Case Study
“Green Big Year 2024 Project”. Birdwatching around Europe without carbon emission.
Contact name
Ponç Feliu
Institution name
Fundació Alive, SEO/Birdlife and other NGOs
Region & country
Catalonia, Spain
Summary
After 10 years of practicing Green Birding -birdwatching without carbon emissions -, in 2024 Ponç Feliu, manager director of the Cap de Creus Natural Park, has set himself the challenge of observing the maximum number of bird species in one year. This is similar to 2013 when he traveled 10,000 km and saw 304 species in a year around Catalonia by bike, which is currently the European record. He described his experiences and adventures in the book “Pedals i plomes” (Pedals and feathers). In 2024, he aims to beat this record by pedaling, rowing and walking across Europe. Above all, he seeks funding to support conservation projects through a project to purchase old Empordà marshes and to support the “Bird of the Year” (Ave del Año) project by SEO/Birdlife, which this year is the Eurasian bittern, a wetland bird.
Delta Ebre - 178,37 km traveled and 8 new species of birds observed.
Albufera València - 92 km traveled and 4 new species of birds observed.
Doñana - 128,42 km traveled and 14 new species of birds observed.
Lisbon - Windy exhausting day - 160,22 km traveled and 61 new species of birds observed.
Background of the project
Climate change is the great problem we face nowadays. Naturalists, birdwatchers and people in general, we all should realise we can behave in a different way when visiting Nature. By bike, on foot… there are amazing ways to enjoy Nature instead of using fuel propelled cars.
The project has two objectives:
- to raise awareness about climate change and the loss of biodiversity on the Planet
- to act.
This is where collaboration is asked: providing funds for conservation projects through a project to buy an old Empordà marshe and supporting the organization Birdlife International with SEO/Birdlife‘s “Bird of the year” project, which in 2024 is the Eurasian bittern, a wetland bird.
What is needed it is collaboration to explain the project and reach people who may help .
Solution and actions taken
We would cover the needs mainly throught crowd funding, both for raising funds for direct conservation actions but also for awareness about the importance of sustainable mobility when watching birds and Nature.
Crowdfunding and public awareness: https://www.greenbigyear.com/en/adopt-a-bird/
Other institutions or parties involved
Many locals and international parters supports the project.
More info here: https://www.greenbigyear.com/en/
Results
This is still the beginning of the project. So for the moment we have few results and low fund raised
If you want to contribute and adopt a bird: https://www.greenbigyear.com/en/adopt-a-bird/
Challenges
Project dissemination to reach people who want to get involved.
We would love to have help and support from the following countries we will visit: France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Check Republic, Germany and the Netherlands along the year.
Lessons learned
We’ve been helped by many birdwatchers and naturalists during the first weeks of this project (it started in January the 1st 2024) along Portugal, Andalusia, Valencia and Catalonia. We will head France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Check Republic, Germany and the Netherlands during the year.
Contact name
Ponç Feliu
Institution name
Fundació Alive, SEO/Birdlife and other NGOs