ACTIVITIES

» 2015/16 Planning Project team meetings (including with focus group teachers), proposal to schools, preparation of first materials (e.g. mascot of the project)

» 2016/17 + 2017/18 At school Short teacher training, classroom , field visits, exhibitions (6 – 18 year old students; 2-3 activities/year/class; 1-2 years/class)

» 2018/19 + 2019/20 Focus on post-Life preparation Teacher training workshop, preparation of teachers handbook, communication to pears, final reporting

Environmental Education for Vultures

The case of Life Rupis in the Douro Valley

Life Rupis

The Life Rupis project ("Conservation of the Egyptian Vulture and Bonelli’s Eagle in the Douro Valley") (2015/20) has as main

goals the conservation of these species in the transboundary region of the Douro Internacional, Vale do Águeda and Arribes del

Duero SPA, and to contribute for sustainable local development.

Along with the conservation actions, there is also a set of actions of environmental education and communication. The Life

Rupis School Program (2016/17 to 2019/20) and the Festival ObservArribas (2017, 2018 and 2019) are the most relevant.

Life Rupis School Programme

www.rupis.pt

Fig. 2. Project area (Douro Valley) Egyptian vulture

Neophron percnopterus

Bonelli’s Eagle

Aquila fasciata

Cinerous Vulture

Aegypius monachus

Red Kite

Milvus milvus

Fig 1.

Target species

a b

d e

c a

b

Cofinancing Coordination Partners

Vanessa Oliveira1,2; Carlos Miguel Cruz1; Américo Guedes3;

Luís Ribeiro3; Ana Oliveira4; Teresa Oliveira1,* & Victor Casas5

1SPEA/BirdLife Portugal; 3 Palombar; 4Associação Transumância e Natureza; 5FPNCyL/INDER SL

2Corresponding Author : vanessa.oliveira@spea.pt

www.rupis.pt #liferupis

Presentation to teachers 1 2 Classroom activites: presenting species, habitats, scientific methodologies and equipments, conservation problems and solutions, group work

Visits to the field and to interpretation centres Casas del Parque Arribes del Duero (for spanish students) 3 Student exhibitions – at schools and events 4

Teacher training workshop (with teacher projects) 5

SOME NUMBERS AND CONCLUSIONS

• All schools from project area involved. More than 200 activities.

• More than 2500 students. More than 90% enjoyed the activities, and some

participated / promoted activities after the school programme.

• More than 250 teachers. 96% of participants in the training workshop

would recommend it to another teacher

• Student exhibitions seen by more than 4000 visitors at ObservArribas

Festival (3 editions) and by many others at the Casas del Parque

• Proud of having their works presented at events (festivals, conferences)

• Working with teachers (and not only students) is fundamental

• > 2020 (POST-LIFE)? Student smiles and an unexpected “adorei” (loved it) – motivating recognition for the team. 6

Rupis The project

mascot

*Collaboration