Thank You! This Newsletter is dedicated to all of you who signed our Petition or sent letters to the General Secretary of the Periphery of Southern Aegean in support of our call for help in keeping the hunting ban on Tilos. Your support means the world to us! Thank you!
The following list of organizations and individuals who took the time and the effort in answering our call is assembled below at random. This is a partial list since new signatures are added to our petition every day. In addition, many of you chose to write to the General Secretary of the Southern Aegean Periphery without our awareness of your kindness due to the inadvertent oversight of not sending us a copy. Our sincere appreciation goes to all of you as well.
D. Conlin, K. Mentzelopoulos, A.M.N. Dragan, E.J. van Dijk, S. Logothetis, A. Gouni, M. Kalamaras, M. Dickinson, A. Theodoridou, I. Christofidis, A. Aliferis, P.A. Lemis, M. Galouzi, G. Tatsis, S. Galanopoulos, A. Alexandridis, A. Goloda, G. Pastrikos, C. Rosser, B. Dyhr, Dr. C. Alexander, J. Hunt, Dr. S. Hannon, S. Riggs, Dr. A. Drougas, T. Karteros, M. Thessalou-Legaki, A. Tasos, M. Favre, P. Vouros, I. Tsimbidis, Dr. E. Hughes, R. Moura, Dr M. Hows, H. Chelmis, D. Greene, J. Lowther, N. Petala, P. Papatheodorou, C. Beattie, A. Girndt, D. Dillon, Geffroy, A. Kondylidou, P. Tsoumas, V. Sofronas, Sofia Papastamkou, Angela Faulkner, Kris Vermeeren, Danièle Covo, E. Lavi, Anais, Maniquet, J. Blake, J.A. Smith, D. Broadley, D. Petrogas, Mick Schroepfer, Oriana Simoncini, Federica Eugenia Lavi, Andy and H. Pay, G. McAdam, M. Collard, R. Collard, G. Katzourakis, P. Rhion, David Roberts, Elena Papanicolaou, Pantelis Zinas, Maria Lagou, Marie-C. Mayene, M.l Mayene, S. Favre, I. Kokkaliari, R.E. Papadakis, R. Mazaraki, Stergios Chrousis, Ioannis Bardanis, Spiros Agapitos, Fotis Mouselimis, M. Moreels, I. Trikoiklis, D. Diakoloukas, D.P. Quinn, R. Alnervik, R. Clarke, Charles and June Seagrave, the Tilos Cultural Association “Nea Omonia”, the 800 members of Proact International (http://www.proact-campaigns.net/), the 18000 members of the Bird Forum (http://www.birdforum.net), the Greek Society for the Protection of Nature, the Greek Society for Immediate Response for the Protection of Wild Nature, the Greek Ornithological Society (http://www.ornithologiki.gr), the Tilos Mayor, the Tilos City Council, the Governor of the Dodecanese, the House for Literature and Arts of Rhodes, the Tilos Hotel Owners Association, the Greek Anti-Hunting Initiative, the Union of Animal Friends of Kos, the Greek Union of Ecological Societies, the 300 members of the Friends of Tilos Association, the Parliamentary representatives of the Greek “Coalition Party of the Left and Ecological Movement” (http://www.syn.gr) and the Hellenic Youth Parliament which in a unanimous vote passed a resolution in support of our cause. Thank you!
The Tilos Life-Nature Program “The Natura 2000 network is the European Union’s key contribution to stopping the erosion of Europe’s biodiversity”, said Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström. “With LIFE we are able to provide funding to strengthen Natura 2000 and to help threatened animals and plants recover. We need biodiversity - for emotional and ethical, economic and ecological reasons -, and LIFE makes an important financial contribution to preserving it." The Tilos Life-Nature Project: Title: Tilos, Conservation Management of an Island SPA Beneficiary: Municipality of Tilos Partners: Regional Directorate of Forests in Southern Aegean OIKOS – Nature Management Ltd. Tilos Park Association Co-financiers: European Union Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food Budget: € 824.212.000,00 Duration: 40 months, 01/11/2004 – 28/02/2008 Objective Tilos Island is scientifically rated as very important for Bonelli’s Eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus) and Eleonora’s Falcon (Falco eleonorae) and as important for Mediterranean Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii), hosting high percentages of these species’ rare European populations. The project objective is to implement management measures in order to improve the conservation status of these three bird species and to set a basis for the Special Protection Area for the Birds (SPA) management requirements of the site of Tilos. (In other words, we will inventory and locate our populations and build the infrastructure as well as provide the people to protect what we have. Then priority actions can be taken and funded to ensure the target species’ growth and development.) Threats: Low fresh water availability for wild fauna, which in turn causes a shortage of prey (i.e. food) for targeted species as well as abandonment of farmland and loss of traditionally cultivated habitat, which also results in a shortage of prey for our targeted species. Disturbance of breeding sites and lack of protection and conservation management for targeted species. Lack of understanding and appreciation of the SPA conservation value of the site by locals and visitors. Lack of incentives and management proposals. Actions and means involved: Bird species management Expected results: Sustainable and constant provision of fresh water for wild fauna and targeted species; Effective surveillance of the breeding populations of targeted species and feeding sites for Phalacrocorax aristotelis; Increase/maintain breeding success of H.fasciatus; Increase breeding success of Falco eleonorae; Elimination of human disturbance to the targeted birds through awareness; Control of visitors’ pressure on important spots for the breeding of targeted species; and appreciation of the conservation value of the site by users and visitors; creation and promotion of specific management proposals for targeted species; Upgrading the capacity of local Services for environmental management and enhancement of collaboration among local, regional and central authorities for future projects. We are just a “click” away! 
The European Commission has approved funding for the Tilos nature conservation project under the LIFE-Nature programme 2004. This project will further contribute to safeguarding important wildlife habitats and threatened species. 
LIFE-Nature is part of the LIFE programme. Established in 1992, LIFE is the EU's financial instrument supporting environmental and nature conservation projects throughout the EU, in candidate countries and in some neighbouring regions. For additional information please, visit http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/home.htm.
We have also developed two Internet discussion groups for those of you who share our passion for Tilos and nature’s biodiversity and who want to share your experiences and thoughts with others.
The Tilos Life & Traditions Group is a Yahoo Group with members from over twenty countries who share our passion for Tilos and its culture. It is free and it is fun. You can join by visiting the following address: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Tilos-Life/
The Tilos Park Member Group is a Yahoo Group for the members of the Tilos Park Association from all over the world. You have to be a Member of our Organization to join this group, which you can visit at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Tilos-Park/
Join us on the Internet! Tilos and the Tilos Park are closer to you now than they have ever been before.
Nature is Calling Please, consider becoming a Member of the Tilos Park Association. Your membership will add strength to our voice in the preservation of the natural heritage of Tilos. To receive a membership application package, please send an e-mail to tilos-park@otenet.gr with your name and snail mail address. Thank you for your consideration and your support.
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