The project for the reintroduction of the Iberian lynx in Andalusia receives the first prize at European Commission’s 'Green Awards'

The Life project for the “Conservation and Reintroduction of the Iberian Lynx in Andalusia” (2006-2011) was awarded the First Prize in the Nature & Biodiversity category at the Green Awards Gala, held today in Brussels; an award which distinguishes it as the best Life project in this category in the past 25 years, since the Life Program began (1992-2017).

The ‘Andalusian Lynx Introduction’ was represented by, among others, the Environment and Spatial Planning Vice-Counselor of the Regional Government of Andalusia, José Luis Hernández, and the national project director, Miguel Ángel Simón, who, accompanied by members of the Life Project, accepted the award delivered by the European Commission’s Environment, Maritime & Fisheries Commissioner, Karmenu Vella, at a gala which highlighted the greatest achievements of this project for the reintroduction of the Iberian Lynx.

Alongside the ‘Andalusian Lynx Introduction’, the ‘Burren LIFE’ project was also awarded in the Nature & Biodiversity category, for which the Life projects AlterIAS, The Raptors and SloWolf were also nominated.

European citizens played a decisive role in awarding the prize, as, through their votes via the facebook profile created by the Life Programme, they gave majority support to the ‘Andalusian Lynx Introduction’.

The “Conservation and Reintroduction of the Iberian Lynx in Andalusia” is the second of Life’s projects implemented by the Environment Ministry in its commitment to the conservation of the Iberian lynx, which began in the year 2000 with programs for the conservation of the species.

The extraordinary results of the first Life “Recovery of Iberian Lynx Populations in Andalusia” (2002-2006) as well as the second (awarded at this event), by which the species was declassified from the “critical danger of extinction” status, propelled a third project (“Recovery of the historical distribution of the Iberian lynx in Spain and Portugal”), currently being carried out.

The selection of projects, as detailed by the European Commission, was based on a series of criteria such as its long-term sustainability, project communication potential, national and international impact, either in Europe or globally. Likewise, innovation, environmental benefits and improvements in the state of conservation were also taken under consideration.