IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Calzada, J.; Gonz lez, L.M.; Guzm n, J.N.; Heredia, B. | |
| A new Strategy for the Conservation of the Iberian Lynx | |
| 2009 Book Chapter | |
A new Strategy for the Conservation of the Iberian Lynx (_Lynx pardinus_) has recently been approved by the Spain's maximum authorities in Environmental Policy at the Sectorial Conference for the Environment. The new Strategy has been developed in a different working framework from the one that led to the first Strategy for the Conservation of the Iberian Lynx in 1999. The demographic situation of the Iberian lynx has never been worse. However, there have never been so many human and financial resources available, and the species has never been the focus of so much public attention and concern. The ultimate goal of the Strategy is to ensure that the Iberian lynx becomes a functional part of the Mediterranean scrubland habitat again. To this end, the recovery of the species involves both successfully managing the remaining populations and choosing and restoring areas to carry out reintroduction projects that will lead to the establishment of new wild populations. The new Strategy has set a roadmap for the conservation and recovery of the Iberian lynx, as well as specific numerical targets that must be met in a given period of time. These targets include: 1) Stabilize the populations by combating the causes of threat to the species; 2) Increase the number of individuals in the wild populations so that the Iberian lynx can be downlisted from Critically Endangered (CR) to Endangered (EN) by 2011; and 3) Increase the number of wild populations, so that the species can be downlisted from Endangered (EN) to Vulnerable (VU) by 2020. According to the Spanish system, the first target should be achieved through Regional Recovery Plans, which must adopt the guidelines established in the National Strategy and develop them fully and efficiently. Achieving the second goal requires increasing the number of individuals in the lynx populations until at least one of them has more than 50 mature individuals, which must not amount to more than 90% of all the wild mature individuals. If necessary, "Restocking" and "Population Exchange Projects" are recommended to help increase the abundance of lynxes in the existing populations. To achieve the third target, the combined wild populations must comprise at least 250 mature individuals and not show signs of decline. This could only be attained through "Habitat Restoration and Reintroduction Projects" carried out in all the Autonomous Communities of Spain where the Iberian lynx occurs or occurred until recent times. |
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