The HOS (Hellenic Ornithological Society) organized a training seminar for wardens working in protected natural areas in the context of the European Project LIFE-Nature for the protection of Falco eleonorae. The training seminar was crowned with success and took place at the Cultural Centre of Apeiranthos in Naxos for the 16th-19th of March, 2005, with the kind support of the community of Apeiranthos and the City of Drymalia that once again assisted the work of the HOS.

One of the most important actions of LIFE Project for the protection of Eleonora’s falcon (Falco eleonorae) is the pilot implementation of a Wardening Plan of the breeding sites of Eleonora’s falcon. The Plan will be implemented on a pilot basis for the next two years in four Special Protection Areas of the Aegean Archipelago.

For the successful implementation of any Wardening Plan it is essential to ensure the harmonious collaboration between competent authorities, services and institutions involved in the wardening of protected areas. Moreover, it is clear that the usefulness of a Wardening Plan, where general principles and methodologies that could be implemented in any breeding area of Eleonora’s Falcon are developed, could be enhanced through discussion and the apt remarks of people working for years in the field, guarding natural habitats.

To this aim, during the Naxos seminar, apart from the experienced staff of the partners of the project (the Hellenic Ornithological Society and the Natural History Museum of Crete), were also invited to participate representatives of other Institutions active in the wardening-guarding of protected sites in the Aegean Sea area (Forestry Department of Cyclades, Naxos Forest Service, Kythira Forest Service, Naxos Port Police Authorities and 4th Hunting Federation of Sterea Hellas), as well as representatives of the MOm/ Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal.

Results regarding the improvement of the Wardening Plan for Eleonora’s Falcon are deemed very positive, whereas the fact that new possibilities for collaboration for the preservation and protection of our natural inheritance have arisen, is considered a real gain.