On 30th November 2017 a meeting was held to sign the certificate of the initiation of the works to restore the roof of the Church of La Purificación of Almendralejo in the province of Badajoz. This church is situated in a Special Bird Protection Area (Zona de Especial Protección para las Aves, ZEPA) - Lesser Kestrel colonies of Almendralejo. ES0000331 - and holds an important colony of the lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni). The procedure corresponds to action C2: Adaptation of the nesting substratum in buildings managed by the Cultural Heritage Authority as part of the LIFE15 NAT/ES/001016 - ZEPAURBAN project.
The work will consist of the partial restoration of the roof of the nave of the church, as its current deficiencies allow rain to enter which causes numerous filtrations in the area and a loss of stability which endangers the building and part of the nesting substrata that have been installed. Those attending the meeting (the technical supervisor of the Cultural Heritage Authority, the architect directing the work, the building surveyor in charge of the execution of the work and of health and safety coordination, the site manager and person in charge of the company contracted, and DEMA technicians) revised certain matters concerning the planning of the action and the prevention measures to be taken into account. An in situ examination of the artificial nest boxes for lesser kestrels currently located on the church tower and under the roof was also carried out.
