At today’s meeting, the Council of Ministers authorised the signing of a collaboration agreement between the Ministry of the Environment and the Department of Environment and Housing of the Generalitat of Catalonia for the implementation of the project “Actions for the conservation of the Pyrenean capercaillie and Bonelli’s eagle”.

The total cost of the agreement amounts to 381,000 euros, of which the Ministry will contribute 260,000 euros and the Department of the Environment of the Generalitat will contribute 121,000 euros, which correspond to the valuation of personnel and infrastructures. This amount is distributed in two annuities, 2005 and 2006.

The Pyrenean capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus aquitanicus) and the Bonelli’s eagle (hieraetus fasciatus) are two species of the Spanish fauna that are immersed in a serious process of regression due to the loss of quality habitat, decrease in productivity and unnatural mortality. These circumstances have led both species to be included in the National Catalogue of Threatened Species with the category of “Vulnerable”.

Among the actions that will be carried out jointly, the modification of the power lines can be highlighted for the Bonelli’s eagle, where a greater risk of mortality has been detected. In the case of the Pyrenean capercaillie, it is planned to promote captive breeding with the aim of proposing a reintroduction program to strengthen populations.

The Generalitat is developing projects and actions, framed in Conservation Plans, so it has identified the main problems of both species that see their expansion to the adjacent autonomous communities, Navarre and Aragon, where their populations are considered in a critical situation.

According to the 2002-2004 census, on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees, the population of the Pyrenean capercaillie is estimated at around 664 adult males, which is 1,328 adult specimens. 85% of the population is in Catalonia, although its distribution area also covers the autonomous communities of Navarre and Aragon.

To promote actions for the protection of the Pyrenean capercaillie, the National Conservation Strategy for this species is underway, which aims to: conserve and restore the habitat, ensure the connection between population centres and increase knowledge about the species and its habitat.

The information available on the Bonelli’s eagle indicates that the Catalan population has gone from about 85 pairs in the 70s, to around 65 in the year 2000. During this same period, adult mortality has tripled and productivity has fallen. For this reason, the Ministry of the Environment, together with experts from the autonomous communities, are preparing a National Conservation Strategy for this species.