The population of the Iberian lynx has been recovering and according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has now moved from “threatened” to “vulnerable” status. However, this means that it is still at risk of extinction, even if to a lesser extent. This positive development was also made possible due to EU financial support primarily via a series of LIFE projects over the past 20 years, such as LIFE Safe-crossing (2018-2023) or LIFE LynxConnect (2020-2025) and celebrated last week in the Spanish senate (also see below section "Large carnivore projects").

The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is a species of "community interest" strictly protected under the Habitats Directive. EU Member States have committed to restoring and maintaining their populations to a "favourable conservation status" (FCS). However, at this moment the species is still assessed by Member States and the EEA as unfavourable with positive trends.

While the positive trend in the red list status of the Iberian lynx means that it is no longer at any immediate risk of global extinction, it has not yet achieved the FCS under the Directive. As a 'priority species' under the Habitats Directive, potential LIFE projects on the Iberian Lynx are entitled to the highest possible co-funding rate for LIFE Nature projects, currently set at 75% and that could support the species in reaching FCS.