The project

Red-breasted goose (Branta ruficollis) is one of the rarest, smallest and most beautiful goose species in the world. It breeds on the Taimyr, Gydan and Yamal peninsulas of Russia, migrates along a corridor east of the Ural Mountains, and winters almost entirely at Durankulak and Shabla Lakes and the surrounding pastures and agricultural lands of Bulgaria. It also winters in fewer numbers on the Romanian Black sea coast. Global conservation status of species is defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as endangered (EN).

The current project’s main goals are conservation of the population of the Red-breasted Goose in its main wintering site, by providing foraging opportunities, reducing the disturbance and preventing illegal hunting. In the period 2003-2007, Green Balkans NGO purchased a total of 103,46 ha to guarantee the feeding and safe wintering of the Red-breasted Geese in their main wintering site of Bulgarian Dobrogea region (Northeastern Bulgaria). Funding for the implementation of the project was provided by EECONET Action Fund, Frankfurt Zoological Society, EuroNatur Foundation and Committee against Bird crime (Germany).

Within the project Green Balkans also implements educational and information activities related to the protection of the species. The Organization also supports geese in distress by feeding up the birds in the very cold and snowy winters and by medical treatment of injured or weak specimen in the Wildlife Breeding and Rehabilitation Center of Green Balkans in the town of Stara Zagora.