A M.O.U ON PRESERVING THE BEARDED VULTURE : OVERFLIGHTS OF NESTING AREAS BY MILITARY AIRCRAFT

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1 A M.O.U ON PRESERVING THE BEARDED VULTURE : OVERFLIGHTS OF NESTING AREAS BY MILITARY AIRCRAFT

2 Introducing Gypaetus barbatus PRESERVING THE BEARDED VULTURE: a new MOU

3 PRESERVING THE BEARDED VULTURE : a new MOU Gypaetus barbatus : Key facts A protected species - A diurnal bird of prey, exclusively living on bones from carrions - Mating season from November to August. Nests in mountain cliff crags from age 7 or 8. Lays one or two eggs per year. A brooding period of 55 days. Juveniles fly away 120 days after their birth. The species breeds one chick every 3 years, only one third of which reaching adult age. - Species is highly sesnsitive to disturbances during mating season. If disturbed, couples may abandon nests and nestlings. Overflights by helicopters and other aircraft close to nesting areas have been identifed as the prime anthropic cause of reproduction failures, as the species is sensitive to noise only 2000 metres away couples, distributed between 39 groups have been spotted in the French Alps, the French Pyrenees and Corsica in 2014, a testimony of a successful earlier MOU, signed in A nation-wide action plan, covering the Pyrenees, the Alps and Corsica, has been set up to help preserve the species and prevent its gradual extinction. - In 2015 The French ministry of defense and the French bird preservation society (LPO) extended their 2009 MOU for five more years in order to carry on their activities in coordination with the French ministry of Ecology

4 PRESERVING THE BEARDED VULTURE : a new MOU The largest European bird of prey DOCUMENT LPO

5 PRESERVING THE BEARDED VULTURE : a new MOU The distribution of Gypaetus Barbatus in France

6 PRESERVING THE BEARDED VULTURE : a new MOU

7 PRESERVING THE BEARDED VULTURE a new MOU Action by the French armed forces

8 PRESERVING THE BEARDED VULTURE : a new MOU Action by the French armed forces - Reducing the impact of military air traffic on the species during its mating season - Protecting biodiversity in habitats and species whenever compatible with key missions - Before flights, pilots review charts and identify species localisation and nesting areas. Sensitive flight data are kept confidential and immediately reported to the French military air traffic authority (DIRCAM). - No flying below 1000 metres is allowed in the species distribution areas between November 1st and August, 15th, except in case of emergency : flight safety, strategic missions, public safety, protection of persons and property

9 PRESERVING THE BEARDED VULTURE: a new MOU Action by the French armed forces Activities - During joint air exercices above the French territory, foreign crews are met and monitored by the hosting French unit. Crews are briefed ont the species localisation and consequent overflight requirements. - Yearly reports on activities and outcome, training and awareness campaigns are carried out by a monitoring committee. -In case a bearded vulture couple settles in a new section of the airspace used for pilot training, the armed forces and the bird preservation society review the relevant overflying conditions and streamline them in order to keep meeting strategic requirements while preserving the species -In the event of non compliance during activities, overfllghts of restricted areas are reported to the French military air traffic authority which in turn reports to the Armed forces senior staff.

10 Action by the French armed forces Raising awareness - Awareness sessions on the species and on MOU requirements in Corsica and major French mountain areas are jointly organised, in the main training areas for pilots and senior personnel, by the French military air traffic authority and the French bird preservation society (LPO) - Training sessions take place on the Cognac-Château Bernard air base and at the French army light aviation academy (EALAT) in Dax (SW France) as part of the pilots initial training - A leaflet on the species especially designed by LPO for armed forces personnel is issued as part of the training.

11 PRESERVING THE BEARDED VULTURE: a new MOU (February 2015) Leaflet especially issued by LPO for pilots

12 PRESERVING THE BEARDED VULTURE: a new MOU (February 2015) Thank you for your attention. Any questions? Crédits photos Gypaète barbu : LPO pour des Pyrénées vivantes, Michaël KAKZMAR, Bruno BERTHEMY SIRPA AIR SIRPA TERRE