PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Founded in 1993, Fundación Global Natura (FGN) is a private national charitable organisation dedicated to the conservation, protection and management of the environment. FGN projects contribute to maintaining and restoring habitat and endangered species, technological innovation and recovery of traditional farming activities through land stewardship agreements. Environmental education is central to its mission. FGN has carried out numerous projects in Natura 2000 network sites throughout Spain.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of LIFE STEPPE FARMING was to halt the population decline of steppe birds included in the Annex I of the Birds Directive, and classified as threatened, declining endangered or depleted in the latest Article 12 assessment of conservation status. The project aimed to increase the population of some of these species in specific locations and to reduce threats to steppe birds derived from the changes in farming systems.
The project’s specific objectives were:
- To implement more sustainable and competitive models for crops and livestock. To preserve the territory´s mosaic structure and its value as habitat for steppe birds without losing productivity;
- To reduce the use of pesticides and modify the techniques of pest control and use of agrichemical products;
- To remove threats and obstacles facing birds and recover the territory’s ecological infrastructure, such as small ponds or breeding facilities, which are important elements for steppe bird conservation;
- To win the trust of farmers, sheep breeders and hunters and to increase the local community’s awareness of the positive social and economic benefits of species conservation and the traditional landscape structure;
- To improve knowledge of the status of and threats to steppe bird populations;
- To implement the most important conservation measures of the EU Species Action Plans for the little bustard (Tetrax tetrax), great bustard (Otis tarda) and lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni), three species listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive; and
- To produce a regional plan for steppe bird conservation.
RESULTS
The LIFE STEPPE FARMING project carried out a range of measures to halt the decline of bird populations in the steppes of Castilla-La Mancha, which are Special Protection Areas for Birds. Its strategy was to engage farmers on whose agricultural land the birds are dependent. Measures included reducing the use of fertilisers and phytosanitary products and restoring natural boundaries, along with introducing the practice of rotation with leguminous plants and the creation of covered fallow land.
For trialing these measures, the project set up an Agricultural Stewardship Network of around 15 000 hectares spread over 23 municipalities in La Mancha. At the end of the project, the network comprised more than 60 farmers, two cooperatives and six hunting associations, which is testimony to the high level of support for biodiversity conservation. A socio-economic study carried out within the framework of the project also confirmed the willingness of farmers to adapt their crops.
Indeed, the project team cooperated with farmers on the drawing up Biodiversity Action Plans that foresee the development of agro-environmental measures that do not simply focus on organic production. For example, the team evaluated the benefits of growing eight traditional leguminous species as part of a rotation system during two consecutive agricultural campaigns (2017/ 2018 and 2018/2019). They also installed 10 km of anti-collision strapping in trellised vineyards. Additionally, the project focused on the recovery of hedgerows through the planting of more than 115 000 native plants on a 20 km stretch; the hedges serve as refuges for steppe birds and as feeding areas. Finally, in collaboration with hunting societies, the team created more than 50 small naturalised ponds as habitat for the red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa), a species of interest to hunters.
Another outcome of the project was the generation of support for the return of traditional pastoral activities, such as grazing, on more than 5 000 hectares. The Castilla-La Mancha public authority moreover developed a conservation plan for steppe birds for the region following four censuses carried out in the target SPAs of populations of steppe birds: Montagu's harrier, hen harrier, little bustard, great bustard, great bustard, caravan goose, Iberian sandgrouse and black-bellied sandgrouse. The surveys included data on habitat type and changes in land use, taking into account different dryland crops, grassland and scrubland areas. These surveys allowed the following conclusions on actions to halt population losses:
- Develop a heterogeneous landscape;
- Promote crop rotation that includes the development of fallow land with wild vegetation;.
- Optimise phytosanitary and fertiliser use;
- Promote extensive cattle farming;
- Encourage hedgerows and biodiversity islands (solitary or small tree groups);
- Avoid the expansion of the woody crops;
- Create ponds; and
- Facilitate sustainable hunting.
To help spread awareness and foster acceptance of the project’s objectives, around 300 workshops were held attracting around 6 000 schoolchildren and 2 000 adults.
