Bonelli’s Eagle travels to Meteora
Following the invitation of the Hellenic Federation of Mountaineering and Climbing, the awareness team of the Hellenic ORNITHOLOGICAL Society and LIFE Bonelli eastMed traveled for one more year to Kastraki of Kalambaka for the 34th Panhellenic Climbing Meeting, which was organized on the 27th-29th of October, in the shadow of the imposing rocks of Meteora.
The purpose of the visit was to inform the climbing community about the risk of disturbing the Bonelli’s Eagles (and other birds), due to the climbing activity and how this can be avoided through proper information and through the use of modern tools, which are available to all those, who love the mountains and the biodiversity they host.
Our participation in the meeting was done in collaboration with the Management Unit of National Park of Parnassos, Oiti and Protected Areas of Eastern Central Greece (N.E.C.C.A.). During the event, the digital outdoor activities sensitivity mapping was presented, followed by a discussion with the audience on the ways that climbers and ornithologists can work together to protect wildlife.
On Saturday, 28th of October, the Project team was also present at the Sarakina crag, where the 2nd race of the 1st Rock Climbing Cup was held, so they had the opportunity to discuss with the other teams and visitors of the race, as well as to distribute awareness material.
In the three-day meeting, many participants also had the opportunity to fill in the questionnaire, which was created in the context of the actions of the Program and is the first attempt in Greece to record the attitudes and thoughts of the climbing community regarding the critical issue of protecting wildlife, with which we share the rocks.
This questionnaire is a natural continuation of the digital tool, the Sensitivity Map to outdoor activities, that was initially designed for the protection of the Bonelli’s Eagle in the project areas of the LIFE Bonelli eastMed and which we hope that will be expanded in the future in order to include additional species and areas.
We would like to thank the people of the Hellenic Federation of Mountaineering and Climbing, the Association of Greek Mountain Guides, the Management Unit of National Park of Parnassos, Oiti and Protected Areas of Eastern Central Greece, as well as Climb In Meteora and especially Vasilis Theodorou, for their help and support to the purposes of the program.
