Reintroducción Lince Andalucia - Conservation and reintroduction

 Reintroducción Lince Andalucia Conservation and reintroduction of the
Iberian lynx in Andalucia
LIFE06 NAT/E/000209
Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data R e a d m o r e Contact details:
Project Manager: Miguel Angel SIMON
Fax: +34 955 00 37 75
Email: miguelangel.simon@juntadeandalucia.es;
dggmn.secretaria.cma@juntadeandalucia.es]
Project description:
Background
The Iberian lynx is the most threatened carnivorous mammal in Europe. This
medium-sized feline (8-14 kg) lives in areas characterised by a mixture of dense
woodland, Mediterranean scrub and pasture. It benefits from areas with an
abundance of its main prey, rabbits, and where interference from humans is
minimal. Up to the 19th century, the species could be found in all the regions of Spain and
Portugal. However, since then its population and distribution area suffered
decline, which reached alarming levels in the last decades of the 20th century,
mainly due to rabbit epidemics and loss of habitat. By the turn of the
millennium, barely 100 individuals survived in the wild in only two unconnected
populations in Spain: Andújar-Cardeña; and Doñana.
This catastrophic trend was partially reversed by the previous LIFE project ‘Lince
Andalucía - Population recovery of Iberian Lynx in Andalusia’ (LIFE02
NAT/E/008609). This project succeeded in improving numbers as well as genetic
diversity of the Iberian lynx sub-populations. Key achievements included the
exchange of individuals between the sub-populations and the development of a
captive breeding programme. The project considerably increased rabbit numbers
in key territories through managed breeding, release and protection. Essential
habitat improvement measures were agreed through collaboration with
landowners and hunters.
However, although the 49% increase in the population achieved created
optimism, it still left the Iberian lynx with a population of less than 190
individuals. The two sub-populations remained isolated from each other and too
many deaths were being recorded as a result of road accidents in the animals’
territory. The species remained classified as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list.
Objectives
This follow-up project aimed to build on the successful stabilisation of the
Iberian lynx populations in Spain to deliver a global and comprehensive strategy
for the conservation of the species. It sought to involve every relevant sector and
cover all appropriate issues to achieve: maintenance and stabilization of the existing populations
increase in the number of individuals
creation of new territories
connectivity between isolated sub-populations
improved genetic diversity amongst populations.
Specific actions foreseen included the translocation of specimens from
Andújar-Cardeña to Doñana. A particular challenge of the project was to
successfully attempt the first ever introduction to the wild of Iberian lynx
bred and raised in captivity. It also sought to achieve self-sustainable rabbit
populations in all Lynx distribution areas and in those areas destined to
future reintroductions.
The project planned to accompany all these actions with a wide and
comprehensive awareness-raising campaign helping to improve attitudes
towards the lynx and decrease some of the threats to its survival.
Results
The Andalusian Lynx Introduction project has very significantly contributed to
the recovery of the Iberian lynx, helping to both increase and extend populations.
The success of the project is demonstrated by the decision of the specialist cat
group of the IUCN to downgrade the classification of the species from ‘critically
endangered’ to ‘endangered’. To enable the appropriate management of more than 200 000 ha of target
territory for the Iberian lynx, the beneficiary built on the improving co-operation
between public authorities, NGOs and hunters associations developed in the
earlier LIFE project. It specifically agreed land stewardship agreements with 147
private estates, providing an excellent example of land custody arrangements for
sustainable management.
Management actions delivered included: lease of hunting rights; reduction of
cattle; compensation schemes for damage caused by lynx; supplementary feeding
and drinking stations; lynx enclosures in reintroduction areas; artificial shelters
for breeding; adaptation of roads and paths; fences to prevent grazing by
ungulates; and clearing of vegetation, pruning of trees, sowing of pastures and
fertilisation of land.
The project worked to enhance the habitat of existing areas of distribution of the
Iberian lynx as well as preparing new areas for reintroduction of the species.
Individual lynxes bred in captivity were released into the wild at carefully
selected areas to create new populations. The project also undertook specific
measures to enhance rabbit populations, including the construction of shelters
and captive breeding stations and the reintroduction of populations to target
areas. These management actions achieved the following specific results: reduced fragmentation of lynx habitat – notably achieving connectivity of
the two sub-populations of Sierra Morena
preparation of important new areas for reintroduction of the species –
including potential long-term areas in Extremadura
two new populations established at Guarrizas and Guadalmellato (Andalusia)
total number of wild lynx increased to 326 individuals by 2011 – including
the doubling of the population in Doñana after years of stagnation
the total surface occupied by Iberian lynx in Andalusia increased from 510
km2 in 2006 to 979 km2 in 2011
the genetic pool of the populations was improved with the breeding of
reinforced individuals in Doñana with animals from Sierra Morena
a positive recovery of rabbit populations in target areas, despite ongoing
impact from the hemorrhagic virus disease
reduced risk of road kills in the area of Doñana, with a considerable number
of kilometres now lynx-proof, including the construction of two new
ecoducts
habitat benefits also for additional priority species including the Spanish
Imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) and Black vulture (A e g y p i u s m o n a c h u s).
A large number of awareness-raising activities were undertaken, reaching
thousands of people; however it remains an ongoing challenge to increase public
understanding of and support for the measures undertaken. Scientific
dissemination was well targeted through international congresses and
networking.
The approval of the Recovery Plan for the Iberian Lynx in Andalusia was a major
policy milestone, which ensures the legal protection of the species and secures
the continuity of actions initiated with this project. Support for long-term
management has been foreseen through grants approved under the FEADER
programme. Other activities not linked to recurrent management, will be carried
out with a new LIFE project ‘IBERLINCE’.
Top
Environmental issues addressed:
Themes
Species - Mammals
Keywords
endangered species‚ protected area Target EU Legislation
Nature protection and Biodiversity
Directive 92/43 - Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and
flora- Habitats Directiv ...
Target species
Lynx pardinus Target Habitat types
6310 - Dehesas with evergreen Quercus spp.
2250 - Coastal dunes with Juniperus spp.
Natura 2000 sites
SCI ES0000050
SCI ES0000053
SCI ES4320013
SCI ES4320039
SCI ES6130001
SCI ES6130005
SCI ES6150009
SCI ES6150012
SCI ES6150023
SCI ES6160005
SCI ES6160008
SIERRA DE HORNACHUELOS
SIERRA NORTE
GRANADILLA
SIERRA DE LAS VILLUERCAS Y VALLE DEL GUADARRANQUE
SIERRA DE CARDEÑA Y MONTORO
SUROESTE DE LA SIERRA DE CARDEÑA Y MONTORO
DOÑANA NORTE Y OESTE
DEHESA DEL ESTERO Y MONTES DE MOGUER
DEHESA DE TORRECUADROS Y ARROYO DE PILAS
DESPEÑAPERROS
CUENCAS DEL RUMBLAR, GUADALEN Y GUADALMENA
Top
Beneficiaries:
Coordinator
Type of organisation
Description
Junta de Andalucía. Consejería de Medio
Ambiente
Regional authority
The Consejería de Medio Ambiente (Junta de
Andalucía) is the regional administration in
charge of nature conservation. Partners
Junta de Andalucía: Consejería de Agricultura y
Pesca, Spain Junta de Extremadura: Consejería
de Agricultura y Medio Ambiente, Spain
Asociación de Propietarios y Productores de
Caza de Andalucía (APROCA), Spain Asociación
Empresarial de Criadores y Titulares de Cotos
de Caza de Andalucía (ATECA), Spain
Ecologistas en Acción-Andalucía, Spain
Federación Andaluza de Caza, Spain Fundación
CBD-Hábitat, Spain Sociedad Española para la
Conservación y Estudio de los Mamíferos
(SECEM), Spain WWF-Adena, Spain Junta de
Andalucía: Consejería de Obras Públicas y
Transportes, Spain Top
Administrative data:
Project reference
Duration
Total budget
EU contribution
Project location
LIFE06 NAT/E/000209
01-AUG-2006 to 28-FEB -2012
25,971,489.00 €
9,869,166.00 €
Andalucía(España)
Top
Read more:
Project web site
Publication: After-LIFE
Conservation Plan
Publication: Guidelines-Manual
Publication: Layman report
Publication: Management plan
Publication: Proceedings
Publication: Technical report
Project's website (ES)
Title: Plan de conservación del lince ibérico
Year: 2012 No of pages: 70 Title: "Anejo A.11 - Plan de Recuperación del
lince ibérico de la Comunidad Autónoma de
Andalucía" Year: 2011 Editor: BOJA núm. 25 No
of pages: 30 Title: Informe layman Year: 2012 No of
pages: 35 Title: Plan de Recuperación del lince ibérico de
la Comunidad Autónoma de Andalucía"
Year: 2011 Editor: BOJA, Sevilla No of pages: 30 Title: Proceedings of the III Iberian lynx
Conservation Seminar, November 17-19, 2008
Year: 2009 No of pages: 92 Title: Project's Final technical report Year: 2012
No of pages: 154 Top
Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data R e a d m o r e