PROMOTION AND EDUCATION

In 1993-2001 the Eagle Conservation Committee (KOO) conducted large-scale educational activity pertaining to protection of birds of prey, which was addressed mostly to foresters and the state administration, responsible for preservation of nature, and also to people involved with ornithology and nature conservation in particular regions of Poland.

The following educational materials were issued, the size of edition of each item amounting to a few thousand specimens:

• posters: Osprey (1993); Rare species of raptors in Poland, White-tailed Eagle (1996); Golden Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle (1999); Birds of prey, Zone protection of breeding sites of raptors (2001);
• brochures: Rare species of birds of prey in Poland, Conservation of raptors (1993); White-tailed Eagle, Osprey (1996); Golden Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle (1999); Birds of prey, Zone protection of the breeding grounds of raptors (2001);
• stickers: logo of the KOO, White-tailed Eagle, Osprey, Golden Eagle, Let us protect harriers (1996), Golden Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Black Kite, Red Kite (1999);
• Bulletins: vol. 5 (1993), vol. 6 (1994), vol. 7 (1995), vol. 8 (1998), vol. 9 (1999), vol. 10 (2000), vol. 11 (2001).
• Scientific Reports of the KOO: vol. 1 (2000), vol. 2 (2001).

The materials are disseminated extensively among the recipients engaged in nature conservation (e.g. all National and Landscape Parks, Provincial Nature Conservation Officers, General and Regional State Forests Boards of Directors, the Ministry of Environment, sponsors of the KOO's programme and non-governmental organizations active in nature preservation). These publications are also distributed by the coordinators and members of the KOO in order to propagate the idea of protection of raptors and to popularize the activity of our organization.

In 1998-2000 jointly 19 public lectures on conservation of birds of prey were given in the country. They took place in the largest academic centres of Poland, at regional ornithological conventions, meetings of scientific circles or during special lectures. Twelve public lectures were delivered in 1998, 6 in 1999 and 1 in 2000.

Owing to donations from the EkoFund Foundation, and also thanks to the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, and the Global Environmental Facility/ Small Grants Programme (GEF/SGP UNDP), a total of 1 022 books were purchased. Without charge, the publications were passed on to the State Forests staff, who, day by day, deal with introduction and execution of zone protection of the nests of raptors, and to the KOO members.

The following publications were bought and distributed:

• - In 1994: Z. Głowaciński "Polska Czerwona Księga Zwierząt" [The Polish Red Book of Animals] (6 books); H. Freling "Ptaki" [Birds] (80 books); J. Sokołowski "Ptaki Polski" [The Birds of Poland] (47 books).
• - In 1996: Z. Głowaciński "Polska Czerwona Księga Zwierząt" [The Polish Red Book of Animals] (16 books); D. Singer "Ptaki drapieżne i sowy" [Birds of Prey and Owls] (79 books); J. Sokołowski "Ptaki Polski" [The Birds of Poland] (30 books); G. S. & T. Kłosowscy "Ptaki biebrzańskich bagien" [The Birds of the Biebrza Marshes] (6 books).
• - In 1998: P. Volponi "Bielik - król polskich ptaków" [White-tailed Eagle - the King of the Polish Birds] (50 books); D. Forsman "Ptaki drapieżne Europy" [The Raptors of Europe] (8 books); D. Zawadzka & J. Lontkowski "Ptaki drapieżne" [Birds of Prey] (100 books); T. Mizera "Bielik" [White-tailed Eagle] (500 books).
• - In 2000: M. Cieślak & B. Dul "Atlas piór rzadkich ptaków chronionych" [Atlas of Feathers of Rare Protected Bird Species] (100 books).

Another important form of educational activity were instructive courses, the main purposes of which including enrichment of the knowledge of the Forest Service about birds of prey, tightening of the cooperation between ornithologists and the State Forest employees, and rationalization of the flow of information on new nests (between the Forest Service on one side, and the KOO and Provincial Nature Conservators on the other). The subject matter of this training covered issues coming within zone protection of birds of prey and the rules governing creation of protection zones. The lecturers discussed the biology and ecology of raptors, as well as the know-how to identify the birds and distinguish their nests. These tasks of the Eagle Conservation Committee gained full support from the Department of Forestry, Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection, the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Forestry, on account of which the State Forests General Board of Directors approved such a form of instruction provided for their staff.

In 1998-2000, 188 training courses were taught jointly in the country. They took place at Forestry Headquarters - 171 meetings (91%), Regional Headquarters of the State Forests - 3, Forestry Technical Colleges - 4, National Parks - 2, Landscape Parks - 4, etc.

Altogether, 4 463 persons were trained, including the State Forests workers - 4 026 (90% of the total number of participants), students of the Forestry Technical Colleges - 277, and university students, National Parks staff, Landscape Parks employees, Nature Conservation Officers, teachers - 20-40 representatives of each group. The people involved with the State Forest Administration were in 90% foresters and forest inspectors, technical workers of forest divisions composing the remaining part.