With the adoption of the Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) Management Plan with Action Plan on August 25, 2025, another important milestone was achieved within the LIFE SUPport project.
Species management plans with action plans for species conservation (SMAPs) serve as practical guidelines on what needs to be undertaken in order to ensure the long-term preservation of endangered species, while maintaining a harmonious coexistence with all users of the areas where these species live. Such plans are adopted by the Ministry responsible for nature conservation, and the development of this SMAP followed a participatory approach involving all key stakeholders connected to the conservation of the Griffon Vulture. The process included identifying and defining key problems, goals, priorities, measures, and activities for the protection of this species.
Management plans are primarily developed for species that are likely to be significantly impacted by human activity or other pressures that require mitigation through specific measures and activities. The Griffon Vulture is precisely one of those species.
This document was adopted by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition, whose Nature Protection Directorate participates in the LIFE SUPport project as an associated partner. Together with many collaborators, the Ministry has outlined the activities to be implemented over the next ten years to ensure the long-term preservation of the Griffon Vulture, a species still endangered in Croatia.
“The management plan brings together, in one place, the activities carried out by all relevant sectors. Alongside nature conservation, these include livestock farming, hunting, and rural development. It is therefore the central document that will guide Griffon Vulture conservation in Croatia over the next ten years,” emphasized Ivana Jelenić, Head of the Biodiversity Sector at the Nature Protection Directorate of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition.
“For the first time, all key activities have been consolidated in one place, with clear priorities for implementation. Effective execution of these actions is expected to achieve the following vision of the Management Plan: The Griffon Vulture is the most numerous vulture species in Croatia, inhabiting several locations along the Adriatic coast, thus linking the Alpine and Balkan populations of Griffon Vultures. Extensive livestock farming and conservation measures contribute to the preservation of vulture habitats and their food sources. The Griffon Vulture is an inseparable part of the identity of Cres and Kvarner, with numerous institutions working together to secure its conservation,” Jelenić added.
This strategic document was developed on the basis of an expert study for the proposal of the Griffon Vulture Management Plan with Action Plan, prepared by Biom Association in 2019. Many of its activities are already being implemented through the five-year LIFE SUPport project, co-funded primarily by the European Union’s LIFE programme for biodiversity conservation. Additional co-financing is provided by the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund and the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs.
The LIFE SUPport project, worth €2,159,598, is 60% funded by the LIFE programme. The partnership includes Biom Association as lead partner, Public Institution “Priroda” of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Municipality of Baška and Baška d.o.o. utility company, HEP-Distribution System Operator, the Vulture Conservation Foundation, and the Nature Protection Directorate of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition as an associated partner.
The project aims to reduce juvenile mortality by minimizing nesting disturbance and improving rescue and rehabilitation operations, increase food availability for vultures, prevent poisoning incidents, reduce deaths from electrocution, and promote Griffon Vulture conservation while raising awareness of threats and needs among local stakeholders, the general public, and governmental authorities.
Conservation measures have proven effective, as in recent years the Griffon Vulture population has shown continuous growth with gradual recolonization of new breeding areas.
Marko Modrić, Director of Public Institution “Priroda” of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, noted: “The conservation of Griffon Vultures, currently the only vulture species in Croatia, is an essential part of our institution’s work. The adoption of this management plan further emphasizes the importance of systematically planning long-term measures to maintain a favorable conservation status of the Griffon Vulture population in Croatia. Continuous activities outlined in the plan not only contribute to vulture conservation but also benefit many other strictly protected and wild species that share the same habitats, thus broadening the significance of this document.”
Marko Klobučar, Scientific Director of Učka Nature Park Public Institution, highlighted that a feeding station with an observation point for Griffon Vultures was established in 2017 within Učka Nature Park. By 2022, after more than a century, nesting was once again recorded in the area, establishing the first mainland colony of this species in Croatia.
“The Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) Management Plan with Action Plan is of exceptional importance for the protection and conservation of this endangered bird in Croatia. It provides an analysis of the current population status, identifies key threats, and proposes essential measures for its long-term preservation,” concluded Marko Klobučar.
