Nature and Biodiversity · Standard Action Project
Pelican Way of LIFE
Conservation of the Dalmatian Pelican along the Black-Sea Mediterranean Flyway
About the project
The world breeding population of the Dalmatian pelican is estimated at 7,347–8,993 pairs, of which the Mediterranean and Black Sea flyway populations hold roughly 42–54%. Breeding is confined to a few sites, and the species faces powerline collisions, colony disturbance, persecution, conflicts with fishers and entanglement in nets. The project targeted 27 Natura 2000 Special Protection Areas in Romania, Bulgaria and Greece, covering the entire EU breeding range, plus Ukraine, and supported capacity building and research in Turkey, Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia. Its work combined standardised monitoring, satellite tracking, new breeding platforms, patrols, powerline mitigation and stakeholder engagement. According to the official results, 24 pelicans were satellite-tracked, 12 new breeding platforms were installed, and two new colonies with more than 100 nests were recorded in 2025 after the 2022 avian flu outbreak.
Natura 2000 sites in the EU plus sites in Ukraine
new breeding platforms installed
pelicans tracked by satellite
nests in two new colonies recorded in 2025
Ukrainian participation
NGO Rewilding Ukraine was the Ukrainian beneficiary, and the project covered two sites in Ukraine, Kartal Lake and the Ukrainian part of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. Breeding platforms were provided at Anankin Kut, Ermakov Island and Kartal Lake, data on fishers' attitudes were collected in Ukraine, and one objective was to create new breeding colonies on the Ukrainian side of the Danube Delta. The platforms are to be maintained by partners in Bulgaria and Ukraine.
| Organisation | Role | EU contribution |
|---|---|---|
| NGO Rewilding Ukraine | Beneficiary | EU contribution: – |
For calls before 2021, the EU contribution per participant is not published.
Consortium
Coordinator
Stichting Rewilding Europe
Netherlands
Ukraine
- NGO Rewilding Ukraine
- See “Ukrainian participation”
Bulgaria
- Persina Nature Park Directorate
- Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds
Greece
- Hellenic Ornithological Society
Romania
- Romanian Ornithological Society / BirdLife Romania
- Rewilding Danube Delta
Links
- Official project page (CINEA)webgate.ec.europa.eu(opens in a new tab)
- Project websitelife-pelicans.com(opens in a new tab)
- Project sites, including Ukrainelife-pelicans.com(opens in a new tab)
- Project activitieslife-pelicans.com(opens in a new tab)
- Project publicationslife-pelicans.com(opens in a new tab)
Sources and verification
Data verified on 19 Oct 2026 against official sources: