PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The progressive intensification of agriculture and livestock farming practices (including chemical treatments, early harvesting of fodder crops, reduction of long-term fallow land areas and elimination of the boundaries with natural vegetation), promoted via the implementation in Spain of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), is causing major deterioration in the conservation status of the EU protected priority habitat type ‘Pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea’ (6220*). This trend is also threatening steppe bird species, particularly little bustard (Tetrax tetrax) and great bustard (Otis tarda), both considered as priority species for conservation at the EU level and also and Montagu´s harrier (Circus pygargus). During the last decade, the populations of these species have suffered a great reduction in the Iberian Peninsula. Specifically, according to the national censuses in Spain, great bustard has shown a negative trend of over 30% (2005-2019), little bustard of 48% (2005-2016), and Montagu´s harrier of 23% (2006-2017). In the Autonomous Community of Extremadura, these declines are even worse (47% great bustard, 64% little bustard, and 41% Montagu´s harrier). Similar declines have been registered in Portugal: a reduction of 49% of the little bustard population (2003-2016), whereas in the case of the Montagu´s harrier the population loss is estimated at circa 80%. Furthermore, invertebrates, a fundamental part of these ecosystems, also seem to be suffering negative trends.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE Iberian Agrosteppes project has the following objectives:
- Improvement of the conservation status of the EU Habitats Directive priority habitat 6220* ‘Pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea‘ (at least 300 ha in an initial favourable state, with a special focus on improving its invertebrate communities);
- Improvement of the conservation status of the little bustard (Tetrax tetrax), great bustard (Otis tarda) and Montagu´s harrier (Circus pygargus). To this end, the project will implement management measures on at least 600 ha in areas identified as critical;
- Promote the use of traditional grain varieties that, in addition to promoting bird conservation, will also serve to offer produce of greater added value (at least 100 ha);
- Achieve a broad replicable model, and transfer the project measures to all important areas of the targeted habitat and species in Spain and Portugal; and
- Incorporation of the project´s best farming practices into agricultural and rural development policies of the Autonomous Regions of Extremadura y Aragón;
- Reinforcement of the legal protection of the steppe species in Extremadura.
The project will contribute to the implementation of the EU Habitats and Birds directives, the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, and the EU Farm to Fork Strategy.
RESULTS
Expected results:
- Improved conservation status of the habitat type 6220*, applying direct management measures on at least 300 ha in the most degraded areas;
- A 10% increase in the reproductive success rate for all the target bird species, which implies more than 70% of the target species populations in the Natura 2000 network of Extremadura and Aragon;
- Balanced levels of mammal predator populations in breeding areas of the target species;
- A reduced use of pesticides in the project´s Natura 2000 sites, of at least 25%;
- Modification and increased visibility to birds of the most dangerous power lines and fences for the project's target species, identified in the preliminary studies;
- Long-term land stewardship agreements achieved for the application of conservation measures and the project's objectives on more than 1 000 ha in areas with the highest nesting density of the target species;
- Legal integration of the best farming measures into the CAP financing schemes and in the rural development plans of the Autonomous Communities of Extremadura and Aragon;
- At least 10% of the areas included in the land stewardship agreements (100 ha) benefits by growing new varieties of cereal with higher added value;
- Official approval of The Integrated Conservation and Recovery Plan for steppe birds in Extremadura; and
- Enlargement of the Natura 2000 network in Extremadura.
