The project “SOS Coelho: bases for a conservação de uma espécie chave nos ecossistemas ibéricos" is presented in Mértola (Portugal):

On May 13, the public presentation of the results of the project " SOS Coelho: bases for a conservação de uma espécie chave nos ecossistemas ibéricos " was held in Mértola, Portugal, with the presence of the Ministry of Land Planning and Nature Conservation, Ministry of Environment of Portugal, and the president of the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and forests (ICNF).

The study was conducted between November 2014 and May 2016 and has had as main objective to evaluate and characterize the epidemiological behavior of new strain of virus-viral hemorrhagic disease rabbit, and define possible management measures to minimize the impacts.

This project was conducted through a collaboration between a scientific research center, the Centre for Research in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources at the University of Porto (CIBIO/InBIO-UP), and associations of hunters and landowners (National Association of Owners rural, Hunting and Biodiversity Management, ANPC, and National Confederation of Portuguese Hunters, CNCP), and was financed by the fund for Biodiversity and Conservation of Nature Government of Portugal.

The results were presented by researchers Pedro Monterroso and Peter J. Esteves (from the CIBIO/ InBIO-UP) and João Carvalho (ANPC), and demonstrate the severity of the decline in populations of wild rabbits and how are you can compromise conservation efforts of endangered species such as the Iberian lynx and the imperial eagle. After the presentation of results, we proceeded to a session of questions and discussion on the future of wild rabbits on the peninsula, with the presence of Rafale Villafuerte (IESA-CSIC); Pedro Monterroso, Peter J. C. Esteves and Paulo Alves (CIBIO/InBIO-UP), Miguel A. Simon (Junta de Andalucía), Ramon P. Ayala (WWF Spain), Pedro Rocha (Director Department Conservação do da Natureza e Florestas do Alentejo, ICNF), João Carvalho (ANPC) and Vitor Palmilha (CNCP). It was unanimous opinion that the scene of the Iberian populations of wild rabbits is very worrying and need to make joint efforts between Portugal and Spain to try to reverse this situation.