Natura 2000 networking programme, working together to conserve the biodiversity

Environmental conservation, protection and improvement, natural habitats and wildlife included, is one of the priorities of the European Union. Natura 2000 is developed for this purpose, to protect and manage the priority areas allowing their sustainable development.

Natura 2000 Networking Programme, which has areas from Spain to Poland, is now in its 24^th successful years and there was a global celebration on 21th May, the European Natura 2000 Day and Natura 2000 Award Ceremony.

WHAT IS NATURA 2000?

Natura 2000 was established by Habitats Directive 92/43/CEE (its aim is to protect the habitats and wildlife) to ensure the biodiversity and reduce the impact of human activities. The program promotes the conservation of the most important species of fauna and flora. To this end, it is established a European ecological network of sites under the Habitats Directive.

This network is necessary because of the destruction and fragmentation of natural habitats for decades. The European Environment Agency confirmed the reduction of some European populations: over 64 endemic species (native to or limited to a certain region) have become extinct, 38% of birds and 45% of butterflies are endangered. In addition, ecosystems are under unprecedented pressure (changes in land uses, fires, infrastructures, urbanisation increasing, increased tourism, among other things): in the last decades, approximately 60 percent of the wetlands have been destroyed.

From this environmental protection standpoint, there are two categories of protected areas:

• Sites of Community Importance (SCIs): sites which natural habitats or important species under the Habitats Directive. Once the lists of Sites of Community Importance have been adopted, Member States must designate them as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs).

• Special Protection Areas (SPAs): Areas which have birds species listed under the Birds Directive.

In addition, it should be taken in consideration that habitats can be terrestrial or marine in Natura 2000.

LOCATION OF PROTECTED AREAS

The European Union is a rather diverse and varied territory. From the Arctic Polar Circle to Mediterranean, from the Danube Delta to the Canary Islands, it is 4,000,000 km2 with a wide variety of ecosystems and natural landscapes.

Natura 2000 areas in Spain (Photo: http://www.metrhispanico.com)

Natura 2000 is composed of over 27,000 natural areas of high ecological value in Europe. Sites Natura 2000 and projects in this areas may be consulted on a special website.

NATURA 2000 NETWORK AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN RURAL AREAS

At the beginning, a list of potential areas were presented by members to create the network, but raised several disputes with farmers and landowners to achieve the proposed goals. This slows down the process of developing in Natura 2000 but was demonstrated it is possible to do it without interfering with agricultural and livestock economy.

Natura 2000 Network promotes than nature conservation should be developed with the benefits for people and economy. For this reason, it is not a natural reserve where the human activities are excludes, otherwise new opportunities for compatibles activities with conservation.

Extraction of salt in wetlands using the traditional methods, Cadiz (Spain) – (Photo: José Manuel Vidal. EFE)

Environmental and economic benefits of the protected areas consist, for example, water availability and the sustanaible agricultural production (supply services), as well as the process which regulate and improve the quality of our air and water, preventing floods and erosion of soils, and mitigate climate change and carbon capture (regulating services).

Natura 2000 offers raw material for many business in relation with the agriculture, farms and craftwork.

Also, the protected areas give cultural services when they do leisure and tourist activities.

Ornithological tourism in a Natura 2000 Area (Photo: http://www.castillalamancha.es)

 WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE?

Fortunately, Natura 2000 grew and the connection between Natura 2000 areas have benefits. According to agreements made in the Rio de Janeiro Summit (United Nations conference declaration on Environment and Development to strike a balance both, Río 1992), the European Union develops instruments to increase the environmental and social responsibility of all sectors of society: integrating the environment into the common agricultural policy, eco-labels and impact studies. Moreover, the Union is increasing the international cooperation for sustainable development.

Natura 2000 Day is celebrated on 21th of May… for many years of cooperation to preserve the biodiversity! A SIMPLE BUTTERFLY, CAN BE CHANGE THE WORLD.

Natura 2000 Day logo (Photo: SEOBirdlife)

 REFERENCES

• Prioritary actions Natura 2000 Network in Spain – Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Spain. Biodiversity Foundation. LIFE.
• http://www.rednatura2000.com
• http://www.ec.europa.eu/environmental/nature/natura2000
• Documentary “Natura 2000 Network”. RTVE.
• Cover photo: SEOBirdlife

Lesser kestrel: our urban falcon, our treasure

Lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) is the diurnal raptors most closely-related to the human beings, because of the development of a mutually beneficial relationship after years of evolution. But this relationship began to become very weak in the second half of 20^th century. Current, several conservation measures are being developed to protect this raptor but more needs to be done…

Lesser kestrel

This small falcon is 29-32 cm. Male has grey head, uniform rusty upperparts, buff underparts with black spots. Grey band from carpal to tertials and black flight feathers. Grey tail with black subterminal band. Female and immature rusty with black barring and streaking and paler underparts. They have white nails.

Lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) (Photo: http://www.avibirds.com)

Common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a similar species, but it is larger. Male lacks grey band on wing and has black spotting on upperparts and moustachial stripe. They have black nails.

Common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) (Photo: http://www.avibirds.com)

The lesser kestrel is a species with no recognized subspecies. Genetic evidence suggests that despite their similar appearance the lesser kestrel is not closely related to the common kestrel.

Diet of lesser kestrel is based on insects, and small mammals in smaller quantities (mice and others micro-mammals).

It lives in regions where the weather conditions are warm and dry with open ecosystems such as steppes and growing areas with high density of preys (mainly insects, coleopteras as beetles, and orthopteras such as crickets and gasshoppers).

This is a migratory species that come back to Africa in February-March to breed. In breeding season, lesser kestrel lives in rural areas and breeds in cavity walls, holes or under shingle roofs in old buildings in our cities and villages. Breeding and hunting behaviors are conducted in group because is a gregarious species and they live in colonies.

Females lay between 3 to 6 eggs, in April-May, both the female and male incubate the eggs for 28-30 days. When chicks are 30-35 days old, they start to hunt and fly reducing their dependency on the food provided in the nest. In September-October lesser kestrels will travel thousands of kilometres to their wintering areas in Africa.

LESSER KESTREL’S HISTORY

The species began to occupy human buildings for many centuries, shifting from historical breeding sites (shelves and slopes) to humanised areas. This continuous evolution proved to be very important advantanges in increasing their populations. Their distributional range was raised because of the buildings available for breeding, and they also discovered  the humanized areas were a perfect protection from predators. Human-altered landscapes around the villages as a result from activities related to agricultural and livestock, were a perfect habitat to find a huge amount of food for adults and their chicks.

However, this biological alliance was also beneficial for humans who found a strategic ally in protecting crops against pests.

Hábitat of lesser kestrel in Nees Karyes (Grecia) (Photo: M.Tάλη, http:/www.life-kirkinezi.gr)

However, this situation changed in the second half of 20^th Century when populations decreased significantly by human activities.

WHERE IS IT AND WHAT IS ITS SITUATION?

The lesser kestrel is one of the most endangered bird species in the world. Since the 2^nd half of 20^th Century, the populations of this migratory bird of prey have decreased more than 90% in many European countries.

This species is a migratory small falcon distributed in the Palaearctic south. The palaearctic area is the largest ecozone which the earth is divided. In this area there are boreal and temperate ecosystems, and includes Europe, north of Himalayas in Asia, north Africa and middle and north of the Arabian Peninsula.

Spain holds the most important breeding population in Europe, followed by Turkey, Greece and Italy. The European and Asian populations are fully migratory to Sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal, Mauritania and West Mali and Niger to Eastern and Southern Africa.

Global distribution of lesser kestrel  (Falco naumanni) (Photo: BirdLife Internacional)

WHAT IS THEIR THREATS AND HOW CAN WE PROTECT THEM?

The main cause of the decline of the lesser kestrel populations in their Palaearctic breeding grounds has been habitat degradation, mainly because of agricultural intensification and the associated land use changes. The replacement of grazed grasslands, extensive dry cereal and pulses with taller and denser crops (e.g. sunflower, maize, vineyards and other perennial crops) has lead to two important pressures: reduced abundance of large insects and decreased access to prey. The use of pesticides reduced prey populations futher.

Other threats are:

• Loss of suitable breeding sites due to the abandonment and collapse of rural buildings (e.g. farm houses, towers,…), restoration works of old buildings which cause loss of nesting sites and important disturbance during the breeding season. The solution could be to provide alternative nesting sites but they also it is necessary a regular maintenance (cleaning, restoration) or replacement.
• Increased brood mortality due to deliberate destruction of nest sites despite of the legal protection and nest predation in some populations. Loss of pre-migration roosting sites and electrocution in power lines, wind farms or linear infrastructures are factors increasing the adult mortality.
• Reducing juvenile survival and recruitment due to rainfall in Sahel wintering area, pesticides use in Africa, and habitat degradation along migration and stop-over sites.

This species is included in the Annex I of the Birds Directive, in the list of Ornis Committee, and has a Species Action Plan in the European Union. In Spain, is included in the List of Wild Species under Special Protection and in the Red Book of Bird is listed as Vulnerable.

Chick of lesser kestrel inside a nest under roof. (Photo: Turismo Extremadura)

Conservation measures to protect lesser kestrel populations are:

• To restore lesser kestrel populations through captive-breeding and release at the right way.
• To improve, increase and maintain the breeding sites.
• To improve the foraging habitat by promoting farming practices which favour the lesser kestrel’s prey (mainly insects).
• To monitor the breeding population of this species at a global level.
• To raise awareness of environmental activities among different target audiences, on the importance of pseudo-steppe habitats and lesser kestrel populations.

Activity of releasing of juveniles to recover from natural nests. (Foto: DEMA)

“Nature is asking for our help, we have to take action!”

REFERENCES

• Fernández Palacios, J. S. (2004). Lesser kestrel in Andalusia.  Ecological conservation lines. Seville:  Ministry of Environment.
• Iñigo, A. B. (2010). Action plan for the lesser kestrel Falco naumanni in the European Union. SEO/BirdLife.
• Madrid, C. d. (1999). Biologist and Conservation of Lesser Kestrel. Madrid: Managing Director of Environmental Development.
• Wink, M., & Sauer-Gürth, H. (2004). Phylogenetic relationships in diurnal raptors based on nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial and nuclear marker genes. Raptors worldwide. WWGBP, Berlin, 483-498.