Duration of the project:

1.9.2020. – 28.2.2026.

Total value:

€ 6.636.170

EU co – financing:

€ 4.977.125

Beneficiary coordinator:

Raptor Protection of Slovakia

Partners:

Society for the Protection and Study of Birds of Serbia, Serbia; Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds, Bulgaria; CEZ Distribution Bulgaria AD, Bulgaria; Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority, Romania; E-Distribuţie Dobrogea, Romania; Distribution system operator EPS Distribucija d.o.o., Serbia; HEP – Distribution system operator d.o.o., Croatia; Croatian Transmission System Operator d.o.o., Croatia; Public Institution Nature Park Kopački rit, Croatia; MAVIR Magyar Villamosenergia-ipari Átviteli Rendszerirányító Zártkörűen Működő Részvénytársaság, Hungary; Nationalpark Donau-Auen GmbH, Austria; ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG (sub-group of the Austrian Federal Railway), Austria; Slovak Electric Transmission System, a. S., Slovenia; Západoslovenská distribučná, a.s., Slovenia.

Web page: LIFE DANUBE FREE SKY

Project description:

The main goal of the project is to contribute to the strategic goal of biodiversity within the EU Biological Strategy in preventing the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services along the Danube.

Reducing bird mortality from transmission line casualties within a total of 22 conservation areas important for birds – POP will achieve a safer route for bird migration along the Danube and will also increase the survival rate of 19 priority species

In Croatia, the Public Institution “Nature Park Kopački rit” in cooperation with HEP ODS and HOPS d.o.o. will implement measures to protect birds from collision on high-voltage (HV) and electrocution of birds on medium-voltage (MV) transmission lines and substations (TS). Mechanical devices (acoustic and optical diverters) will be installed to distract birds in order to avoid collisions (collisions with lines) and existing pillars and lines will be insulated in accordance with the Ordinance on conservation objectives and basic measures for the conservation of birds in the ecological network. (OG 15/14). In this way, the status of the population of priority bird species in the area of ​​the ecological network Natura 2000 – Podunavlje and lower Podravlje, where the Kopački rit Nature Park belongs, which is of exceptional importance as a bird habitat, will be improved.

Objectives:

1. To contribute to the aim of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to halt the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services along the Danube river
2. To reduce and prevent direct and indirect bird mortality caused by electrocution and collisions with the power lines within 23 project SPAs and 9 IBAs
3. To increase the population of the 12 target species
4. To establish safer migration routes and habitats along the Danube river
5. To start/strengthen the cooperation between the key stakeholders and increase the efficiency of adopted measures on a transnational level.