The Life Iberlince project to host the 2018 Iberian Lynx Conservation Awards at the Roman Theatre in Merida

The Life+Iberlince project 'Recovery of the historical distribution of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) in Spain and Portugal' (2011-2018) will host the Iberlince Awards at the Roman Theatre in Mérida (Badajoz) on June 5th. Each year, these awards acknowledge collectives, institutions and individuals whose contribution to the preservation and conservation of the Iberian lynx are deemed remarkable.

As in previous editions, those awarded were proposed Life+Iberlince project partners, this year constituting seven people, groups, institutions and organizations that will be called on stage at the Roman Theatre in Merida to receive this recognition.

The Almuradiel City Council (Ciudad Real); the residents of Andújar (Jaén); the Peñalajo Estate (also in Ciudad Real); Diego García Márquez, the Aznalcázar preserve gamekeeper; the Portuguese NGO Wilder; the workers at Finca Los Quintos de San Martín (Badajoz); and the Gloria Fuertes School of Fuente del Arco (Badajoz) are the this year’s winners.

The way that Almuradiel – the municipality located in the heart of the Sierra Morena reintroduction area – welcomed the project, as well as its firm support for the conservation of the Iberian lynx, merited its award, in this edition.

Another 2018 Iberlince award will fall on the residents of Andújar (Jaén), whose generosity and support were essential in the recovery of the species in the Peninsula. Although the Doñana lynx population has been widely known, the Andújar specimens were the true engines behind the Iberian lynx’s recovery. Without Andújar, the current lynx population wouldn’t have been reached. This was the area from which specimens were extracted to found the captive breeding plan, and integrate the Guadalmellato and Guarrizas reintroductions. Andújar residents were proud of the fact that their territory’s lynxes were responsible for the species’ salvation.

The Finca Peñalajo, located in the Viso del Marqués municipality, is highlighted for its active collaboration in the protection of the Iberian lynx. This is where the lynx came by themselves after the first releases in Sierra Morena, and the estate immediately opened its doors to the Life+Iberlince project.

These awards shall also mention the work of Diego García Márquez,'the guard’ – as he likes to be called. His work is attested by over 30 years in the profession, during which he demonstrated his commitment to all areas of the environment, and to the Iberlince project, with which he collaborated since inception.

Wilder, who Portugal motioned to receive the distinction, has contributed significantly to the project’s dissemination among the public. Wilder is an online platform specialized in biodiversity, and one that encourages citizen involvement in its conservation.

Similarly, one should highlight schools’ involvement with the Iberlince project, namely the students and professors at Gloria Fuertes school of Fuente del Arco (Badajoz), who actively collaborated in each of the informative activities proposed by the Iberlince project.

This edition will also award the 'Los Quintos de San Martín' estate workers, whose collaboration was essential for the proper development of actions carried out by project specialists in the territory. Undoubtedly, without their collaboration, some of the project’s objectives would not have been achieved.