Background Lesser spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina), a species listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive, is classified by BirdLife International as a species with unfavourable conservation status in Europe. Detailed surveys of lesser spotted eagle have highlighted its alarming decline in many European countries, especially at the western and southern boundaries of its range. These declines in population numbers throughout Europe appear largely due to intensification of farmland management practices and/or abandonment of land, crop monocultures, unsuitable mowing regimes, a general loss of landscape mosaics, large-scale drainage of riverside habitats, unsuitable natural regeneration and afforestation. This project focuses on Puszcza Bialowieska (Bialowieza Forest) and Puszcza Knyszynska (Knyszynska Forest) in north-eastern Poland, both Natura 2000 sites. Since the early 1990s (after the collapse of the state farm system), these unique landscapes, which are also some of the most valuable areas in Europe, have significantly deteriorated through loss of some habitats. These losses have been further exacerbated by low water levels in the Narewka river valley (one of the major river valleys in Puszcza Bialowieska) caused by canalisation. This has resulted in oxbow lakes and interconnected canals drying out earlier in the year, thereby decreasing the availability of amphibian prey. Lesser spotted eagle productivity has consequently decreased from 52% to 29% in Puszcza Bialowieska. Objectives The general objective of the LIFEAQUILA project was to reverse the decline and enhance the breeding populations and range of lesser spotted eagle in Puszcza Bialowieska and Puszcza Knyszynska by 2015, by implementing conservation measures, such as restoration of water levels, removal of scrub, installation of artificial perches, reintroduction of grazing and creation of small wetlands. The aim was to achieve the long-term conservation of lesser spotted eagle at national and regional level by developing a National Species Action Plan for Lesser Spotted Eagle and a Management Programme for Puszcza Knyszynska and by engaging with organisations working with farmers. Landscape scale conservation models for sustainable land use for lesser spotted eagle would be developed and promoted by 2015, by determining the favourable conditions and management for lesser spotted eagle in target areas and by developing and implementing landscape scale strategies for integrated, sustainable land use. Furthermore the project aimed to raise the awareness of the local communities, especially farmers, children and tourists, by organising local events, educational trails, media campaigns and seminars, as well as by developing guidance and sharing knowledge with colleagues in Poland and internationally. It planned to publish booklets (folders), brochures and guidelines and take part in the conferences and seminars of the project partners. Results The project succeeded in drawing up a Management Programme for Puszcza Knyszyńska Natura 2000 site that was included into a legally binding Conservation Action Plan for the site. A Lesser Spotted Eagle Action Plan was also developed and submitted to GDOŚ for final endorsement. Expert recommendations concerning management of the feeding grounds of lesser spotted eagle were incorporated into forest operation plans for eight forest districts. Furthermore, landscape scale conservation models for the species were developed for the two targeted Natura 2000 sites, Puszcza Białowieska and Puszcza Knyszyńska. A Monitoring Manual was produced, and 60 staff members of the beneficiary were trained in survey techniques. The measures carried out by the project were shown to have increased the breeding success of the lesser spotted eagle in the project areas. To facilitate the implementation of conservation measures, the project purchased 51.3 ha of land in the two sites. In Puszcza Knyszyńska, the water table was increased and small water bodies were created, thus improving nesting and foraging conditions for the pairs of lesser spotted eagles. Up to 164 ha of Narewka river valley were improved and 97 ponds were created to serve as amphibian spawning sites. Other conservation measures included the clearing of scrub on 750 ha of abandoned and overgrown meadows in order to restore the land for mowing under agri-environmental schemes. Additionally, 80 artificial perches were erected in 67 feeding grounds and 75 new nest protection zones were established to ensure better breeding success over the course of the project due to minimized human disturbance. All known nesting areas were covered by this protection. For the management of the land through grazing, 12 Polish red cattle and 20 horses were bought, and 18 064 m of fencing was erected and offered to nine farmers. Moreover, 96.6 ha of formerly abandoned pastures were re-activated in 20 breeding territories of the target species. Two study tours were organised for 94 participants and a seminar was held for 24 agri-environmental advisors, local authorities and NGO. In total eight local events (reaching 100 farmers and 230 children), one mobile photographic exhibition (reaching 600 people), 52 school evening seminars (reaching 1 900 pupils), and five educational trails with 69 information boards and six observation towers were organised. Also, 19 short radio and TV programmes, 16 short films and four TV interviews were produced. Further dissemination activities included the production of four folders (20 000 copies), five brochures (11 000 copies), three posters (5 000 copies), 500 cotton bags with logo, a pocket guide for farmers (2 000 copies) and guidance on landscape management for lesser spotted eagle (1 000 copies). The final seminar attracted 150 people. The project demonstrated measures for implementing EU policy, such as the Birds Directive (improving the protection of lesser spotted eagle), the Habitats Directive (improving the protection of 6510 habitat), the Water Directive (restoration of Narewka river), agri-environmental schemes and EU biodiversity strategy. The project methodology can be easily implemented in other parts of the country to protect lesser spotted eagle populations, especially the implementation of relevant protective measures and use of agri-environment schemes to ensure the conservation of feeding grounds. Planned protective measures should be based on knowledge of the spatial distribution of the species, its productivity, and food preferences etc. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).