The Pelican Way of LIFE project (LIFE18NAT/NL/000716) focused on protecting the Dalmatian pelican across key sites in Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, and Ukraine. The project aimed to reduce threats such as collisions with power lines and habitat disturbance, improve breeding and feeding conditions, and raise awareness about the importance of conserving this globally threatened species. Beyond species conservation, it also promoted knowledge-sharing and capacity building in neighbouring countries,
including Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Turkey.
To better understand the broader impacts of the project, we conducted an impact assessment of the changes it brought about in ecosystem services and socioeconomic conditions. In terms of ecosystem services, we examined how the project affected provisioning services (e.g., species abundance and associated risks and threats), regulating services (e.g., improved habitats), and cultural services (e.g., tourism, education, and aesthetic values). For socio-economic impacts, we assessed how the project influenced local attitudes and awareness, as well as income generation, job creation, stakeholder cooperation, investment, and the perceived added value for communities living and working near the project areas.
To conduct this assessment, we employed a combination of methods. These included a literature review, desktop research, and surveys targeting both project partners and local stakeholders such as tourism providers, fishermen, and community representatives. Data was collected through both online and offline questionnaires and analysed using a mix of qualitative and quantitative techniques. This allowed us to capture not only changes on the ground but also perceptions of impact across the participating
regions.
By combining ecological and socio-economic perspectives, the assessment provides a more comprehensive picture of how conservation projects, such as Pelican Way of LIFE, can support both nature and people in the long term.
Previously we also assessed LIFE SAFE-CROSSING (LIFE17 NAT/IT/000464) project, which aimed to mitigate the negative effects of road infrastructure on wildlife, with a particular focus on the Marsican brown bear, Iberian lynx, grey wolf, and brown bear populations across Italy, Spain, Greece, and Romania. Implemented between 2018 and 2023, the project combined innovative technologies and awareness-raising efforts to reduce the risk of animal-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity for these priority species.
To understand the broader effects of these interventions, a comprehensive impact assessment was carried out. This included both socio-economic and ecosystem service aspects, using a diverse set of qualitative and quantitative indicators. These indicators captured the project’s influence on public awareness, stakeholder cooperation, behavioural change, and knowledge-sharing, as well as its contribution to biodiversity conservation and cultural ecosystem services like tourism, education, and heritage.
The assessment relied on multiple data sources: surveys targeting project beneficiaries and stakeholders, tourism data from national parks, communication activity reports, and a dedicated survey on the effectiveness of newly developed road panels. Species and habitat-related information was collected from partners in the field. Together, these sources allowed us to explore how the project influenced not just target species but also the people and institutions involved. This integrated assessment highlights how well-designed conservation actions can generate added value for both nature and society.
