Background The great bustard is one of Europe’s largest breeding bird species. Its population in central Europe, however, is under threat from intensive farming and collision with power lines. A 2005 LIFE project aimed to address these problems and successfully created undivided open spaces in the Westliches Weinviertel SPA. These habitat improvements have stabilised the Austrian great bustard population and could play a key role in establishing a breeding population in the Czech Republic, where the bustard is found but is not breeding. Objectives The objectives of this LIFE+ project are to reduce the threat of collision with power lines, and at the same time to continue Austria’s intensive habitat management efforts. The Austrian breeding population is part of the West Pannonian population of great bustards of which a significant part spends the winter in Austria. The project therefore aims to support and maximise the effectiveness of cross-border protection in Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic by co-ordinating conservation measures and optimising communication. Other main project objectives are to establish close co-operation with stakeholders and to introduce a public information campaign to reduce the risk of human disturbance of bustards. Expected results: 33.1 km of medium voltage power lines will be transferred beneath the soil; Bird protection markings will be added to 3.9 km of high-voltage power lines and the effectiveness of these markings monitored; Two existing windbreaks will be broken up in the Sandboden and Praterterrasse project area to enlarge the habitat of the great bustard; Great bustard numbers and habitat use will be monitored in all four Austrian SPAs and (to a lesser extent) in adjacent Hungarian and Slovakian Natura 2000 sites; GIS evaluation of monitoring results and habitat management in co-operation with local farmers; Close contact and co-operation with great bustard conservation experts in Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic; A public information campaign to reduce human disturbance of great bustards and an international film to promote the LIFE project and the objectives of Natura 2000; Tasks will be carried out in close co-operation with relevant stakeholders (e.g. farmers and hunters).