Great Bustard – Otis tarda

INTERREG Project

The INTERREG III A project to protect the Great Bustard in the Parndorfer Platte - Heideboden region ran from 2002 to 2006 and was successfully completed in 2007.

The project optimised around 1,200 hectares of bustard conservation areas and combined bird rescue and protection measures for young bustards. In 2002, a hunting and a nature conservation area manager worked together for the first time in the Parndorfer Platte - Heideboden region. Measures such as black fallow strips and permanent grazing areas improved the habitat of the Great Bustard and were extended to 70 ha annually until 2006. In addition to the Great Bustard, other species of the Birds Directive were recorded. Cross-border co-operation with Hungary, Slovakia and other countries strengthened the Great Bustard population and led to better coordination of conservation measures in Central Europe.

By signing the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of the Middle-European Population of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda), Austria reaffirmed its commitment to the transboundary protection of the Great Bustard. In September 2004, the first Conference of the Parties took place in Illmitz with over 80 experts from 16 countries. The conference emphasised the success of international cooperation in bustard conservation, particularly within the framework of the INTERREG project. The expert meeting focussed on measures to prevent collisions with power lines and the coordination of future protection measures.

To summarise, the INTERREG III A project (2002-2006) was a success for Great Bustard conservation, as the Natura 2000 site remained largely undisturbed. The close co-operation between site managers, farmers and hunters and the high level of acceptance of the project in the region were decisive factors. The association ‘Interessensgemeinschaft Europaschutzgebiet Parndorfer Platte - Heideboden’ played a central role as a platform for dialogue between experts and local stakeholders. The project was financed by the EU, the Burgenland provincial government, the provincial hunting association and local municipalities and hunting organisations.