/12/2009 (Annex 8). There were several changes of project staff in associated beneficiaries AB VST and AB RST. Each time after change of staff in any partner organization a new project coordinator and/or project accountant were instructed in detail on their responsibilities and requirements that are setup for project accounting and reporting, and were frequently consulted ad-hoc on the issues that arose. There were reorganizations in all three associated beneficiaries: Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University was reorganized to the new legal entity the Nature Research Centre (more explicit explanation is given under action E.2); two former project partners AB VST and AB RST were merged and became a new legal body AB LESTO (more explicit explanation is given under action E.3 and E.4). Documents on reorganization of associated beneficiaries were also provided with the Mid-term report (Annexes 6_M1-Part C and 7_M2-Part D). After reorganization of all the three associated beneficiaries, relevant supporting documents were collected and new partnership agreements were prepared and signed: with AB LESTO on 15

16 06/01/2012 and provided with Mid-term report (Annex 5_47 (MR)), and with Nature Research Center on 29/06/2012 (Annex 9 (FR)). The partnership agreements clearly indicate distribution of roles, responsibilities, and obligations for project implementation among the project partners. All of them were taken by the reorganized associated beneficiaries. All new project associated beneficiaries have signed relevant forms of project application, and these were presented in the Supplementary Agreement No 1 to Grant Agreement of the project LIFE07 NAT/LT/ (Annex 10 (FR)). Postponing of the project final date was proposed in the modification request. The postponing was needed exclusively only because a number of the artificial nesting platforms to be erected was almost doubled, and as a consequence more time had to be spent on the monitoring of the artificial nesting platforms as well. The modification request was approved by the Commission, and the project implementation period was prolonged until 31 st March All those modifications are included in the Supplementary Agreement No 1 of the Grant Agreement of the project LIFE07 NAT/LT/000531, which was signed by the director of the Ornithological Society and the Commission (Annex 10 (FR)). Action E.2. Project management by the Institute of Ecology Foreseen end date: till the end of project Current status of action: completed Management of the project progressed successfully at the Institute of Ecology, even though some major organizational changes took place during the reporting period. According to the decree of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania No 1800 of 23 December 2009 On the reorganization of the Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University, the Institute of Geology and Geography and the Institute of Botany, Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University along with two other scientific research institutes were reorganized into the state scientific research institute the Nature Research Centre (new legal entity), and became the Institute of Ecology of the Nature Research Centre from the 1 st January, 2010 (Annex 6_M1-Part C). The Nature Research Centre took over all the obligations and responsibilities of the Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University, including the implementation of LIFE+ project LIFE07 NAT/LT/ The coordinating beneficiary was informed about this change. New separate bank account was opened for this LIFE+ project, since all the former bank accounts of the Institute of Ecology had to be closed during the reorganization. All main project s staff members Senior Researcher, Researcher/GIS expert and Accountant successfully continued to work on the project. Project progress continued to be monitored by the internal Project Steering Committee at the Institute of Ecology. As already had been mentioned previously, reorganization of the Institute of Ecology caused some delays in procurement of computer software and hardware, primarily because of the establishment of new public procurement and planning procedures. However, these delays did not cause problems in project implementation, and had no adverse effects on outcomes of the project. In addition to the main project staff, Research Assistants (surveyors) were employed at Nature Research Centre for the implementation of White Stork nest inventory during the first and second survey seasons in 2009 and 2010, respectively. 16

17 Action E.3. Project management by the AB RST Foreseen end date: till the end of project Current status of action: completed Project management activities of the AB RST started from the very beginning of the project. A partnership agreement with AB RST was signed on 27/08/2009 and provided with the Inception report (Annex 3_3 (IR)). During the project implementation period 9 partners meetings on different topics related to the implementation and management of the project were organized. There were some changes of the project staff in AB RST. After change of staff in partner organization a new project coordinator and a new project accountant were instructed in detail on their responsibilities and requirements that are set-up for project accounting and reporting, and were frequently consulted by the coordinating beneficiary. At the beginning of 2011, the two project partners (AB VST and AB RST) have been reorganized into one company (AB LESTO). Documents on reorganization of associated beneficiaries VST and RST were presented in Mid-term report (Annex 7_M2-Part D). Project application s modification was submitted in order to make changes in the Project application, related to the change of the partner of the project, and changes of the budget when expenditures planned for former two project partners had to be merged and re-planned for one new partner AB LESTO. The new partnership agreement between coordinating beneficiary and new associated beneficiary AB LESTO was prepared and signed on 06/01/2012 provided and with Mid-term report (Annex 5_47 (MR)). AB LESTO took all responsibilities and commitments of former two project partners AB VST and AB RST. New agreement with AB LESTO was drafted and signed in January 2012, as it was necessary to get official topmanagement level commitment of AB LESTO on the increased number of the artificial platforms on the electric lines poles before the submission of the modification request. Action E.4. Project management by the AB VST Foreseen end date: till the end of project Status of action: completed Project management activities of the AB VST started from the very beginning of the project. Partnership agreement with AB VST was signed on 27/08/2009 (Annex 4 (FR)). During the project implementation period 9 partners meetings on different topics related to the implementation and management of the project were organized. There were some changes of the project staff in AB VST. After change of staff in partner organization a new project coordinator and a new project accountant were instructed in detail on their responsibilities and requirements that are set-up for project accounting and reporting, and were frequently consulted by the coordinating beneficiary. In the beginning of 2011 two project partners (AB VST and AB RST) were reorganized into one company (AB LESTO). Documents on reorganization of associated beneficiaries VST and RST were presented in Mid-term report (Annex 7_M1-Part D). A new partnership agreement between coordinating beneficiary and new project partner AB LESTO was prepared and signed on 06/01/2012 and provided with Mid-term report (Annex 5_47 (MR)). All the commitments on the project of two former project partners AB VST and AB RST were transferred to the new legal body LESTO. Because of this reason, project Actions E.3 and E.4 were merged into one action that is under supervision of the new project partner AB LESTO. 17

18 Action E.7. Project audit Foreseen end date: 21/12/2012, revised end date: 31/03/2013 Current status of action: completed Because in the project application was planned to have audited project activities for mid-term report date, i.e. before submitting the first financial report to the Commission, it was planned to start the action by the end of 2010 and to complete after the end of the project. However, due to later date of the mid-term report, the first project audit round was done in March 2012 and covers the project implementation period until the 1 st January However, the audit report was not presented to the Commission and was used internally by the Ornithological Society, i.e. in order to be sure that project actions and financial management had been implemented in-line to national and relevant European legislation as well as Project proposal. For the Project audit, the Ornithological Society carried out public procurement procedures and signed a contract with an audit company UAB SKS auditas (Audit Company Certificate No ). The audit was implemented by the auditor Olga Kivel (Auditor Certificate No ). Besides several consultations, the final auditor s report as well as the audit concluding decision were prepared after the end of the project with the official report and are dated on the 24/07/2013 (Annexes 11 (FR) and 12 (FR)). 18

19 5. Technical part 5.1. Technical progress, per task Deliverables Name of the Deliverable Code of the action Planned deadline in the project proposal Actual completion date White Stork inventory methodology and A.1 training material 10/04/ /04/2009 GIS database with all the inventory data A.2 inserted 01/04/ /06/2011 Schemes of updated nesting platforms* A.3 30/06/ /10/2009 & 26/11/2010 Proposals for legislation adjustment A.4 15/10/ /10/2009 White Stork Species Action Plan A.5 (submitted) Report on the protection status of the White A.6 Stork Project leaflets*** D.1 Notice boards D.2 30/06/ /07/ /12/ /03/2013** 30/06/ /06/2009 & 30/04/2011*** 30/06/ /06/2011 Book on the White Stork D.6 29/06/ /02/2013 Film on the White Stork D.7 Layman s report D.10 15/11/ /06/ /03/ /03/2013 Project monitoring report E.5 31/03/ /03/2013 After-LIFE Conservation Plan (included in Final Report) E.8 15/03/ /03/2013 * - Additional wire protection measures, also in Action A.3, were developed with a delay by 26 November 2010 ** - first presentation in March 2012, later developed focusing on the designation of the Special Protected areas for White Stork conservation. *** - One additional leaflet was published from own resources of the Coordinating Beneficiary. It focused mainly on the installation of the nesting platforms on the buildings roofs. Thus 3 leaflets were published in total. Milestones 19

20 Name of the Milestone Code of the associated action Planned deadline in the project proposal Actual completion date Contracts between partners signed E.1, E.2, E.3, E.4 30/01/ /08/2009 New contracts between modified partners E.1, E.2, signed* E.3 30/06/ /06/2012 Project management structure established E.1, E.2, E.3, E.4 27/02/ /04/2009 Surveyors selected, employed and trained A.1 30/04/ /04/2009 White Stork nest inventory fieldworks A.1 completed Fully functional GIS database created A.2 White Stork SAP endorsed A.5 1,100 artificial platforms erected in Eastern Lithuania 31/08/ /08/ /04/ /04/ /06/ /07/2011 C.1 30/03/ /03/ artificial platforms erected in Western C.2 Lithuania 30/03/ /03/ additional artificial platforms install in C1-C2** all territory of Lithuania 31/03/ /03/ artificial nesting platforms erected on C.3 buildings 30/03/ /03/ White stork nests on the trees properly C3*** managed 31/03/ /03/2013 Project website functioning and on-line D.3 31/03/ /03/2009 On-line interactive GIS database introduced D.4 Nest web-cams start streaming video on the D.5 Internet Four White Stork Day events held D.9 30/04/ /11/ /04/ /04/ /05/ /05/2012 * New agreement with AB LESTO was drafted and signed in January 2012 because of necessity to get the official commitments of AB LESTO on the increased number of the artificial platforms on the electric poles before the submission of the modification request. ** A new milestone (initially not planned in the project application), based on the modification of the project approved by the Commission. This conservation measure is very important for White Stork conservation. *** A new milestone (initially not planned in the project application), based on the modification of the project approved by the Commission. This conservation measure is very important for White Stork conservation. 20

21 Action A.1. Inventory of White Stork s nests in Lithuania Planned end date: 31 December 2010; actual end date: 31 December 2010; fieldworks completed: by 31 August The action is fully completed. Responsible for implementation: Institute of Ecology, later Nature Research Centre. Despite the initial delay, related to the delay in confirmation of the project co-funding by the Ministry of Environment (described in more detail in the Inception Report), the Inventory of White Stork nests in Lithuania was carried out successfully and on time. Because of this delay, which meant that the inventory of White Stork nests could be started only during the second half of the breeding season, all the preparations for the inventory were carried out as fast as possible survey methodology was developed, necessary equipment and materials were purchased (GPS receivers (Magellan Triton 400) (Annex 20_9 (IR)), digital photo cameras (Pentax X70), binoculars (Pentax), sets of detailed maps, etc.), nest registration cards were designed and printed (Annex 17_5 (IR)), all within few weeks of the start of the action. Twenty surveyors were selected, contracted, trained and equipped with the identical equipment and materials, and carried out the White Stork nest inventory during the first survey season (2009) (Annex 18_6 (IR)). All surveyors were also provided with ID cards, removable magnetic stickers (60 10 cm) for their cars and special T-shirts, identifying them as participating in the White Stork nest inventory. This proved to be very useful in improving communication with local people in the countryside, where strangers sometimes are regarded with a certain degree of suspicion. In order to compensate for the late start of the first survey season, the survey in 2009 was continued until the end of October (instead of the end of August as originally planned), and was focused primarily on the registration of nests in as large an area of the country as possible (Annex 19_8 (IR)). This course of action proved to be completely justified. It allowed covering approximately 60% of the potential nesting habitats of White Stork in Lithuania during the first survey season. As expected, birds were present in the nests only until the 1 st 2 nd week of August, thus the majority of nests during the first survey season were recorded without the reliable occupancy information, although any evidence of possible nesting was still recorded. All the nests without reliable occupancy information were visited during the second survey season. Surveyors in 2009 were employed until the end of October. Data collection from surveyors continued throughout November, while registration of nests in various districts of Lithuania by the Senior Researcher continued throughout the non-breeding season. The White Stork nest inventory methodology and training material were described in the Inception report and presented in the Annexes 15_4 (IR) and 16_1 (IR) of the Final Report. Preparation for the second White Stork nest survey season started in March Firmware of all GPS receivers was updated to the most recent one, which eliminated some of its drawbacks that hampered work with these receivers during the first survey season. Lists of already recorded nests as well as maps with all the recorded nests and survey tracks of the previous season were prepared and printed for each surveyor. Magnetic compasses were purchased for all surveyors as measurement of the direction to White Stork nests by means of GPS receivers proved to be time consuming and often inaccurate. New removable magnetic stickers were purchased, reflecting the new name of the Associated Beneficiary, and all surveyors were provided with fleece jackets featuring the project name and LIFE logo. After a long delay by the Ministry of Finances not issuing the permission to purchase the project off-road vehicle, finally the permission was granted to purchase the vehicle not exceeding the price of 31,540 EUR including the VAT 21

22 (vehicle price foreseen in the project budget was 40,000 EUR). The vehicle was purchased in the end of March and was used extensively throughout the survey. Since most of the surveyors employed for the second survey season had already participated in the first survey season, only minimal training was carried out on the premises of the Nature Research Centre before the second survey season (Annex 21 (FR)). Because no rent of premises and accommodation were required for the second training workshop, some 1,900 EUR were saved. Several new surveyors were hired for different periods throughout the second survey season in order to facilitate nest survey in certain regions of Lithuania. New surveyors were trained by the Senior Researched on an individual basis. In total, 23 different surveyors participated in the second survey season (Annex 56_7 (PR)). The second White Stork nest inventory season started in mid-april 2010 and finished in mid- August As was planned at the start of the inventory, the priority in 2010 was given to surveying areas that were not covered during the previous year (ca. 40% of the potential breeding habitats). After that, nests registered in 2009 after the breeding season were visited and their occupancy was recorded. Overall, the White Stork nest inventory was carried out completely successfully and on time. Approximately 22,000 objects were recorded during the survey, including nests (both occupied and abandoned) and unoccupied nesting platforms on electricity poles. This greatly exceeded the preliminary expected number of White Stork nests, which was based on the previously available data. All the survey data (nest registration forms, GPS data, photographs) were collected from surveyors by the Senior Researcher by the end of December 2010, and were transferred for data input into the GIS database (Action A.2) (Annex 26_ (MR)). Information on recorded nests on overhead electricity poles and nests on buildings in poor condition (often already abandoned by birds for some years) was provided to other project partners to facilitate the implementation of concrete nest management actions C.1, C.2 and C.3. White Stork nests, registered during the inventory in

23 The distance covered by the surveyors during the White Stork nest inventory was considerably higher than originally planned, mostly because of the higher than expected number of remote homesteads and villages with only a single dead-end access, hence the need to retrace often long stretches of road, as well as mismatch of information even on the most detailed maps available with the situation on the ground in remote areas, again requiring to cover additional distance in order to reach the destination. Checking the occupancy of nests, registered after the breeding season in 2009, also substantially increased the distance travelled during the surveys. However, this did not influence the total cost of travel and subsistence expenses foreseen in the project, because the extra fuel was compensated partly by a lower cost of travel per km and partly by fewer overnight stays most surveyors were selected from different parts of the country, therefore could easily reach their survey areas from their homes. Overall, both personnel and travel costs for the White Stork nest inventory, remained within the project budget. No major problems were encountered during the White Stork nest inventory. There were several issues with the equipment (mainly GPS receiver software) that slightly hampered the work, but these issues were successfully dealt with. There were also several failures of memory cards of photo cameras, resulting in several thousands of nest photographs becoming inaccessible. However, all these photographs were recovered by a professional data recovery service and were used for the data entry into the GIS database (Action A.2). Action A.2. Elaboration of White Stork nest GIS database and data analysis Planned end date: 30 September 2012, actual March Data input completed: planned 1 April 2011, actual 30 June Current status of the action: completed. Responsible for implementation: Institute of Ecology, later Nature Research Centre. Because of the overall delay in the start of the project, design and creation of the White Stork nest GIS database was also delayed, but this delay in no way affected the timetable of the related actions, in particular the White Stork nest inventory. Until the comprehensive White Stork nest GIS database was finalised and tested (Annexes 22_11 (IR), 23_12 (IR) and 24_10 (PR)), all the spatial data, collected during the White Stork nest inventory, was stored in a temporary format waypoints and survey tracks from the GPS receivers were stored in GPS exchange format (GPX files). Photographs of White Stork nests, taken by the surveyors were also stored in temporary folders with backup copies created on separate servers. As soon as the GIS database was finalised all the spatial data were imported into it. The specifications for the GIS database were prepared already prior to the signature of the partnership agreement between the Coordinating Beneficiary and the Nature Research Centre. This allowed selecting and contracting an experienced GIS database expert (developer) by 20 July The GIS database was completed and submitted by the developer to the Nature Research Centre by 10 September 2009, and its final version (after minor corrections) was accepted by the Nature Research Centre by 30 September The database was implemented in the ESRI file geodatabase format (ArcGIS 9.3.1). It consists of the White Stork nest point layer, a number of related attribute tables for attribute data storage and a specially designed data input interface, which structure and input fields correspond to the structure and data contained in the White Stork nest registration forms. Detailed specification of the database (in Lithuanian) was also prepared. Shortly after the database was installed at the Nature Research Centre, spatial data of the first White Stork nest inventory season were appropriately transformed and transferred from the 23

24 temporary storage format (GPX files) into the main GIS database. Subsequently, spatial data (GPS points), collected during the second inventory season, were added to the main GIS database through the same data transformation and management steps. The next and most time consuming step in White Stork nest inventory data input into the GIS database included transfer of all the descriptive data, recorded on paper in the nest registration forms, into attribute database tables, associated with the nest points. The aforementioned specially designed data input interface greatly facilitated this process, however, it remained very time consuming. At the same time, during the data input, photographs of each nest, taken during the inventory, were associated with appropriate nest data points in the GIS database. Furthermore, geometry (location) of each nest point, recorded with GPS receivers during the survey, was corrected on the orthophotographic image background, according to the nest photographs and direction and distance information (from GPS point to the actual nest location), recorded in each registration form. This made the final location of nest data points in the GIS database accurate within several meters. The nest inventory produced almost data points, each with associated nest registration form (or several forms for nests that have been visited several times) and a number of photographs (usually 3 6). In total, over photographs of White Stork nests have been made during the White Stork nest inventory, which translated into more than 230 GB of data volume. The GIS database with inserted data (in ArcGIS file geodatabase format) is provided on a CD in annex 57 (FR). Because of the extremely large size (over 230 GB) photographs of nests are not included, but they are available to view on the on-line White Stork nest GIS webdatabase at An adopted and condensed version of the main GIS database has been published for the external inspection purpose on a password-secured internet map-viewer instructions for accessing this database are presented in Annex ZZ. This published map service contains main attribute information for the registered White Stork nests, related tables with additional coded information on nest location, nest occupancy and nest problems, as well as reduced in size and watermarked photographs of the nests. Due to organizational issues, related to the reorganization of the Nature Research Centre, preparation and adoption of new procurement rules, new computers and GIS software were purchased only in November By this time, a new release of ArcGIS software was already available (version 10). Migration of the GIS database to the new version of ArcGIS software was trouble-free, however, the proprietary data input interface application needed some adjustments in programming, but was also completed successfully. Input of data collected during the White Stork nest inventory into the database took somewhat longer than it was anticipated in the project proposal. This delay was caused by the considerably larger-than-expected volume of data collected during the White Stork nest inventory. The expected data volume (and hence the estimated data input time) was based on the previous White Stork population estimate of pairs with an allowance of some arbitrary 20% increase, i.e. some records, which is considerably smaller than actually collected amount of data some nests. Thus, instead of the anticipated end of White Stork nest inventory data input into the GIS database on 1 April 2011, the input of data was finished by 30 June Of course, the work with the database did not end with the insertion of the main inventory data. Extensive work was carried out error checking the data, correcting some recording and input mistakes, removing a number of duplicate records (same nests recorded by different observers), etc. Another activity under this action included the input and management of data collected during the monitoring of project nest management activities (Action E.5), i.e. during the survey of 24

25 platforms, erected on overhead electricity line poles and on roofs of buildings. Data collected during the monitoring was analogous to the one collected during the White Stork nest inventory (data points, nest registration forms with attribute data, photographs), therefore, they were stored in the same central GIS database. Since monitoring of artificial nest occupancy continued throughout the year, the data input was done accordingly. Furthermore, information on newly installed artificial nesting platforms (under actions C.1 C.3) was periodically received from the project partners and was also stored as a subset of data and used for planning further monitoring activities lists and distribution maps of nests to be monitored were produced under Action A.2. Since monitoring of the nesting platforms continued until the end of the project (March 2013, following modification), the database was also updated until the end of the project with data from monitoring and from feedback of the Internet GIS database. Another major component of this action included data management and analysis, related to the implementation of other project actions. First of all, estimation of the total breeding population of White Storks in Lithuania was carried out immediately after the completion of the data entry and the resulting estimate ( breeding White Stork pairs, which constitutes more than a 50% population increase, compared to the last available population estimate for Lithuania from 2005 or ca. 100% increase since the last White Stork survey in Lithuania in ) was available in time for the finalization of the White Stork species action plan. Other parameters from the White Stork nest inventory data were also analysed and used in the White Stork species action plan distribution of White Storks in the country, nest-site preferences, breeding densities, etc. Analysis of White Stork inventory data also contributed to the identification of the most important areas for White Storks in Lithuania (Action A.6) numbers of breeding White Storks and their breeding densities were derived for all the Lithuanian Special Protection Areas and National and Regional Parks and were provided to the coordinating beneficiary Lithuanian Ornithological Society, which is responsible for the implementation of Action A.6. Furthermore, a procedure for the identification of areas with the highest White Stork nests densities, i.e. the most valuable areas for White Storks, irrespective of the protection status of the areas, was developed and a preliminary map of such areas was prepared. White Stork nests densities in suitable habitats. 25

26 Another important sub-activity of this action was data analysis and visualisation for the book on White Stork ( White Stork in Lithuania. Nest Atlas ), which was prepared and published under Action D.6. Maps of all survey tracks of the White Stork nest inventory, distribution and density maps of White Stork nests for the entire country were produced as were 50 nest distribution maps for different municipalities of Lithuania. Country-wide and municipality level statistics were also calculated under this action distribution of nests according to nest-sites, distances to nearest nests, breeding success, municipality rank according to nest density in the total area and in area potentially suitable for White Storks. Overall, the action was implemented successfully and contributed to the implementation of other project activities in time and to the full extent foreseen in the project. Action A.3. Elaboration of White Stork nest management measures Planned end date: 31 June 2009, actual 15 November 2010 Current status of the action: completed. Responsible for implementation: Institute of Ecology, later Nature Research Centre. Initially this action was planned to encompass both inspection and optimisation of artificial nesting platforms to be installed on roofs of buildings and overhead electricity line poles as well as development of additional wire protection measures under the installed nesting platforms on overhead electricity line poles. However, technical analysis, including load calculations, of the design of wooden platforms preliminary chosen by the project for installation on building roofs was included as a part of platform production tender at no additional cost for the project and provided with the Inception Report (Annex 27_1 (IR)). No additional design modifications were also necessary for artificial nesting platforms used for overhead electricity line poles, since the platforms originally used by electricity distribution companies (GL-1 in Eastern Lithuania and several different designs in Western Lithuania) were updated and optimized after the submission of the LIFE project application and prior to the start of the project. Thus, the new platform design (GL-2) was used in the entire country during the project (Actions C.1 and C.2) it is presented the Inception Report (Annex 28_2 (IR)). Therefore, the consensus of project partners was that the main focus in this action should be placed on the development of additional wire protection measures, since installation of nesting platforms in place of nests on overhead electricity line poles does not solve the problem of wire corrosion and subsequent power line breakages caused by bird droppings. Mechanical engineer was contracted in September 2010 with the task of suggesting two alternative methods for wire protection under the installed White Stork nesting platforms. The proposed wire protection measures included installation of special plastic covers over the wires and ceramic insulators under the installed White Stork nesting platforms, thus preventing bird droppings coming into contact with bare wires, and replacement of the bare wires with an aerial insulated cable. All the necessary documentation drawings of the nesting platforms, wire cover installation details, aerial cable installation and connection schemes as well as calculation of costs of implementation of these wire protection measures were prepared. Use of plastic covers is much more cost effective it is ca. 4 times less expensive than the replacement of bare wires with the insulated aerial cable, and, therefore, is recommended as an additional measure when artificial nesting platforms are installed on electricity poles. However, the second method is also viable when nesting platforms are installed along with major renovation of power lines when also electricity poles and/or wires are replaced as part of the electric line maintenance. 26

27 Although this action was significantly delayed, this delay in no way affected the successful implementation of other project actions of the project progress as a whole. Since wooden platform design was evaluated and revised prior to the production of nesting platforms for roofs and the design of metal platforms for overhead electricity line poles was updated even before the start of the project, all platforms installed during this project were of optimal and tested design. Wire protection measures, although developed with significant delay, were not intended (or budgeted) to be implemented during this project. However, just as initially planned, they were prepared and included into the White Stork species action plan (Action A.5), submitted to and approved by the Ministry of Environment, for future implementation as a White Stork nest management measures, which reduce the conflict between birds, breeding on overhead electricity line poles, and operations of electricity distribution companies. Project Associated beneficiary LESTO officially confirmed that the results of the Action A.3 will be used for the practical replacement of the natural White Stork nest on the overhead electricity lines poles after the end of the project as well (Annex 29 (FR)). After the end of the project, the Associated Beneficiary AB LESTO continues the installation of the nesting platforms and replaces them in all cases of the problematic White Stork nests, which may have negative impact on the electricity supply (large nests or the ones that in case of the accidents may break wires). After the project AB LESTO installs platforms from their own resources and budget, thus the activity is now being implemented on a smaller scale (several hundred cases per year), particularly the insulated cables. In some cases, depending on the local conditions several hundreds of wire protection measures are also installed. Action A.4. Adjustment of legislation related to the protection of White Stork s nests Foreseen end date: 15/10/2009; actual end date: on 01/12/2009 Current status of the action: completed. Responsible for implementation: Ornithological Society. Contract with subcontractor Advocacy Company Zabiela, Zabielaite ir partneriai was signed on 19 th August Activities had started with a little delay influenced by the outstanding cofinancing issues with MoE. The aim of analysis was to analyze and summarize the legislative and other normative documents related to the White Storks and protection of their nests. The draft of analysis was presented to project partners on 1 st December After partners review several remarks were presented for the revision of the prepared document. A meeting on finalizing of analysis work was organized on 23 December 2009, and straight after that all project partners approved revised version of the document. The finalized document was firstly forwarded by to responsible persons in MoE in February 2010, asking to organize a joint meeting with MoE and project partners. After unofficial meeting with MoE representatives on issues presented in legal analysis in the beginning of June, an official meeting was organized on 16 th July During the meeting the paper version of legal analysis was presented to MoE as well. After discussions with MoE it was agreed that a deeper analysis of problematic issues of White Storks protection on MoE level is needed. This is related with practical implementation of the endorsement of the current nature conservation legislation. Participants decided to organize one more meeting in the beginning of 2011 for clarifying the situation on possible involvement of governmental institutions for implementing White Stork s conservation measures. The second meeting with MoE was organized on 18 th January During the preparation of the legal analysis document, a close cooperation with lawyers from the MoE was initiated. The document on the legal analysis was uploaded on project s website. The document 27

28 initially was submitted with a Project progress report. The layout of the document was upgraded and a document is submitted with the Project Final Report (Annex 30 (FR) The confirmative letter of MoE that the legal analysis had been submitted was also attached to that Progress Report (Annex 31_16 (PR)). The project started negotiations with the MoE on the further development of the trilateral disputes involving AB LESTO on the possible improvement of the legal basis regarding protection of the White Stork s nests on the electric lines poles, especially, in cases when overhead electricity lines are reconstructed to the underground cables, and electricity lines poles are replaced, including the ones where nests of White Stork s are placed. Associated Beneficiary AB LESTO confirmed that the deliverable of the Project Proposals for changes in legislation will be used by AB LESTO to solve White Stork s nests protection issues on the poles of the electricity distribution lines even after the end of the project (Annex 32 (FR)). The importance of the recommendations of the legal analysis report were used for the preparation of the After-LIFE Conservation plan. Action A.5. Elaboration of White Stork species action plan for Lithuania Planned end date (species action plan submission date): 31 June 2011, actual submission date 25 July Action plan approved by the MoE: 3 July Current status of the action: completed. Responsible for implementation: Institute of Ecology, later Nature Research Centre. In accordance with the project timetable, preparation of the White Stork species action plan was started in March In the project proposal it was envisaged that the White Stork species action plan will be prepared in accordance with the requirements set forth in the order of the Minister of Environment No 664 of 21 December 2002 On the Preparation of Action Plans for the Especially Protected Species (Official Gazette, 2003, No ). Preparation of the species action plan followed the content described in this ministerial order. However, in June 2010, new legislation, related to species action plans, was adopted by the Minister of Environment. A new legal act the Order of the Minister of Environment No D1-463 of 2 June 2010 On the Adoption of the Rules for Drafting and Ratification of the Protection Plans for the Protected Species (Official Gazette, 2010, No ), came into force on 9 June Therefore, as of June 2010, preparation of the White Stork species protection plan has been carried out according to the requirements, set forth in the new legislation. Requirements for and contents of the species protection plans according to the new legislation are quite similar to the ones set forth in the older legislation. New species protection plans place a lot of focus on the description of species biology, ecology, habitat requirements, distribution, abundance, feeding habits, conservation status as well as description of all the major threats and limiting factors for the population. The species protection plan shall also include the obligatory part on the objectives of the plan, list of concrete protection tasks and detailed description of protection measures, aimed at achieving the objectives of the plan. However, contrary to the previous legislation, new species protection plans do not include allocation of responsibilities for the implementation of protection measures to competent institutions and financial estimations of implementation costs these issues are now described in optional action plans that may be prepared for concrete protected areas, established for the protection of the species in question. Despite the change in legislation, preparation of the White Stork species protection plan was carried out successfully. Extensive literature review has been carried out on various aspects of White Stork species biology and ecology, distribution patterns across the breeding range, 28

29 migration peculiarities and phenology. Information on previous studies on White Stork in Lithuania was also compiled. All this information was summarized in appropriate chapters of the prepared species protection plan. As soon as the White Stork inventory data input was completed under the Action A.2 in the end of June 2011, analysis of the data was performed and an estimation of the breeding population of White Storks in Lithuania was prepared for the species action plan along with preliminary information on White Stork distribution in the country, which was also discussed in the species action plan. Agri-environment expert (Ms. Jurgita Sorokaitė), contracted by the Lithuanian Ornithological Society, contributed significantly to the preparation of the species protection plan, particularly to the drafting of chapters on threats and on conservation objectives and proposed protection measures. In line with the legal requirements, the White Stork species action plan identifies the existing and potential threats to the population of White Stork, such as intentional or unintentional destruction of nests, overgrowing of nests, falling-out of nests, deterioration of feeding habitats, electrocution of birds, inefficient animal rescue system (particularly important for juveniles falling from nests), predation, lack of research and information on the impact of White Storks on the ecosystem, etc. Since the main objective of the action plan is to ensure long-term favourable conservation status of the White Stork in Lithuania, it includes a list of recommended White Stork conservation measures: continuation of installation of artificial nesting platforms on electricity poles combined with the wire protection measures (prepared under Action A.3), maintenance of nests in trees, on roofs and on disused electricity poles, maintenance of very tall nests, improvement of feeding habitats, improvement of animal rescue system, public information, long-term monitoring of White Stork population. The prepared draft of the White Stork species action plan was submitted to the Ministry of Environment on 25 July 2011 and submitted with the Midterm Report (Annex 33_1 and 34_2 (MR)). Comments and request for minor corrections of the action plan were received from the MoE on 11 July 2012 (Annex 35 (FR)). Action plan was corrected and after some additional minor comments and further corrections the final draft of the White Stork species action plan was submitted to the MoE on 6 November 2012 (Annexes 36 and 37 (FR)). Following some additional minor corrections by the MoE lawyers and the language editor, the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) species action plan was finally approved by the Minister of Environment on 3 rd of July 2013 by the order No D1-497 "On the approval of White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) action plan" (Annex 38 (FR)) and was officially published in the Official Gazette on 5 July 2013 (Official Gazette, 2013, Nr ) (Annex 39 (FR)). The final version of the approved species action plan is provided in Annex 40 (FR). Action A.6. Identification of most important sites for White Storks in Lithuania Foreseen end date: 30 June 2012; actual end date 31 March 2013 Current status of the action: completed. Responsible for implementation: Ornithological Society. As foreseen in the project proposal, the beginning of the implementation of the action was the 1 st quarter of 2011 (March). Analysis of White Stork inventory data contributed to the identification of the most important areas for White Storks in Lithuania. Information on numbers of breeding White Storks and their breeding densities were delivered to all Lithuanian Special Protection Areas and National and Regional Parks. The Coordinating beneficiary the Ornithological Society, which is responsible for the implementation of Action A.6 got all relevant information, which was provided by the Institute of Ecology. Data collected during the White Stork nest inventory (Action A.1) was used for the identification of the most important areas for White 29

30 Storks in Lithuania number of breeding White Storks and their breeding densities were derived for all Special Protection Areas and National and Regional Parks of Lithuania, and were provided to the Coordinating Beneficiary the Ornithological Society, which is responsible for the implementation of Action A.6. However, because of longer than planned White Stork data analysis, the real situation on the White stork breeding pair s distribution was available at the end of the 2011 only. Without such information, it was impossible to select the most important sites for the country that could be designated for the species conservation. Even more, a methodology of the identification of areas with the highest density of the White Stork s nests, i.e. the most valuable areas for the species, irrespective of the protection status of the areas, was developed, and a preliminary map of such areas was prepared. Later, it took several months to organize an official meeting with MoE to discuss proposed site s selection criteria and to make presentation on the species density and abundance in the different categories of the protected areas (having in mind the national protection status and Natura 2000 sites). However, finally, based on the fieldwork data, the list of the most important sites with the highest number and density of the breeding pairs was presented to the responsible authority MoE in March, 2012 (Annex 41_3 (MR)). During the meeting of the Special Commission on the designation of the protected areas under MoE, an agreement was reached that the Project team will prepare a new proposal (more detailed one that will include justification part for each site) on the criteria for the selection of the most valuable breeding sites for the White Stork. In case if those criteria will be approved by the Special Commission, a legal endorsement by MoE should follow. These criteria were not endorsed yet, but officially approved by MoE. Basing on previous practice, it is expected that they will be legally approved with the endorsement of SPA designation criteria for other species within few years. Basing on the legal criteria, the most important White Stork breeding sites should be designated officially by the Order of the Environmental Minister. Also, it was agreed that the Ornithological Society will start a new round of the negotiations at the early autumn of 2012, after the summer holiday period. Until then, the Ornithological Society prepared a draft of the criteria for the designation of the Special protected areas for the protection of the White Stork in Lithuania. Basing on those criteria, a new list of the potential territories for the species conservation was prepared and submitted to the MoE by November 2012 (Annex 42 (FR)). Basing on the submitted criteria, a list of the potential territories for Whiter Stork conservation were presented to the MoE. This list covers 8 already designated national SPAs and 10 regional parks, which didn t have Natura 2000 status (or just some parts of them were designated as Natura 2000 sites, mainly, as pscis. Basing on the common practice and having in mind favourable conservation status in the country, representatives of MoE, during individual consultations promised to select 5 the best for the species protection sites from the proposed list. This topic was decided to be discussed during next meeting of the Special Commission on the designation of the protected areas under MoE. However, the next official meeting of the Special Commission on the designation of the protected areas under MoE was organized only on 05/06/2013, i.e. after the end of the project. The project experts were invited and participated in the meeting, and again the Ornithological Society was asked to prepare more detail proposal on the zoning of the sites proposed as SPAs designated for the White Stork. The arguments of the representatives of the MoE were based on the changes of the spatial planning documents of the regional parks that were selected for designation as SPAs for White Stork conservation. The next official meeting of the Special Commission on the designation of the protected areas under MoE was on 24/09/2013. It discussed a revised proposal of the Ornithological Society, and made a 30

31 decision that proposed zoning should be additionally argued with species requirement for the habitat selection. Later, a couple of the individual meetings were held with the representatives of the MoE, to confirm the decision of the MoE to designate proposed areas. However the process of the adjustment on the changes of the spatial planning documents takes longer process than it was expected. The report on the protection status of the White Stork, which summarize proposal on the designation of the SPAs for the White Stork was submitted to the Special Commission on the designation of the protected areas under MoE during the project implementation period as it was foreseen in the project application. The document is presented in the Annex 43 of this report. Further steps are described in the After-Life Conservation plan of the project. C. Concrete conservation actions Action C.1. Erection of nesting platforms on overhead electricity line poles in Eastern Lithuania Foreseen end date: 30/03/2012, actual end date: 31/03/2013 Current status of the action: completed. Responsible for implementation: AB RST, later AB LESTO. 820 White Stork nests in problematic locations on the overhead electric lines and poles, were identified and removed in Eastern Lithuania till 28th February 2011 (66 in Vilnius region; 437 in Utena region; 158 in Panevežys region; and 159 in Alytus region). Till the submission of the Project modification request and Mid-term report all initially in the project application platforms planned under Action C.1, and all 660 platforms planned under currently cancelled action C.2 where installed in the Eastern part of Lithuania: artificial metal nesting platforms were placed instead of problematic nests on electric wires and poles. Project partner AB RST had significant savings in this action. For example, it was planned that the total cost of the installation of one nesting platform for the electricity poles for AB RST would cost about 717 LTL (about 208 Eur), while for the project the costs were about 220 LTL (about 64 Eur). It could be projected, that for these activities project savings will reach about 60%: it was planned, that platform installation till the end of 2010 would cost EUR, however until then only EUR were spent. Costs of installation of the artificial platforms decreased for two main reasons: 1) in 448 cases, overhead electricity poles were not replaced by new ones, and only new platforms were installed; 2) prices of platforms themselves and their installation had significantly decreased as well. The savings occurred due to the reduction of number of the installed new poles, reduction of personnel expenses, and reduction of some other expenditures. The White Stork nests inventory (Action A.1) revealed that there were many more problematic White Stork nests on electricity poles than it was presumed before the start of the project in both Eastern and Western Lithuania. This is related to the increase of White Stork breeding population that resulted to the increased percentage of the national breeding population on the electricity lines poles. Nesting on the electricity lines poles (in case on natural nests) was risky for breeding adult birds and fledglings, and at the same time it was causing problems for electricity supply, especially for farmers, living in the countryside. Thus all project beneficiaries were interested to extend scale of works on the instalment of the artificial nests platforms on electricity lines poles. As costs of platforms and their installation decreased the amendment for the project action C.1 was requested and project modification was submitted to the Commission in May In addition to the need for the modifications due to the reorganization of associated partners, the modification regarding Action C.1 was also included. It requested for permission to 31

32 install additional platforms on electricity poles within the planned project budget, and detailed costs calculations for their installation. Initially in the project application it was planned, that Associated Beneficiaries AB VST and AB RST together would install platforms under action C.1 and C.2. Therefore, after the modification all nesting platforms (in total) were installed by associated beneficiary AB LESTO under action C.1 (which covers obligations of AB VST and AB RST under Actions C.1 and C.2). All platforms were installed and project goals under action C.1 were reached. Photos illustrating implementation of Action C.1 were presented in annex 58 (FR is this the annex of the final report or mid-term report) of the Mid-term Report. While the map of good resolution of all installed platforms is presented in the annex 52 (FR). Installation of nesting platforms in overhead electricity line poles (actions C.1) Action C.2. Erection of nesting platforms on overhead electricity lines poles in Western Lithuania Foreseen end date: Current status of the action: cancelled Action C.3. Erection of nesting platforms on roofs of buildings Foreseen end date: 30/03/2012, actual end date: 30/03/2013 Current status of the action: completed. Responsible for implementation: Ornithological Society. Both contracts (for platform production and for installation works) were signed on 14 October Firstly, the updated design schemes for wooden platforms had to be presented. The updated scheme for platforms was presented to Ornithological Society on 25 October 2009 and straight after that production of platforms started. Production of all 500 wooden platforms planned in the project application had to be finished till the end of summer 2010, and the contractor implemented its obligations on time. During the first implementation stage from September 2009 to March 2010 it was planned to install at least 50 platforms on roofs, but to catch up with the project timeline the works were speeded-up and about 100 platforms were installed by the end of April While planning the project timeline, installation of platforms was planned to be carried out only during the non-breeding period, but during the White Stork s nests inventory it became apparent that many old nests on roofs were in such poor state that some of them were abandoned by birds already for several years. Such nests were also replaced 32

33 during the breeding season. Furthermore, the summer of 2010 was unusually stormy, and some nests on roofs of buildings were destroyed by the storms during the breeding season. Such nests were also replaced by wooden platforms already during the breeding season. Thus, about 100 platforms were installed during the breeding season of During the second non-breeding season from September 2010 till December 2010, more than 100 platforms were installed on roofs. All 500 platforms were installed till the 1 st March 2013 (Mid-term reporting date). The map of all installed platforms on the roofs is presented in the Annex 53 (FR). Video of platform installation on roofs was attached to the Progress Report (Annex 71_13 PR). Every time before installing a platform, an agreement with house owner was signed and the information related to the LIFE+ project was presented. After installing the platform, each place of installation was recorded by a GPS receiver and included in the nest database. According to the contracts house owners obligate themselves to ensure that the platform will remain installed at least for 8 years, and each year the owners will inform the Ornithological Society on condition of the platform. The house owner is not allowed to remove or replace platform without informing the Ornithological Society in advance. Due to the large amount of agreements with households for installing of nest s platform, only ten (10) selected samples of the agreements were attached in the Progress Report (Annex 44_12 (PR)). Photos illustrating implementation of Action C.3 are presented in Annex 59 (FR). Installation of nesting platforms on roofs of buildings As the coordinating beneficiary had some budget saving, the Project asked the Commission to allow to use savings for the maintenance of the White Stork s nests, which were placed in trees although such activity was not planned in project application. Such action is extremely important as a demonstration activity especially having in mind a big interest of the local people, especially senior countryside population. This activity (maintenance the nests on the trees) also is important from the point of view of the conservation of the species population in natural condition, because pairs breeding on the trees and on the roof of the buildings represent the virgin nesting places, which are changing location of the nests mainly with re-location of the nest on the electricity poles. However, having in mind that there are plans for the future to remove overhead electricity supply lines with underground lines, it seems that the species will face a problem to find proper nesting sites in the nearest future. Thus, the maintenance of the nests on trees is also important from the point of view of species protection. Such possibility was discussed during the Commission s project monitoring visit in June 2011 when this project request was supported. 33

34 The Commission conceptually considered proposal as being acceptable (05/07/2011 letter DG ENV/E3/MD/jv ARES (2011) ). The same request to use save funding of the erection roof platforms for proper management natural nests of bad quality in trees was also presented in the Mid-term Report (21/03/2012; 29/06/2012), which was approved by the Commission. Therefor the procurement of the services was done at the beginning of 2012 and four White Stork s nests on the trees were managed till the White Stork s breeding season in Latter this additional action was implemented and 20 nests of a very low quality were managed. Although it was planned to manage only 15 nests, management of additional 5 nests did not caused additional expenditures for the project. To improve the nest branches around the nests were cut and old nest or nest platform was repaired or in some cases even replaced. The photos and map with location of the managed nests on trees are presented in the annexes 60 (FR) and 54 (FR). The certificates on the finish of the managed trees were signed in each case (Annex 45 (FR)). This was also demonstration action to illustrate the effectiveness of such measures and to estimate needed time and financial costs for the implementation of the measure. Managed nest on the tree Action E.5. Monitoring of the project achievements Foreseen end date: 30 October 2012 Current status of the action: completed Implementation of this action started during the first White Stork breeding season after the start of installation of nesting platforms, i.e. in Monitoring report for 2010 was submitted to the Commission with the project Progress Report (Annex (PR)) in March Before the start of the breeding season of 2011, i.e. until April 2011, 374 artificial nesting platforms were installed on roofs of buildings (Action C.3), platforms were installed on electricity poles in 34

35 Eastern Lithuania (Action C.1), and 638 nesting platforms were installed in Western Lithuania (Action C.2). All initially planned artificial nesting platforms on electricity line poles were installed already by the end of 2011, and 374 platforms were installed on roofs of buildings. Therefore the project staff had to visit and check considerably larger number of platforms during the monitoring fieldworks. Aiming rationally and effectively to distribute amount of workload in time, i.e. to reduce the scale of fieldwork in 2011, only 40% of newly installed platforms were selected to be checked in the second monitoring season. Since the aim of this monitoring activity was to identify if the platforms installed during the project were occupied by birds, and not to monitor the breeding success as such, the platforms were checked not only during the breeding season, but also during following non-breeding period until the beginning of the next breeding season in mid-april Only some fieldworks could be implemented in winter due to bad weather conditions, but the work was completed, and report was prepared by the end of April However, considering the low occupancy rate of artificial breeding platforms on roofs, reported in the Monitoring report of 2010 (only ca. 30%), and in order to revise platforms installation strategy for the following years, a preliminary evaluation of the occupancy of platforms on roofs was made before the start of platforms installation in autumn This evaluation was based on a sample of ca. 100 platforms on roofs, checked during the breeding season and immediately after it in Unfortunately, it revealed that after the second breeding season occupancy of platforms on roofs did not improve significantly and was still just over 30% of the sampled platforms. Considering that it was recommended to continue applying cautious approach to the installation of new platforms on roofs of buildings: new platforms were to be installed only instead of nests that were abandoned at least for two previous breeding seasons, or in addition to occupied nests in very poor condition. Occupied nests were to be removed only in extreme cases when nest s condition posed serious risk either to people or birds. Preliminary evaluation of the occupancy of artificial nesting platforms on electricity line poles confirmed a very high occupancy rate over 80%, therefore no changes in the installation strategy for nests on electricity poles were needed. By the beginning of the breeding season of 2012, platforms were installed on electricity line poles and 476 platforms were installed on roofs of buildings. Monitoring of these platforms was continued until the end of the project (March 2013), when the final Monitoring report was produced. Overall, a sample of approximately 60% of all the installed platforms on overhead electricity line poles was inspected during the monitoring fieldworks. The occupancy of nesting platforms installed on electricity line poles was exceptionally high 86,2% of all the installed platforms were occupied by birds (Annex 68_7 (PR)). Furthermore, no failures of such platforms were recorded throughout the monitoring, suggesting a very high efficiency and reliability of such nest management measures. In the case of platforms installed on roofs of buildings, all such platforms were inspected during the monitoring fieldworks. The overall occupancy rate proved to be rather low (28.7%), which was possibly related to the fact that, in contracts to platforms on electricity line poles, platforms on roofs of buildings were in most cases installed in place of already previously abandoned White Stork nests. Detailed results of the monitoring of project achievements are presented in the annual monitoring reports (Annex 47 (FR), 48 (FR)). 35

36 Action E.6. Networking with other projects Foreseen end date: till the end of project Status of action: completed The representatives of two project partners (Ornithological Society and Nature Research Centre) attended LIFE+ Green week conference in Brussels, on 1 3 June 2010, as a part of the Green Week Conference During the conference a special poster representing LIFE+ project Protection of White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) in Lithuania was demonstrated (Annex 69_7). On 5 7 September 2011, two project staff members from the Nature Research Centre participated in the international conference Spatial Ecology & Conservation at the Birmingham University, UK, where they presented the project activities and preliminary results in a poster White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) nest census in Lithuania (Annexes 81_38 (MR)). The poster presented in detail the methodology, progress and results of the White Stork nest inventory, implemented during the project, as well as its implications for other project conservation activities. The poster acknowledged the support of the EU LIFE programme for the project, and also included brief information about the LIFE programme itself (Annex 80_39 (MR)). The aim of the conference was to bring together ecology scientists, conservationists, representatives of government agencies and authorities from different countries in order to review, discuss and evaluate the latest advances in spatial ecology, and how these can be used to underpin conservation. Thus, the conference theme reflected the White Stork conservation approach adopted by the LIFE project, where spatial data are used to safeguard the conservation of a species. The conference was attended by more than 200 participants, many of whom expressed interest in the presented LIFE project activities and results during the conference poster sessions and conference breaks. Contacts were established with several scientists with the intention to cooperate on spatial data analysis of the White Stork inventory data. The cost of attending the conference for two persons amounted to EUR, including conference registration fee, travel and subsistence. During the entire project the beneficiary had several common meetings with other LIFE+ projects, mostly focused on habitat protection in agricultural environment ( Conservation of the Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina) in Lithuanian forests, No. LIFE09 NAT/LT/000235, Securing Sustainable Farming to Ensure Conservation of Globally Threatened Bird Species in Agrarian Landscape, No. LIFE09 NAT/LT/000233). The coordinating beneficiary participated in the steering committee of another Life+ project Securing Sustainable Farming to Ensure Conservation of Globally Threatened Bird Species in Agrarian Landscape, No.LIFE09 NAT/LT/ related to conservation of the agro-environment, which is also important for the White Stork. The discussion on the results of the conservation of the Aquatic Warbler breeding habitats were organized during the annual meeting of the coordinating beneficiary. 36

37 5.2 Dissemination actions Objectives Summarise the objectives of the dissemination plan set out in the revised project proposal. The main objective of the dissemination actions was to increase public awareness on the biology, ecology, conservation needs of the White Stork. Successive objectives were: - increase knowledge on the White Stork biology, ecology and importance in whole ecosystem; - present the current species conservation status ant it protection needs; - introduce public with threats, which species impact with; - introduce public with Project conservation actions, which were implemented; - present the following steps on the protection of the White Stork after the end of the project Dissemination: overview per activity Action D.1. Production and distribution of project s leaflets Foreseen end date: 30/06/2009; actual end date: on 30/11/2012 (because of extra published leaflet). Current status of the action: completed. Responsible for implementation: Ornithological Society. Two leaflets planned in project application were published at the very beginning of the project with one month delay because of uncertain co-financing issues with MoE (the copies were annexed to the Progress Report). The first introductory leaflet was published in copies and the other, more detail one was published in copies. Both leaflets were distributed to stakeholders during the activities of the Actions A.1 and C.3. The first leaflet was more interesting for local communities and was distributed mostly during the nest inventory period (Action A.1). While the second leaflet was distributed to the households, mainly, during the roof platform installation works. Both leaflets were presented in the Inception report. As the public was very much interested in project activities one additional leaflet (not planned in the project application) was published (2000 copies). In general people want to have White Storks to breed in their farms and quite often are ready to install the artificial platforms themselves. However, they need some kind of at least basic information about the existing practice on the arrangement of the artificial White Stork nests on the roofs, therefore the new leaflet explained the installation of the nesting platforms on the roofs. The leaflet was presented in Annex 4 of the Mid-term Report. The Ornithological Society used its own funding to prepare and publish the additional leaflet. The leaflet was very popular in the projects public event organized in Naisiai on 14 th July 2012, as well as in other public events of Ornithological Society (Action D.9). All leaflets are presented in the Annex 61 (FR). The distribution lists of all leaflets are presented in the Annexes 61a (FR) 61c (FR). Action D.2. Production and erection of project notice boards Foreseen end date: 30/06/2009; expected end date: on 30/06/2011 Current status of the action: completed. Responsible for implementation: Ornithological Society. 37

38 Two project notice boards were installed till the end of One notice board was installed close to the well-known in the country White Storks colony of Bitenai, and another in Ventės ragas, Nemunas delta region, which boasts one of the most numerous breeding population of the species in the country. The notice boards content meets requirements set-up by LIFE+ programme. Contact details of the project partners, project web site address, and other main information on project and conservation of the White Stork s provided in notice boards. The size of notice boards is 85 cm 120 cm. As the plans to reorganize the associated beneficiaries were known, and the project aimed to provide public with the precise information, three remaining notice boards were installed in late spring 2011 after re-organization of partners was finalized. Three information boards were built in the most important sites for the breeding of population of the species when the primary results of Action A.6 became available. The selected sites are effectively used to present White Stork s conservation measures and their importance for wide public. One notice board was installed close to the White Stork s colony in Valkininkai settlement with a very dense aggregation of the breeding White Storks; the site is located along the tourist bicycle route. Other two notice boards were built in the popular visiting places of Krekenava and Birzai regional parks in the Central and Northern Lithuania (Annex 55_5 (MR)). Both sites are popular among visitors of the regional parks. Photos of installed notice boards were presented in Annex 2.2. of the Inception Report; map of the locations of all 5 notice boards, and information about three other notice boards were presented in the Annex 5 of the Mid-term report, and a new map of the locations of all five notice boards was presented in the Mid-term Report (Annex 55_5 (MR)).Photos and text part of all notice boards are presented in the Annexes 65 (FR) and 70 (FR). A map of the installed notice boards 38

39 Action D.3. Creation and maintenance of project website Foreseen start of the functioning: 31/03/2009; foreseen end date: 31/12/2012; the operation started: on 30 th July 2009, the website is available for the visitors. Current status of the action: completed. Responsible for implementation: Ornithological Society. The project website was created at the very beginning of the project with 4 months delay due to uncertain co-financing issues with MoE. It was regularly updated with information related to White Stork conservation issues. In spring 2010 live streaming webcam was installed at the White Stork s nest, and live view from the site became available for website visitors. There is also a direct link to the interactive GIS database (Project Action D.4). The website was regularly updated on project news and the newest documents were presented for visitors, also. Wide public was invited to participate in the competition of first observations of White Storks in spring. Main project documents were presented in the website, including leaflets, timetable, reports, legal analysis and fieldwork material. The website attendance in average was 52 visitors per day or 1591 visitors per month of the project implementation period. The diagram is presented in the Annex 78 (FR) of this report. We had noticed that the attendance of website rises during the breeding period, because of live video streaming from the White Stork nest (Project Action D.5). Installed webcam proves to be a good measure attracting people to website at the same time introducing them to the White Stork problems in Lithuania. The project film (both Lithuanian and English versions) is also available on the project website (Project Action D.7). All deliverables are placed on the project website. During the coming five years Project website will be updated with the project news, other articles related to White Stork protection issues. Action D.4. Development and maintenance of interactive on-line White Stork nest GISbased website Planned end date: 21 December 2012, after modification 31 March 2013, actual 31 March Introduction on the website: planned 30 April 2010, actual 22 November Current status of the action: completed. Responsible for implementation: Institute of Ecology, later Nature Research Centre. Implementation of this action started in January 2010 and has been successful, although some delay in the publication of the GIS web page did take place. In February 2010 Nature Research Centre approached the National Land Service under the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania in order to obtain background GIS data layers (orthophoto images, raster and vector topography databases) both for use during the data input and, most importantly, for publication on the internet as a background layers for the White Stork nest online GIS database. Contracts with the National Land Service were signed in May 2010 and all the data layers were received shortly afterwards. Because of the large volume of data (ca. 1.8 TB), additional external hard drive with the capacity of 2 TB was purchased for data transfer and for storing back-up copies of the main GIS database and the on-line GIS database as well as the server image. The concept of the on-line GIS database was developed and various online publication platforms (viewers) were assessed Java, Flex, Silverlight. Appropriate GIS data layer of White Stork nests was prepared for publication with minimal attributes. However, procurement of the necessary computer hardware and software (server hardware, SQL database, ArcGIS database, 39

40 as well as both desktop computers and GIS editing software) was delayed due to organisational reasons, related to the reorganisation of the Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University into the Nature Research Centre. Finally, all the necessary equipment was purchased in November 2010 and on-line publication of the GIS database with standard tools (Flex viewer now available with the ArcGIS version 10) was tested and implemented. The on-line GIS database of White Stork nests is accessible at the following internet address as well as through the link in the project website at Initially, functionality of the online GIS was limited to standard options of the Flex viewer all the nests could be viewed at various zoom levels on the topographic map background, information of each nest could be viewed (number of the nest, name of the observer, registration date), both nest number and address search functions are available. Basic georeferenced feedback function was also available visitors could mark a place (either of the existing nest in the database or any other location) and submit information (e.g. observed inaccuracies, missing nests, nest problems, etc.). In December 2012 (delayed due to the lack of financial resources available for the project at the Nature Research Centre) external expert for GIS web-publishing application design was contracted with the task of programming custom features for the GIS internet viewer application. His tasks primarily included programming the possibility to view photographs of each registered White Stork nest, and improving the feedback function for the general public to report the occupancy of registered nests, reporting newly established nests or any other White Stork related spatial information, with the possibility of attaching any supporting information (photographs, video, etc.). The programming of these main features was completed by the end of May Thus, the final functionality of the interactive on-line White Stork nest GIS database includes the possibility to view more than 110,000 photographs linked to the registered nests, the possibility to upload photographs and other supporting material in addition to the feedback form (Screenshots of the GIS database web interface are presented in the Annexes 25_9 (PR) and 26_6 (MR)). Since the initiation of the on-line GIS database, the data published on the Internet was periodically synchronized with the main project GIS database in order to keep it up to date accuracy of nest locations were improved, additional data from the monitoring activity were uploaded. After the on-line GIS database was published, feedback from the general public, visiting the website, started coming in. Until the end of the project, over 200 feedback instances have been received through the web database, most of them during the White Stork breeding seasons of 2011 and Some of these reports relate to the nests that were not recorded during the nest inventory, while the majority to the nests that were newly established in 2011 and Some feedback messages were related to certain problems with White Stork nests such information was forwarded to appropriate organisations. Whenever possible, such nests were visited during the monitoring fieldwork (Action E.5), photographed, recorded and included into the main GIS database some 50 new nests thus were recorded and included into the main GIS database. By the end of the project, the on-line database contained over records and it continues to be open for submitting any feedback or information regarding the nesting White Storks, including the possibility to upload photographs, videos or any other files 40

41 Action D.5. Set-up of White Stork nest web-cams Foreseen start of the functioning: 30/04/2010; foreseen end date: 31/12/2012; the operation started: on 15 th May 2010 Current status of the action: completed. Responsible for implementation: Ornithological Society. The aim of action was to introduce people to White Stork s breeding biology and show the surroundings of the species breeding habitat. While planning the project it was expected that we will need two webcams for reaching aims of action, because nests of storks often are in places where it is very complicated to install webcam in a way to have a good view to the nest and surroundings at the same location. During the White Stork inventory we found suitable nest where it was possible to install webcams in a way that nest view and a view of surroundings of breeding site would be covered by one web camera. In order to have good quality video signal and to reach objectives of the foreseen action within foreseen budget, it was decided to install one 1 Mpix resolution webcam covering both views described in the project proposal (implemented with wide-angle lens). The aforementioned issues were discussed with project monitoring team during the project visit on the site. The Commission accepted the adjustment on the installation of one webcam and the condition that the webcam will be removed after each breeding season with new installation before the next season by (the Commission letter of 18/05/2011). There have been frequent storms with rain during the entire breeding season of 2010, and this caused several video signal interruptions. Thus due to the mentioned weather conditions webcam was moved indoors from the roof to avoid poor autumn and winter weather conditions after each breeding season (in the end of September). Every year in March webcam was installed at its place again. During the second breeding seasons, in order to have more stable signal at the website, several technical arrangements were implemented (adoption of the signal to work in different browsers, review internet connection, additional protection of wires connections, etc.) already. The online gallery of the screenshots from the webcam was accessible for visitors during whole breeding seasons of 2012 and 2013 including 2014 year breeding season. i.e. already after the project ended. As it was mentioned earlier, at least 50 unique visitors watched reportage each day during the White Stork s breeding season. The next on-air reportage will be started from the 1 st April, 2015, because the Ornithological Society has decided to continue installation of the web-cam each coming year as long as webcam equipment/devise will be in order even after the end of the project. Action D.6. Drafting, production and distribution of a book on the White Stork in Lithuania Planned end date: 26 June 2012, actual 29 March Current status of the action: completed. Responsible for implementation: Institute of Ecology, later Nature Research Centre. Preparation of the book on the White Stork was somewhat delayed due to the need to prioritize implementation of other more urgent project activities, because all the project activities at the Nature Research Centre are implemented by two project staff members only. Since implementation of many project actions depended on White Stork nest inventory data analysis, the priority was given to the completion of the data entry into the GIS database (Action A.2) and subsequent analysis of data, necessary for the timely implementation of actions A.5 (White Stork species action plan) and A.6 (Identification of most important sites). All the statistics and maps 41

42 on the current status of the White Stork population in Lithuania, presented in the book, were also produced under the action A.2. All this material is based exclusively on the data, collected during the White Stork nest inventory (Action A.1). Design (layout), proof-reading and publishing (production) of the book (separate budget lines in the project proposal) were procured as a single service in order to streamline the overall production of the book. The book titled "White Stork in Lithuania. Nest Atlas" was published in the end of March As was foreseen in the project, the book includes chapters on White Stork ecology feeding, breeding, migrations, population distribution and abundance, threats and conservation needs and measures. A major part of the book is devoted to the distribution of White Storks in Lithuania. Descriptive information, maps and statistics are provided for the entire country (nest distribution and density, nest-site selection, breeding success) and for each municipality separately. Lithuanian and foreign folklore, related to White Storks, is presented throughout the book. Nest management activities, carried out during the project, are described and illustrated. General information about the project is presented as is information about the EU LIFE+ programme. The book has 142 pages, 106 photographs (all taken during the implementation of project activities), 57 maps and 107 figures with statistical information (Annex 62 (FR)). The book was published in 1,000 copies in Lithuanian only and was distributed to various stakeholders, administrations of protected areas, authorities related to nature protection and conservation (e.g. regional nature protection departments and their agencies), municipalities, environmental NGOs, libraries, project partners and participants, as well as to universities and other nature-oriented educational institutions. The distribution list is attached as an Annex 82 (FR). Action D.7. Production of a film on the White Stork in Lithuania Foreseen end date: 15/11/2010; actual completion date: 26/06/2011 Current status of action: completed. Responsible for implementation: Ornithological Society. It was planned that the video material will be collected during the first two seasons of White Stork s breeding. Having in mind delays for project start due to the MoE co-financing issues, filming activities started only in the end of July Video footage was collected during platform installation works on roofs and electricity poles in autumn 2009 and spring Filming was done during the entire breeding season in About 20 hours of video footage was collected, and yet it was necessary to include additional spring period for collecting video footage, which was missed due to the delay in starting the filming activities. It was important to ensure the quality of the product. As the monitoring team was informed during the project visit on site and later information was forwarded to the European Commission, filming activities were finished by the end of May The production of the film was finished in July, 2011 (Annex 66 (FR)). The film was produced entirely by the Ornithological Society (filming, production, sound, etc.) (Annex 63 (FR). 42

43 Production of the film about White Storks The film was awarded as the best nature film of the country of the year 2011 and got National Award of the name of the most famous national camera man Petras Abukevičius (Annex 83_8 (MR)). By the support of the donors, the Lithuanian version was produced in higher number of the copies comparing to the project application (2700 copies instead 700) and was distributed to all secondary schools of the country (appx copies) as well as to all administrations of the protected areas, all members of the Ornithological Society, local communities of the countryside, etc. Besides, special case English version on DVD was also made, with English speaker, although, only English subtitles were planned in the Project application. 300 copies of English version were produced and distributed among the BirdLife and LIFE project partners. A copy of the English version is attached in the annex 63 (FR). The increased amount of the film DVD copies in Lithuanian version and additional English translation didn t affect the planned budget of the film. The cost per this action slightly exceeded the project budget by 535,41 EUR only, because external assistance were higher than planned in application. Compressed version of the film is presented on the project website as well. There was a VHS and CD version of the film foreseen in the project proposal, but after discussions with the project monitoring team, we proposed to have more DVD and CD copies produced instead, because VHS format was already obsolete. The Commission accepted the substitution of the VHS format copies by the production of more DVD format copies with the letter of 18/05/2011. However, later, after getting additional support of the donors, only DVD version was produced because of the best quality and high technology. The distribution list of the film in Lithuanian and English is presented in the Annex 63a (FR). The film was broadcasted once on the local ( Kobra ) TV for the Central Lithuania (on 14/10/2012), two times on national channel LRT World (on 12/04/2012, 15/04/2012), once on second largest national channel LTV2 (on 10/04/2012) and three times on the regional TV ( Šiaulių ) for the Northern Lithuania (on 18/07/2011, 19/07/ /04/2012). The project team also made two licence agreements with two the most popular national TV channels (LRT on 16/03/2012 and LNK on 16/05/2013) on the broadcasting of the film free of charge until mid- 2015, i.e. after the project end. Besides, according to above mentioned agreement, the film is permanently uploaded on the LRT website 43

44 The film also was demonstrated during the various public events, such as White Stork arrival, World Earth Day and others in the Lithuanian Parliament, universities, other higher schools, secondary schools, information centers of the protected areas, public libraries as well as film viewing during the morning TV news. Besides, the film was quite well represented in the media. Besides, both versions of the film (Lithuanian and English) were uploaded on the Project and other websites: Action D.8. Public awareness raising in media Foreseen end date: 21/12/2012, actual end date: 31/03/2013. Current status of the action: completed. Photo competition. Associated beneficiary AB LESTO organized photo competition on the most beautiful photo of the White Stork on 17/07/ participant of the competition presented 588 photos, which were placed on the website of the organizer Five the most artistic photos were selected and winners were granted a special prize flight of the stork, which, actually, was flight with a sailplane and paraglider. Press releases. 16 press releases were published during the project: two (2) in 2009, 4 in 2010, two (2) in 2011, four (4) in 2012 and three (3) in Press and Internet. Public awareness campaign started from the very beginning of the project. During the project implementation period 13 articles about the project progress, achieved results, interesting facts and other information were published in press, including seven articles in national and regional newspapers and six in magazines on nature topic with the information 115 announcements and information materials, including articles were published on Internet. Copies of some publications were attached in Annex 4 (PR) of the Progress Report, some also attached to this report (Final Report, Annex 31 (FR)). Besides, there were quite many articles about the project film on White Stork, as the film won national premium of Petras Abukevicius for the best film about nature. The articles are presented in the annex 64 (FR). Radio. Seven radio reportages were initiated during the project implementation period: The first one was aired on 24 th March 2010, and it a discussion about the activities of the project on radio. The record of the radio broadcast was attached in Annex 5 of the Progress report (Annex 72_5 (PR)). One radio interview and episode was related to the celebration of the White Stork arrival day and aired in national radio broadcast Gamta visų namai on 2011/04/02 (Annex 73_16 (MR)). Other reportages were related to different topics of the project: radio station Lietus about White Stork Festival and Natura 20 th anniversary on 10/05/2012; radio station Radiocentras on the same topic on 11/05/2012; 44

45 Lithuanian National Radio broadcast Gamta visų namai on the same topic on 12/05/2012; Lithuanian National Radio broadcast Gamta visų namai about autumn migration of White Stork, installation of nesting platforms and proper management of the nests on trees on 04/09/2012; Lithuanian National Radio broadcast Gamta visų namai about White Storks arrival and project achievements on the 26/03/2013. Television. Ten TV reportages were organized: two in 2009, one in 2010, three in 2011, two in 2012 and two in One TV reportage on the morning news Labas rytas, which was broadcasted on 21/03/2012 was presented in annex 75_11 (MR). On 24 th March 2010 a TV clip from the White Stork welcome festival was produced and broadcasted on national television. A record of the TV broadcast was attached in annex 74_6 (PR) of the Progress Report. Three more video clips were produced and broadcasted on the White Stork project issue (Annex 76_42 (MR)). One clip about the White Stork welcome festival combined with LIFE Programme 20 th anniversary event and was four times broadcasted on TV on 9-11/05/2012. One TV broadcast and broadcast schedule of four video clips were attached to the Mid-term Report (Annex 77_43 (MR)). The final results of the White Stork nest inventory data became available and were entered to the database only by the end of 2011, so it was important to have this information presented to the public. One more video clip focused on the abundance of the White Stork breeding population, occupancy of artificial nests and effectiveness of project practical conservation actions (C.1-C.3) and White Stork nests database. This clip was three times broadcasted on 20-21/07/2012. One more TV clip was broadcasted even for 12 times on 28-31/03/2013. It was related to the live aired reportage from the nest of the White Stork. Those three TV clops were presented in the Annex 43 (MR) of the Mid-term report. Two scientific papers on the White Stork conservation issues possible causes of the White Stork population increase and possible impact of electromagnetic field on White Stork reproduction, were prepared based on the analysis of the White Stork nests inventory data, collected in 2009 and 2010 (action A.1). Both scientific papers were published in peer-reviewed international scientific journals "Zoology and Ecology" and "Turkish Journal of Zoology" (Annex 64 (FR). Action D.9. Public events the White Stork Day Foreseen end date: 02/04/2012; actual end date: 31/07/2012. Current status of the action: completed. Responsible for implementation: Ornithological Society. First White Stork welcome festival and parade Wake up spring was held on 4 th April 2009 in Vilnius with participation of more than 200 people and media (Annex 67 (FR)). The most actives young participants of the event pupils received a gift from Ornithological Society a bus trip excursion to the Rambynas Regional Park (Bitenai settlement) where the largest colony of White Stork in Lithuania is located. The excursion was organized on 14 th May 2009 for 30 participants of the festival. The second event was planned in the end of March 2010, but due to unfavorable weather conditions the festival s date was postponed to the 25 th April More than 300 residents of Vilnius participated in the celebration and took pictures in the largest nest of White Stork in the 45

46 country, which was built in the V. Kudirka Square in the center of Vilnius. About people visited the festival dedicated to the year of the White Stork. The festival recalled the family holiday: the nest and V. Kudirka memorial were full of climbing children. Participants voted in what they believe more: if children were brought by storks, or if they are found in cabbage. Children were able to write on a huge poster how they would like to name rescued storks. Photos from Sessions I am a Stork could be downloaded from the specially created gallery Even after the festival programme was over people continued to climbing on the artificial nest to take photos. More than five young singers sung their songs at the end of the event (after Ąžuoliukas nationally wide known boys quire, Ąžuoliukas Orchestra and the theatre "Teatriukas performances). All young performers of the event received a gift from Ornithological Society a bus trip excursion to the largest colony of White Stork in Lithuania Bitenai settlement. The excursion was organized on 11 th June 2010 for 35 participants of the festival. One TV slot was broadcasted on Lithuanian national television from the event at the same time mentioning project on protection of White Stork in Lithuania on 25 th April 2010 (Action D.8). Third White Stork festival again was organized in the park in Vilnius center on 9 April 2011 (Annex 67 (FR)). The winners of the event (46 participants) were also granted an excursion to the largest White Stork breeding colony of Lithuania in Bitenai, which is located in the Western part of the country. The excursion was organized on the 21 st May Project excursion to Rambynas Regional Park, 21 st May The project team also had participated in a big public country-wide event Naisiai 2011 on the 9-10 th of July The festival is also related to the White Stork conservation actions. This was an additional event that was not initially planned in the project application. However in long-term of the project it became clear that even though the White Stork is a wide-spread, well visible, and loved national species in Lithuania, there is a big lack of awareness and knowledge about the species real needs and threats among the general public, and the project decided to organize more public events on the species, as well as specifically in increased visibility of the project and actions that were taken by it. Such event was also important for the spread of the nature conservation ideas among the general public, and for the formation of the favorable public opinion and attitude towards the nature conservation actions. This was also very important, that favorable attitude would be formed from a very early age. Thus, there were a lot of children among participants of this other public events of the project. The Commission was informed about the plans to have additional public events and this issue was adverted in the Commissions letter (05 July 2011) LIFE07 NAT/LT/ White Stork Conservation Follow up to the visit of your project. 46

47 Project event Naisiai 2011, 9-10 th of July Up to people visited the event. Special two different White Stork badges (500 copies of each) were produced for the participants of the events. The badges were produced from the own resources of the Coordinating Beneficiary and did not bring additional costs to the project. The Ornithological Society demonstrated the artificial platforms both for the electric power poles and roofs, organized a photo-exhibition on the species, and attractive educational program for children related to White Stork. The project staff was directly communicating with the visitors of the festival: they told a lot of stories about the species, explained biology and needs of the species conservation, and even gave consultations on individual practical cases. And finally, the participants of the event had a possibility to build the largest White Stork nest in the world (Annex 67 (FR)). It coincidence that during the public event, the members of the Ornithological Society liberated the young chick of the White Stork, which was trapped by wires in the nest. The fourth storks welcome festival was organized in spring in response to the request of the LIFE Secretariat, the project organized LIFE Programme advertisement an event involving two other Lithuanian LIFE+ projects focusing on the species protection ( Conservation of the Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina) in Lithuanian forests, No. LIFE09 NAT/LT/ and Development of Pilot Ecological Network through Nature Frame Areas in Southern Lithuania LIFE09 NAT/LT/000581) was organized. The event was attended by high-level representatives of the MoE, and a big number of the general public. The festival was organized in a popular big shopping and leisure center Panorama in Vilnius on the 12 th May Project event, 12 th May The Stork Day focused on the 20 th LIFE Program Anniversary and covered activities of three LIFE projects in Lithuania. Thus, balloons with LIFE+ and Natura 2000 logos (600 copies) were produced and were given to the participants of the celebration. Special information boards were placed by each project. A special program for children was an important part of the festival. A completion of children drawings of the White Stork, Lesser Spotted Eagle and European Pond Tortoise (three species targeted by LIFE+ projects) was organized as well. The winners of this competition were presented on the project websites. The photos of the festival are attached to 47