The effect of Natura 2000 network on the Eurasian Eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) population in Southeast Bulgaria: implications for conservation

The effectiveness and efficiency of the N 2000 network for the Eurasian Eagle-owl conservation in SE Bulgaria was assessed by comparing data collected during a long-term study on number of breeding pairs and fledglings before and after network establishment. The N 2000 network and non-protected areas showed similar values of the calculated indices according to the number of occupied localities. However, the pairs in N 2000 sites bred significantly less fledglings after the creation of the network than the pairs in non-protected ones. The Special Protection Areas (SPA) system created specifically for the preservation of birds has the lowest efficiency in respect to Eurasian Eagle-owl protection. Proposals were made after ‘gap analysis’ for real protection and optimization of the protected-area network to increase the stability of the Eurasian Eagle-owl population in the changing environment.