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Background information

Management of Urban SPAs in Extremadura for the conservation of lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni)

Reference: LIFE15 NAT/ES/001016

Total budget: 2.779.810 €

LIFE funding: 2.054.120 € (73,89%)

Project duration: 01-09-2016 to 31-12-2020 (52 months)

LIFE Programme

The LIFE Programme is the only financial instrument of the European Union that is exclusively dedicated to the environment. Its overall objective for the period 2004 – 2020 is to contribute to sustainable development and achieve the objectives and goals of the Europe 2020 strategy and the EU’s strategies and plans related to the environment and climate.

http://www.magrama.gob.es/es/ministerio/servicios/ayudas-subvenciones/programa-life/

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/index.htm

Natura 2000

Natura 2000 is a network of areas of high ecological value and is the main instrument for the development of European Union policies focused on guaranteeing biodiversity conservation, placing special attention on the most threatened habitats and species of plants and animals….

Natura 2000 is the result of the application of two EU directives: The Directive 2009/147/CE of the European Parliament and Council of 30th November 2009 relating to the conservation of wild birds and the Directive 92/43/CEE of the Council of 21st May, relating to the conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora. Currently in Extremadura there are 89 Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) established in agreement with the Habitats Directive and 71 Special Protection Areas for birds (SPA) designated under the Birds Directive. The Natura 2000 network in Extremadura is regulated by the DECREE 110/2015, of 19th May.

http://www.magrama.gob.es/es/biodiversidad/temas/espacios-protegidos/red-natura-2000/

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/index_en.htm

Scope of the project

Extremadura is the only region in Europe with Special Protection Areas for birds (SPAs) in urban sites, with a network of urban SPAs in our region currently covering 23 areas of which 21 are wholly urban. Of these 21 areas, 19 have been declared as such because of the presence of lesser kestrels (Falco naumanni), supporting more than 50% of the Extremaduran population of this small raptor. It is these urban SPAs that have been declared because of lesser kestrels that this Life project ZEPA-URBAN aims to address.

Of the 19 urban SPAs declared because of the presence of lesser kestrels, 9 are in Cáceres province and 10 are in Badajoz province. As well as the presence of this bird of prey, all also have in common the fact they are in towns and cities with an undoubtable heritage value. Indeed, of the buildings listed as of cultural interest (Bien de Interés Cultural BIC) in Extremadura at least 30 support lesser kestrel colonies and lie within an urban SPA.

As well as the urban SPAs, the Life project ZEPA-URBAN includes within its scope another area in the Natura 2000 network. This is the SPA-SAC “Orellana Reservoir and Sierra de Pela”, which although has not been designated specifically for the presence of lesser kestrel colonies, it does include a small part of the urban nucleus of Puebla de Alcocer (Badajoz province) where there is a colony of lesser kestrels in the Convent of the Visitation.

Objectives of the project

The overall objective of our project is the development of a management model for the urban SPAs which ensures the conservation of the lesser kestrel in the long-term and that can be applied to any urban area supporting colonies of this species.

Objective 1: Improve the conservation and management of breeding colonies of lesser kestrel in the urban SPAs, improving the quality of breeding sites. Avoid the destruction of or disturbance to the colonies caused by restoration work on the buildings which host them. Design and produce artificial nest boxes that are more secure, longer-lasting and more economical.

Objective 2: Safeguard the conservation of the feeding habitats on which the urban populations of lesser kestrels depend. Analyse the preferences of habitat use and prey species of the urban lesser kestrels in order to develop a pilot project based on agreements of collaboration, actively involving landowners.

Objective 3: Increase awareness in the local population of the conservation problems of the species and achieve their participation in solving them, especially focusing on the owners or managers of buildings, as well as associations of architects, builders etc.

Objective 4: Develop tourism experiences based around lesser kestrels, as a model of a local sustainable economic activity.

Objective 5: Develop a replication strategy to enable the results of the project to be disseminated beyond the immediate project itself.

Who we are

General Directorate of the Environment

The General Directorate of the Environment is part of the Council of the Environment, Rural, Agricultural Policies and Planning of the Government of Extremadura, and is the department responsible for the development of legislation and its implementation related to environmental protection, as established in Article 8.8 of the Organic Law 1/1983 of the Statute of Autonomy of Extremadura.

www.extremambiente.gobex.es

General Directorate of Libraries, Museums and Cultural Heritage

The General Directorate of Libraries, Museums and Cultural Heritage (DGPC) of the Government of Extremadura has as one of its fundamental missions the protection of the historic and cultural heritage of Extremadura. This includes the conservation, rehabilitation and maintenance of heritage sites, carrying out architectural interventions such as restoration or repairs of roofs and treatment of cavities in facades. This responsibility covers historic urban centres hosting many of the lesser kestrel colonies.

http://patrimoniocultural.gobex.es/web/

General Directorate of Tourism

The Council of the Economy and Infrastructure, as set out in the Decree of the President 19/2011 of 8th July, has legislative and executive competency in the promotion and planning of tourism in the region of Extremadura, with the General Directorate of Tourism the regional authority responsible for this. It is responsible for the strategies of promotion and commercialisation in key markets and sectors, in which is included birdwatching.

www.turismoextremadura.com

INTROMAC

INTROMAC is an administrative consortium linked to the regional public sector, whose mission is to improve the competitiveness of businesses in the construction and ornamental rock sectors in Extremadura through technological support, research and development projects and sharing scientific and technical know-how.

INTROMAC’s technicians and teams will look at the materials used for lesser kestrel nest boxes, with the aim to make them lighter and more durable than those currently on the market.

www.intromac.com

Prefabricados Extremadura 2002

Extremadura 2002 is a business with more than ten years of experience dedicated to the manufacture and sale of products made from imitation wood cement and artificial stone used as structural and decorative components in house-building. Their experience in producing new materials is key in order to obtain the best nest boxes for lesser kestrel, therefore achieving a product which is adaptable to the needs of the species, long-lasting and at the lowest possible cost.

www.prefabricadosextremadura.com

Laruinagrafica

Laruinagrafica is a creative and polyhedral studio which has been working professionally since 2004, offering analysis, creation, communication, publication and dissemination of all types of theme, with a focus on tourism and environment.

www.laruinagrafica.com

Terra Naturalis

The TERRA NATURALIS association is a non-profit organisation focused on nature conservation and the promotion of demonstration projects, cultural heritage and sustainable development. They have considerable experience in census work, monitoring and conservation of threatened species and have carried out much work linked to lesser kestrels.

www.terranaturalis.eu

With the support of: 

DEMA

DEMA is an NGO founded in 1990 with the objective to protect natural spaces and build public awareness towards the need to conserve them. It has specialised in the conservation of lesser kestrels, especially with captive-breeding, management of introduction and reintroduction.

www.demaprimilla.org

With the support of: