On 16 May 2001 the Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria in Germany signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Conservation and Management of the Middle-European Population of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda).  

After Hungary, the FYR of Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova and Romania, which already signed together with the three partner organizations in 2000, Bulgaria is the fifth range state to sign this MoU. As provided in Para. 17, the MoU now becomes effective on the first day of the month following the signature of the fifth Range State (1 June 2001).

The Consul General of the Hellenic Republic signed the memorandum in the name of the Greek government on 22 May 2001. Signatures will be added in the course of the next few months following the finalization of consultations with some of the Range States. 

The Great Bustard is one of the largest birds capable of flight, with males weighing up to 17 kg and females up to 8 kg. Although still quite numerous in the Iberian peninsula and in the Russian Federation, the species has become extinct or been reduced to vagrant status in parts of its former range and even where it has managed to survive, its numbers are counted in dozens rather than hundreds. It is therefore one of Europe’s most endangered bird species. Despite their size, the birds have been known to travel quite large distances; for example, in the severe winter of 1978, the population in Brandenburg, Germany migrated to the Champagne region of France and back.  

The MoU calls for cooperation among national authorities to promote the conservation of the species. It demands the strict protection of the species and the maintenance and restoration of its habitat. It also includes an Action Plan with two sections – one of  general applicability and a second listing specific activities appropriate for each Range State. 

As a recent development the authorities of Austria, Hungary and Slovakia have established a transboundary protected area in the triangle of the three countries with a coordinated management. 

The UNEP/CMS Secretariat looks forward to the future implementation of the memorandum.