FWFF is a leading project partner for Kresna SPA (BG0002003) in Bulgaria.

Kresna, in South-west Bulgaria along the Struma River valley, has been a focus of our NGO since 2000. It now boasts vulture, tortoise and deer facilities, a livestock farm, established within LIFE for Kresna Gorge LIFE11 NAT/BG/363 (2012-2016), and 200+ ha of well-managed land for the project’s target species needs. It is home to approximately 50 Griffon Vultures, with 5-10 breeding pairs in 2023. In the summer, they migrate to Pirin and Rila National Parks. These vultures are in contact with a North Macedonian population, forming the Struma-Vardar Valleys. Their movement between Kresna and Demir Kapia/Tikvesh could help repopulate a larger area with Cinereous Vultures as planned in the current project. While Kresna SPA alone is less suitable for Griffon Vultures, in collaboration with sites in North Macedonia and Rilski Manastir SPA to the north, it could become more viable. Cinereous Vultures have plenty of suitable habitat in the wider area. The food base is good, though there have been occasional issues with poison baits due to human-predator conflicts. Intensive efforts have reduced this threat, making it manageable for the vultures.