x
Copied to clipboard!
LIFE Project Cover Photo

Accomplish Western Mediterranean Bonelli's Eagle recovery by working together for an electricity grid suitable for birds

Reference: LIFE16 NAT/ES/000235 | Acronym: AQUILA a-LIFE

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

Between the 1970s and 1990s, Bonelli's eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus) disappeared from Palencia, Leon, Soria, Segovia, Avila, Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Mallorca, Sardinia and Calabria. Conservation efforts carried out over the last 20 years have not been as effective as expected and the species is almost extinct in Navarra, Álava and Burgos; though some pairs survive thanks to the LIFE BONELLI project (LIFE12 NAT/ES/000701). In addition, the progressive loss of its potential territory is still taking place in other areas such as Aragón, Castilla y León, and Castellón. In Italy, it faces extinction in 50 years.


OBJECTIVES

AQUILA a-LIFE aimed at increasing the occurrence of the Bonelli's eagle population in the western Mediterranean (the centre and north of the Iberian Peninsula and in Sardinia), and at reversing its current regressive population trend, by contributing to the restoration of the habitats where it once lived. The project proposed working for the recovery of the species over a broad geographical area at the meta-population level (rather than at the level of small local populations). Bird releases are expected to enable the return of the species, while the project also aimed to address threats to the species. This methodology has previously been effective in the LIFE BONELLI project. Therefore, further bird releases were planned where those previous results were positive (Madrid, Navarra, Álava), and the methodology would also be transferred to Sardinia. Therefore, this project can be considered as the second phase of LIFE BONELLI project, given that reintroduction and reinforcement projects often require several stages of implementation.

The project had the following specific objectives:

  • To reduce the risk that Bonelli's eagle and other bird species die as a result of electrocution in their natural habitat, both inside and outside protected areas;
  • To conduct a thorough assessment of the conservation status of the Mediterranean meta-population of Bonelli's eagle, and the effectiveness of the recovery measures implemented;
  • To involve all sectors, particularly hunting, in the recovery and management of Bonelli's eagle, to increase acceptance of the species;
  • To assess the impact of the reintroduction of a top-level predator, such as the Bonelli’s eagle, on the ecosystem functions on a Mediterranean island;
  • To reduce the risk of Bonelli's eagle or other birds dying by drowning in artificial ponds or by colliding with wires in espaliered vineyards;
  • To increase the competitiveness of Bonelli's eagle against the golden eagle in its historical breeding territories; and
  • To increase society's respect towards Bonelli's eagle in particular and towards raptors in general.

 


RESULTS

AQUILA a-LIFE resulted in an extension in the range of the population of Bonelli's eagle (Aquila fasciata) in the western Mediterranean, and a reversal of the regressive population trend. The project team contributed to the restoration of ecosystems in areas where the eagle used to live and is being encouraged to return.

 

The project team released 130 individuals in the project areas, resulting in an increase of 15 territories occupied by Bonelli's eagle pairs. These included the first eagles to breed in Álava in 40 years, and the first pair to establish in Sardinia where the species had become extinct.

 

In parallel, they worked to reduce the main threats to the species. A big effort was focused on modifying more than 15 000 dangerous power pylons, with the involvement of energy companies, public administrations and other relevant stakeholders. In addition, they installed 45 floaters in dangerous ponds in Mallorca, and modified three ponds in Navarra to include escape ramps and green islands. They also worked with several wineries, who participated in "trellised project" to replace wire with alternative straps, to reduce bird collision risk in trellised (espaliered) vineyards.

 

The project’s capacity building and dissemination elements were a key factor in the project’s success. The beneficiaries provided online courses on power lines and bird collisions and electrocutions (3 924 users registered; 1 914 completed) and organised (or attended) 36 seminars/workshops, with a total participation of 2 788 people. The project team organised (or participated in) 36 conferences and informal talks for the general public (reaching 2 463 people), and 43 technical events (reaching 3 439 people). They also presented the project to more than 40 000 people, mainly visitors of GREFA and FNP premises.

 

The close collaborative work between the project beneficiaries and public administrations led the authorities to become more involved in Bonelli's eagle protection. In the final event organised by the project, the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition (MITECO) announced that, in application of the AQUILA a-LIFE White Paper, it will draw up the basis for establishing a national strategy to combat electrocution and collisions in power lines, as well as reactivating the Power Lines Working Group of the Wildlife Committee. Furthermore, the Spanish Royal Decree 1432/2008 (establishing measures to protect birds against collision and electrocution on high-voltage power lines) is now under revision by the Spanish Government and the MITECO is considering the White Paper developed by the project as a reference document to draft the new Royal Decree.

 

Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report  (see "Read more" section).

 

 

ADMINISTRATIVE DATA


Reference: LIFE16 NAT/ES/000235
Acronym: AQUILA a-LIFE
Start Date: 01/10/2017
End Date: 30/09/2022
Total Eligible Budget: 4,752,383 €
EU Contribution: 3,440,993 €

CONTACT DETAILS


Coordinating Beneficiary: Grupo para la Rehabilitacin de la Fauna Autctona y su Hbitat
Legal Status: PNC
Address: Monte del Pilar S/N, ES-28220, Majadahonda,
Contact Person: Manuel GALáN
Email: Send Email
Website: Visit Website


LIFE Project Map

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ADDRESSED

THEMES

  • Birds

KEYWORDS

  • introduction of animal species
  • electrical industry
  • rural development
  • population dynamics

TARGET EU LEGISLATION

  • COM(2011) 244 final “Our life insurance, our natural capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to 2020” (03.05.2011)
  • COM(2020) 380 EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 Bringing nature back into our lives (20.05.2020.) 
  • Directive 2009/147 - Conservation of wild birds - Birds Directive (codified version of Directive 79/409/EEC as amended) (30.11.2009)

TARGET HABITAT TYPES

  • 0 - Non applicable (i.e.species project)

SPECIES

  • Hieraaetus fasciatus

NATURA 2000 SITES

Type Code Name
SPA ES0000089 Valle del Tiétar y embalses de Rosarito y Navalcán (DEPRECATED)
SPA ES0000150 Peña de Etxauri
SPA ES0000151 Caparreta
SPA ITB044009 Foresta di Monte Arcosu
SPA ES0000073 Costa Brava de Mallorca
SPA ES0000184 Valle del Tiétar - ZEPA
SPA ES0000185 Cerro de Guisando - ZEPA
SPA ES0000186 Pinares del Bajo Alberche - ZEPA
SCI ES2200022 Sierra de Lokiz
SCI ES2200029 Sierra de Codés
SCI ES2200030 Tramo medio del río Aragón
SCI ES3110004 Cuenca del río Manzanares
SCI ES3110005 Cuenca del río Guadarrama
SCI ES3110006 Vegas, cuestas y páramos del sureste de Madrid
SCI ES3110007 Cuencas de los ríos Alberche y Cofio
SCI ES4240018 Sierra de Altomira
SCI ES4250001 Sierra de San Vicente y valles del Tiétar y Alberche
SCI ES4250009 Yesares del valle del Tajo
SCI ES5310008 Es Galatzó - s'Esclop
SPA ES5310009 Es Teix
SPA ITB020014 Golfo di Orosei
SPA ITB021103 Monti del Gennargentu
SPA ITB022212 Supramonte di Oliena, Orgosolo e Urzulei - Su Sercone
SPA ES0000169 Río Tajo en Castrejón, islas de Malpica de Tajo y Azután
SPA ES0000246 Arabako Hegoaldeko Mendilerroak / Sierras Meridionales de Álava (DEPRECATED)
SCI ES2110018 Arabako hegoaldeko mendilerroak / Sierras meridionales de Álava
SCI ES2110022 Entzia
SCI ES4110113 Cerro de Guisando
SCI ES4110114 Pinares del Bajo Alberche
SPA ES0000056 Encinares del río Alberche y río Cofio
SCI ES4110115 Valle del Tiétar
SCI ES5310090 Puig d'Alaró - Puig de s'Alcadena
SCI ES5310101 Randa
SPA ES0000163 SIERRA DE ALTOMIRA (DEPRECATED)
SPA ES0000441 D'Alfabia a Biniarroi
SPA ES2110019 Izki
SPA ITB013018 Capo Figari, Cala Sabina, Punta Canigione e Isola Figarolo
SPA ITB013044 Capo Caccia
SPA ITB023037 Costa e Entroterra di Bosa, Suni e Montresta
SPA ITB023049 Monte Ortobene
SPA ITB023051 Altopiano di Abbasanta
SPA ITB043055 Monte dei Sette Fratelli
SPA ES0000482 Arbaiun-Leire

BENEFICIARIES

Name Type
Grupo para la Rehabilitacin de la Fauna Autctona y su Hbitat Coordinator
Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux, France Participant
Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e Ricerca Ambientale, Italy Participant
Diputación Foral de Álava – Arabako Foru Aldundia, Spain Participant
Gestión Ambiental de Navarra S.A., Spain Participant
Fundació Natura Parc, Spain Participant