Iberalex Project

Iberalex Project

Introduction

The cross-border area between Spain and Portugal, with more than 2,600 kilometres of coastline, is host over 1,000 beaches and wetlands that are crucial for biodiversity conservation. Although vital, this environment faces threats as a result of human activities. The coastline and wetlands are fundamental to the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030, the Spanish Green Infrastructure Strategy and the Portuguese Strategy for Nature Conservation and Biodiversity 2030.  The endangered and declining Kentish Plover is fundamental to this ecosystem. This project conceives the Kentish Plover as an umbrella species that represents the biological interest of this coastal area. For this reason, IBERALEX proposes actions for its conservation, seeking to improve its condition without jeopardising recreational uses and human exploitation activities, adapting to climate change and coastal erosion.

Objectives

To increase the nesting population of the Kentish Plover in the areas of action, thus contributing to the overall improvement of the species in the cross-border and Iberian area;

To create a multidisciplinary and social collaborative environment that improves the conservation of the endangered Kentish Plover and the biodiversity associated with beaches and wetlands;

Increasing the breeding success and productivity of the species at a local level and improving its demography, as a result of direct measures to reduce the impact of human use and the recovery of unviable nests, through artificial incubation and captive rearing of young;

Improve and expand the habitat available for the development of all stages of the life cycle, benefiting other species of fauna and flora dependent on beaches and wetlands;

Create a protocol for the management of habitats where the species is present, which will be useful throughout the cross-border zone and the entire European distribution area, addressing the main impacts that condition its conservation;

To develop relevant advances in the knowledge of population sizes, population trends, productivity, stress levels, distribution and connectivity between the populations of Kentish Plover in the transboundary space, allowing for the optimisation of management and conservation guidelines.

Intended Audience

General population

Actions

Sensitisation through signage.

Environmental education and citizen participation programmes.

Internal training programmes.

Reduce the impact of human utilisation, including domestic animals, on reproductive success.

Minimising the impact of rising sea levels.

Environmental management of supratidal nesting habitats.

Improving nesting microhabitats.

Removal of invasive fauna.

Population assessment and monitoring.

Evaluation of stress in birds during incubation.

Habitat utilisation strategies in a climate change scenario.

Duration

2023 a 2026

Contacts

Iberalex site 

geral@vitanativa.org