Collaboration between managers and owners to save the Iberian lynx takes the votes of European citizens

With more than 6,000 votes, the conservation project of the Iberian lynx, won yesterday in Brussels, the European Citizenship prize of the Natura 2000 site.

The set of management strategies and conservation between government, institutions, NGOs and owners and managers of land of RN2000 development has served to pull the lynx species most threatened in the world of critical danger it was and to establish pathways joint, exportable and with a strong demonstration effect to ensure the future management of the Natura 2000 network’s work.

In 2002 there were fewer than 100 lynx in two population localized natural parks of Doñana and Andújar, both included in the RN2000, and where much of the land is privately owned. In 2002 the Government of Andalusia, relying on Life Nature funds, multiplied its efforts to slow the rate of species extinction and start recovery. Reintroductions, habitat improvements included in the collaboration agreements between public and private stakeholders, and regulatory changes that ensure long-term financing of the actions included in these agreements, have been the main tools used.

131 collaboration agreements have been signed between the management and the owners and managers of 94,692 hectares of private land located in the RN2000. In these areas they have developed specific actions to improve the habitat of the lynx and strengthening rabbit populations. The owners and managers are committed to protect the lynx and its habitat, combining the land use with the requirements of the species, to monitor the territory to be free from threats, and show how this type of management adds value to territory.

The main goal of Life Nature projects with the Iberian lynx has been to prevent the extinction of the species. In 2102 the aim of lowering your threat category of "critically endangered" (UICN, 2001) to "endangered" due to conservation actions implemented on land included in the Natura 2000 network in the design and implementation is achieved of these actions it has enjoyed all actors in society, public and private, needed to reduce the various threats to the species. It has been essential to have the participation of owners and hunting societies located within the RN2000, by signing collaboration agreements that ensure management of their supports land conservation of the species, executing actions to improve habitat and rabbit populations.
Over the past 15 years it has worked in Natura 2000 network of central and eastern Sierra Morena and Doñana and its surroundings, as well as in places of RN2000 that connect Doñana with Sierra Morena.