Background Three SPA sites in Greece account for more than 75% of the country’s total population of the lesser kestrel and 6% of the estimated EU population. In Thessaly, however, the species is threatened, mainly due to the degradation of foraging areas, which in turn reduces the amount of food and, therefore, breeding success. Its prey is also declining as a result of the intensification of agricultural practices, which reduces the abundance of insects and small mammals. The use of pesticides further reduces food availability. Reduced breeding success is also linked to a deterioration in the quality and availability of nesting habitat, and the modernisation of buildings is forcing birds to select nesting sites in villages, further away from their foraging areas. Increased mortality of adults, juveniles and chicks is also linked to a lack of awareness by the local population. Intentional nest destruction is not uncommon, and young people have been reported for shooting the low flying kestrels. Objectives The overall objective is to achieve a 15% increase in the population of the lesser kestrel. The specific objectives are to: Establish a knowledge base of the ecological requirements of the local species population; Prepare a detailed regional action plan for the lesser kestrel that sets quantifiable Favourable Reference Values and conservation objectives for the more than a hundred local species colonies; Effectively implement concrete conservation actions to improve the quality of foraging habitat and nesting site availability; Demonstrate biodiversity friendly agro-pastoral practices, which benefit the lesser kestrel and improve the quality of local products; Raise public awareness among local stakeholders and improve attitudes to lesser kestrel conservation. Expected results: A regional species action plan; 600 artificial nest boxes and five blocks of nests; 10 km of hedgerows and more than 2 000 trees and shrubs planted; Conservation-friendly farming practices on 300 ha of arable land; Low-intensity grazing on 300 ha; 500 ha of wet meadows under a biodiversity management regime; A ‘lesser kestrel friendly’ certification label for local products; An environmental education kit (150 copies), three project leaflets (10 000 copies), and a project documentary (1 000 copies); A 50-page Good Practices Guide (1 000 copies).