PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
According to IUCN, the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is the most endangered feline species in the world. This medium-sized cat (8-14 kg) lives in areas characterised by a mixture of dense woodland, Mediterranean scrub and pasture, especially areas with an abundance of rabbits and where interference from humans is minimal. The species is endemic to the Iberian peninsula and, until the 14th century, could be found in all areas across Spain and Portugal.
Since that time, and particularly in recent decades, its population and distribution area suffered an alarming decline. A general census carried out in 1989 estimated that there were only around 1 000 – 1 200 individuals left. The bulk of the remaining population was restricted to parts of south western Spain, with a few individuals in Portugal.
The most important threat to the lynx has been reduced food availability. Rabbits make up around 80% of the lynx’s diet and these suffered a heavy decline through severe epidemics of myxomatosis and haemorrhagic disease. The transformation and destruction of lynx habitat also reduced and fragmented its distribution to only 48 small populations, of which only eight contained more than 25 individuals. Important additional non-natural causes of mortality include accidental deaths from trapping and collisions with cars.
This project is part of an overall multi-beneficiaries, multi-annual approach involving five regional governments, a national authority and a research institution. The relevant projects are:
LIFE94 NAT/E/004811 and LIFE95 NAT/E/004818 (Andalusia);
LIFE94 NAT/E/004814 and LIFE95 NAT/E/004815 (Extremadura);
LIFE94 NAT/E/004813 and LIFE95 NAT/E/004816 (Castilla la Mancha);
LIFE94 NAT/E/001186 and LIFE95 NAT/E/004817 (Castile and Leon);
LIFE94 NAT/E/004808 and LIFE95 NAT/E/004821 (Madrid);
LIFE94 NAT/E/004810 and LIFE95 NAT/E/004819 (National Directorate General for Nature Conservation);
LIFE94 NAT/E/004809 and LIFE95 NAT/E/004820 (CSIC – the Higher Council for Scientific Research).
OBJECTIVES
All the projects operating under the joint approach aimed to work towards combating the main threats affecting the Iberian lynx to guarantee the future long-term viability of the species. They sought to collectively increase understanding of the species and its needs, raise awareness of the threats to the species and start recovery and conservation of its habitat and a reduction in mortality.
The 1994 and 1995 projects in Castilla la Mancha specifically planned to conduct studies and inventories of the lynx and its use of habitat and ecological corridors etc to increase understanding of the current situation for the species in the region. They foresaw the elaboration of a coherent management plan for the species and the implementation of measures to increase the rabbit population to improve the conditions for the lynx. These actions would be supported by monitoring and surveillance as well as public awareness programmes and information campaigns aimed mainly at the local population and hunters.
RESULTS
Overall, the LIFE lynx projects dated 1994&1995 made a significant contribution to increasing knowledge and understanding of the Iberian lynx. They helped increase awareness of the needs and current situation of the species and laid the foundations for the potential long-term recovery of the species. The actions undertaken by the different partners and new possible solutions to the problems affecting the species were discussed periodically at Steering Committee meetings. They contributed to a National Strategy for lynx conservation, which was adopted by the National Commission on Nature Protection in February 1999.
The Castilla la Mancha projects successfully increased regional knowledge and understanding of Lynx pardinus and developed a coherent regional recovery plan for the species, which will set the legal basis for management of lynx areas and the control of threats. They implemented initial measures to benefit the species and contributed to the overall national lynx strategy.
Highly specialised personnel conducted a detailed inventory of lynx areas, including estimates of population, evaluation of the habitat and feeding resources, mortality, etc. This identified 90-120 lynx in the region and enabled a zoning and evaluation of the main population nuclei. The study indicated a significant decline in the region’s lynx population of 50-65% compared with the 1988 census.
A radio-tracking programme aimed at detecting patterns of habitat-use and movement. Cage traps and new techniques using smell traps were also tested. Despite strong efforts, the trapping scheme proved to be ineffective, and not a single individual was captured. Nevertheless, the increased surveillance led to better understanding of the species’ distribution area and other critical issues. The main threat was found to be not degradation of habitat, which had been suitably conserved, but decline in the rabbit population to the extent that they had even disappeared from some areas.
Actions on the habitat were implemented in the main lynx areas with the aim of increasing the availability of rabbit prey. Restocking with inoculated wild rabbits took place in areas that were prepared to favour pasture growth and where artificial burrows were built. A total of 577 burrows were built over a total area of 250 ha covering 30 localities. Follow-up studies showed that the survival rate for the rabbits was medium-high - nearly 50% of the burrows succeeded.
Surveillance patrols helped control threats, such as the use of snares, in the main lynx areas and will be continued after the project. The beneficiary also considered works that could have a negative impact on lynx areas. For example, two new roads (CM-403 and CM-3127) were modified. Moreover, an analysis of black spots in existing infrastructures (road N-401 and others) was carried out and measures proposed to minimise their impact on the lynx.
Hunting rights were leased in three areas containing lynx adding up to a total of 2 325 ha. These areas were important for breeding and were subject to a big hunting pressure. The beneficiary intended to continue renting hunting rights after the project or establish management agreements in these and other lynx areas.
The data collected enabled a recovery plan for the species to be drafted for the region and a series of guidelines for the land use and management plans of pSCIs for lynx conservation. The areas with the biggest subpopulations of the species have been proposed as SCIs: Montes de Toledo, Guadiana-Picón, Sierra Morena, Guadalmena and Alcaraz.
A few awareness-raising activities, which were not formerly programmed, were carried out, including the production of a leaflet and an environmental education programme comprising talks at local schools complemented with educational materials. The measures to develop rabbit populations were particularly useful in increasing the acceptance of hunters and the local population of the conservation measures.