Life+IBERLINCE: awards to the iberian-lynx conservation in 2014

On the last friday, June 12, the Life + project Iberlince Toledo held the awards ceremony of the iberian-lynx's conservation in 2014. These awards recognize the work and involvement of owners, associations, hunting societies and institutions in the Iberian-lynx conservation. This year's event was organized by the County of Castilla-La Mancha, as a project partner. The ceremony was conducted by Javier Gómez Elvira, Director General de Montes y Espacios Naturales de Castilla-La Mancha and Javie Madrid Rojo, Director General de Gestión del Medio Natural of the County of Andalusia.

The Government of Extremadura proposed granting Iberlince Award 2014 to the Agents of Environment of the lynx reintroduction areas in Extremadura that have shown at all times its professionalism and an enthusiasm more than commendable in the exciting work of the lynx reintroduction in Extremadura.

The County of Andalusia has considered the owner of the farm “Venta San Fernando” in Santa Elena (Jaén) has received the award for his work over the years. The owner of the farm, located in the reintroduction area of Guarrizas within the municipality of Santa Elena (Jaén), was one of the first in this area to collaborate in the project of conservation of the Iberian-lynx signing its first agreement in May 2009 under the previous LIFE Project "Conservation and reintroduction of the Iberian lynx in Andalusia". Since then he has been active in the conservation of this feline, not only giving their property to proceeding works of freed and monitoring of this species but also actively collaborating on several initiatives organized by the Life+IBERLINCE project.

Castilla la Mancha considers that the work developed by “Refugio de Fauna Chico Mendes” has been worth one of the two awards of the year of 2014. The farm is located in the southeast of the province of Ciudad Real, inside the reintroduction area of Sierra Morena Oriental, between the counties of Castellar de Santiago and Torre de Juan Abad. It was considered a Wildlife Refuge by the regional government of Castilla-La Mancha on July 3, 2001 and it is part of the Natura 2000 network in this region to be included in the LIC-ZEPA of Sierra Morena. From the moment of the commitment of the property with the conservation of biodiversity has been filled in. Proof of this is the collaboration with disparate conservation programs such as LIFE "PrioriMancha" project and the program "Taking Flight" among others. This has been one of the places chosen for loose lynx in the south of Ciudad Real, which so far have released eight Iberian-lynx.

The other prize is awarded to the owner of the Finca "El Castañar", located in the southern province of Toledo in the town of Mazarambroz within the reintroduction area of Montes de Toledo, it is part of Natura 2000 in Castilla-La Mancha to be included in the LIC-ZEPA of Montes de Toledo. For decades the property has been working selflessly in numerous conservation initiatives, including several LIFE projects. The commitment and cooperation of the property with the Life+IBERLINCE project is a great example of the importance of private participation, major efforts to demonstrate the compatibility of traditional uses and conservation of natural heritage. Currently it treasures a unique biodiversity, with a large representation of species of fauna more threatened in Castilla-La Mancha.

The Government of Portugal proposes to grant the Iberlince 2014 Award Executive Committee of the Action Plan for the Conservation of the Iberian-lynx in Portugal. In recognition of the work that has been done with a view to enable the reintroduction of the lynx in Portugal. It was a great effort, given the delay in implementing the measures of the Life+IBERLINCE project, which allowed the union of the great majority of stakholders, representatives of the administration, civil society, hunting industry organizations, the agricultural sector and the academic sector, thus creating the necessary conditions lynx reintroduction.