PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
This LIFE project could be considered as a continuation of the LIFE project, ‘Campanarios de Azaba’ (LIFE07 NAT/E/000762), which carried out a series of actions aimed at improving the populations of the black vulture and black stork, and their habitats – temporary ponds, the dehesas with evergreen Quercus spp., gallery forests, etc. This project also included a strong environmental awareness and dissemination component. However, despite its success, much work remains to be done to protect the valuable species and habitats that can be found in this western part of the Iberian Peninsula.
OBJECTIVES
This transnational project, which would be implemented in Spain and Portugal, had the overall aim of improving the conservation status and population trends of the main habitats and species (mainly birds) of the Western Iberian Peninsula. It would carry out actions in a total of ten Natura 2000 sites. The specific objectives were to:
- Raise awareness at local, regional and national levels about the Western Iberian territory as a transnational ecological unit of enormous value for the conservation of biodiversity in Europe;
- Improve the conservation status of seven habitats listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive (two of which are priority habitat types). These include freshwater habitats, forests of temperate Europe and Mediterranean deciduous forests, and dehesas (a type of grassland formation);
- Improve food resources for the Spanish imperial eagle, golden eagle and owl eagle;
- Increase the populations of the black vulture, Egyptian vulture, Bonelli’s eagle, black stork and lesser kestrel.
RESULTS
The LIFE OESTE IBERICO restored and protected seven habitat types listed in Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive (including two priority habitats) in western Spain and Portugal. It also enhanced food resources for a set of bird species of Community interest in unfavourable conservation status (e.g. Spanish imperial eagle, golden eagle, owl eagle, Bonelli’s eagle, black vulture, Egyptian vulture and black stork), and increased the number of nesting sites available for the black vulture, the black stork and the lesser kestrel. The project team implemented a comprehensive monitoring plan to analyse project performance, and conducted an awareness-raising programme at local, regional and national levels.
Specifically, the project team:
- Improved the phytosanitary status and condition of dehesa Quercus spp. habitat through the implementation of silvicultural treatments, the protection of seedlings and proper pruning practices over more than 350 ha.
- Restored riparian forest along 5 km of denuded meadows and springs by planting native tree species, such as white willow, alder and ash, and installing individual protection around seedlings to prevent browsing by wild and domestic herbivores.
- Enhanced the habitat for black stork through the promotion of feeding and nesting sites.
- Creation of 28 temporary ponds and their subsequent stocking with tench, and the restoration of another 13 temporary ponds by removing invasive Azolla filiculoides and by regrading eroded banks to more natural slopes and subsequent revegetation.
- Increased bird nesting site availability through the installation of 11 nesting platforms in remote sites known to be used by the target species.
- Improved the prey base for Bonelli´s eagle, golden eagle and eagle owl, through the implementation of actions to enhance the habitat mosaic favoured by wild rabbit, red legged partridge and wood pigeon over 190 ha, the creation of more than 50 refuge and breeding sites for rabbits, and the translocation of rabbits and partridges to these areas. Prey availability for Bonelli´s eagle was also increased through the creation or restoration of 8 dovecotes.
- Created and maintained 3 supplementary feeding sites to increase food and nesting site availability for black vulture and other necrophagous birds, as well as the erection of 12 artificial nesting platforms for black vulture.
- Increased the availability of breeding sites for lesser kestrel through the provision of numerous nesting boxes, and the use of hacking and subsequent controlled release of young individuals in farmland dominated areas.
To raise awareness, the project team produced and installed information panels; organised field visits to nature reserves in Campanarios de Azaba (Spain) and Faia Brava (Portugal) that were attended by more than 2 000 people; disseminated information through the press and social media/networking sites; and promoted their activities in schools, universities, and via other educational programmes in both Spain and Portugal. Four workshops were organised on relevant topics, such as dehesa conservation and management techniques, biodiversity conservation and the use of land stewardship agreements for conservation. More than 300 people from Spanish and Portuguese municipalities also participated in training courses on related topics.
