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LIFE Priority birds and Species Action Plans
Annex I Bird species considered as "Priority for funding under LIFE"
Unlike the Habitats Directive, the Birds Directive does not distinguish between priority and non priority species. Nevertheless, for the purposes of LIFE funding, the Ornis Committee has adopted a list of bird species listed in Annex I of the Directive which are considered as priority for funding under the LIFE programme. This list includes all globally threatened species that regularly occur in the European Union.
Under the current LIFE+ programme, projects that focus on practical conservation measures for any of these bird species can benefit from a higher EU co-funding rate, up to 75 %. For further details please check the LIFE website.
European Bird Species Action Plans
Since 1993 the European Union has funded the development of Species Action Plans for around 50 bird species listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive. Developed by BirdLife International with the financial support of the European Commission, the plans provide information about the status, ecology, threats of each species and describe the key actions that are required to improve their conservation status in Europe.
Each plan is the result of an extensive process of consultation and, as far as possible, consensus between government agencies, NGOs and individual experts in Europe. As such they provide a valuable framework within which more detailed national and regional plans can be developed and implemented. The completed plans have also been examined and approved by the ORNIS Committee established under the Birds Directive..
The plans are designed to assist Member States in fulfilling their obligations under the Birds Directive. They can be used as a tool for identifying and prioritising conservation measures to be implemented directly by the nature conservation authorities or integrated in other relevant sectors. However, they are not legally binding documents nor do they engage the Member States beyond their existing legal commitments under this Directive.
They have also been used to help develop proposals for submission under the LIFE programme.
Species Action Plans implementation reviews
The progress in implementing the Species Action Plans has been regularly reviewed by BirdLife under a contract with the European Commission.
- 2010 Review of implementation of plans (pdf ~2Mb) - Annexes (pdf ~695Kb)
- 2004 Review of implementation of plans (pdf 730KB)
Under a contract with the European Commission BirdLife International in collaboration with FACE carried out a study to take stock of the experience of preparation and implementation of Species Action Plans for Annex I bird species and Management plans for Annex II huntable species and make proposals for improvements of the process towards more effective implementation.
The study does not necessarily reflect the view of the European Commission.
Action plans per species
To access the individual action plans click on the species names in the following table
NB A number of management plans for certain huntable species have also been developed by the European Commission
Species Latin Name |
Common English Name |
Type of Action Plan |
Date of the Action Plan |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Corso-sardinian Goshawk |
Management statement |
1999 |
|
 |
Macaronesian Sparrowhawk |
Management statement |
1999 |
|
 © Mateusz Matysiak |
Aquatic Warbler |
International |
2008 |
|
 © M. Varesvuo - Wild Wonders |
Cinereous Vulture |
European |
1996 |
|
 |
Sicilian Rock Partridge |
European/EU |
2000 |
|
 © David Kjaer |
Lesser White-fronted Goose |
International |
2008 |
|
 © Juan Martín Simón |
Spanish Imperial Eagle |
European/EU |
2008 |
|
 © B Castelein-Naturepl.com |
Greater Spotted Eagle |
European/EU |
1997 |
|
 © J Hlasek |
Imperial Eagle |
International |
1996 |
|
 © J Hlasek |
Lesser Spotted Eagle |
European/EU |
1997 |
|
 © J Hlasek |
Ferruginous Duck |
European/EU |
2006 |
|
 © David Kjaer |
Bittern |
European/EU |
1999 |
|
 © David Kjaer |
Red-breasted Goose |
International |
2010 |
|
 © Juan Martín Simón |
Dupont’s Lark |
European/EU |
2008 |
|
 |
Houbara Bustard |
European/EU |
1996 |
|
 |
Dark-tailed Laurel Pigeon ARK- |
European/EU |
1996 |
|
© LIFE94_NAT_E_001159 |
White-tailed Laurel Pigeon |
European/EU |
1996 |
|
 |
Madeira Laurel Pigeon |
European/EU |
1996 |
|
 © Otars Opermanis |
European Roller |
International |
2008 |
|
 © David Kjaer |
Corncrake |
International European/EU |
2006 |
|
© M Varesvuo-Naturepl.com |
Cream-Coloured Courser |
European/EU |
2000 |
|
 © Relanzon-Naturepl.com |
Tenerife Great Spotted Woodpecker |
Management statement |
1999 |
|
 |
Gran Canaria Great Spotted Woodpecker |
Management statement |
1999 |
|
 © J Hlasek |
Lanner Falcon |
International |
2000 |
|
 © S Unterthiner-Wild Wonders |
Eleonora’s Falcon |
International |
2000 |
|
 © J Hlasek |
Saker Falcon |
European/EU |
2006 |
|
 © L Hlasek |
Lesser Kestrel |
International |
2011 |
|
 © Bergman-Naturepl.om |
Gyrfalcon |
International |
2000 |
|
 © Csaba Loki |
Red-footed Falcon |
European/EU |
2010 |
|
 © Mladen Gramatikov |
Semi-collared Flycatcher |
European/EU |
2010 |
|
 © Peter Basterfield |
Blue Chaffinch |
European/EU |
1996 |
|
 © L Hlasek |
Crested Coot |
International |
2000 |
|
 © Wild Wonders |
Great Snipe |
International |
2003 |
|
 © M Eleander- Wild Wonders |
Bearded Vulture |
European/EU |
1997 |
|
 © JB Ruiz-Naturepl.com |
Bonelli's Eagle |
European/EU |
1997 |
|
 © LIFE03_NAT_E_000061 |
Audouin’s Gull |
International |
1996 |
|
 © Danny Green rspb-images |
Scottish Crossbill |
European/EU |
2000 |
|
 © Juan Carlos Atienza |
Marbled Teal |
European/EU |
2008 |
|
 © Sue Tranter, rspb-images |
Red Kite |
European/EU |
2010 |
|
 © Carlos Sanchez, Birdlife |
Egyptian Vulture |
European/EU |
2008 |
|
 © C Gomersall, rspb-images |
Slender-billed Curlew |
International |
1996 |
|
 © M. Zumrik |
Great Bustard |
International |
2010 |
|
 © David Kjaer |
White-headed Duck |
International European/EU |
2006 |
|
 © Jari Peltomäki-Wild Wonders |
Dalmatian Pelican |
European/EU |
1996 |
|
 |
Italian Grey Partridge |
Management statement |
1999 |
|
 |
Mediterranean Shag |
European/EU |
2000 |
|
 © L Hlasek |
Pygmy Cormorant |
European/EU |
1996 |
|
 © M Varesvuo-Naturepl.com |
Steller’s Eider |
European/EU |
1997 |
|
 © L Hlasek |
Purple Gallinule |
European/EU |
2000 |
|
 |
Fea’s Petrel |
European/EU |
1996 |
|
© Frank Zino |
Zino’s Petrel |
European/EU |
1996 |
|
 © J.M. Arcos |
Balearic Shearwater |
European/EU |
2011 |
|
 © LIFE03_NAT_P_000013 |
Azores Bullfinch |
European/EU |
2010 |
|
 © LIFE04_NAT_P_000213 |
Roseate Tern |
International |
2000 |
|
 © Wild Wonders |
Little Bustard |
European/EU |
2011 |
NB: Some of the plans above are international plans which have been endorsed by the EC and cover a wider range than just the European Union.