Opening Conference of the project AVIATOR

The opening conference of the project “Adaptation and Increased Resilience of Birds through Awareness-Raising, Monitoring, Treatment and Raptor Protection Management – AVIATOR” was held in Belgrade on Tuesday, September 23. The project is funded by the European Union through the Interreg Danube Region Program. The conference opened with welcoming remarks from Dr. Branislav Kureljushić, Director of the Institute of Veterinary Medicine of Serbia, and Mr Željko Radošević, State Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Republic of Serbia. Dr. Vesna Milićević, Project Manager at the Institute of Veterinary Medicine of Serbia, the lead partner of the project, also addressed the audience. She presented the AVIATOR project, its pilot activities, and the joint methodological framework for raptor protection. Dr. Ljubiša Veljović from the Institute of Veterinary Medicine of Serbia shared results from the pilot vaccination program for raptors, while Károly Erdélyi of HUN-REN presented prevention and risk assessment models for protected areas. The conference included presentations on the importance of raptor conservation, highlighting regional threats, the effects of climate change, emerging infectious diseases, and wildlife poisoning. Experts from Serbia and neighboring countries shared insights and research findings, stressing the need for collaborative action. Fund for European Affairs and Development of the AP of Vojvodina outlined the project’s communication plan, while Dr. Dejan Laushević from the Diagnostic Veterinary Laboratory in Podgorica spoke on “Mapping Local Stakeholders for Project Implementation.” The event concluded with Ana Vasić from the Institute of Veterinary Medicine of Serbia presenting the “Joint Methodological Framework.”