The Minister of the Environment, Cristina Narbona, today reminded the Minister of the Environment of the Community of Madrid, Mariano Zabía, that in the latest publication on the situation of the Iberian lynx in the peninsula prepared by his department (“The Iberian Lynx in Spain and Portugal”, 2005), the Community of Madrid is one of the areas with a census presence of the lynx in the eighties.

Cristina Narbona points out in a letter that she has sent to the Minister that although the 2004 census did not confirm such presence, the aforementioned report describes the specific areas of the Community of Madrid that continue to constitute suitable habitats for the lynx, among other things because of the very important population of rabbits. The document also recalls the measures already contained in the National Strategy for the Conservation of the Lynx (1999) in the areas where the existence of the species was confirmed in the 80s.

The Minister indicates that “these measures must be specified in a Recovery Plan for the Iberian lynx of the corresponding Autonomous Community, as the government of Castilla La Mancha has already done and, therefore, the Community of Madrid must also do as expressly indicated in the report”.

“Therefore”, concludes the Minister in the letter she has sent to the Minister, “I can only reaffirm each and every one of the terms of my previous letter. After Easter, we will convene a meeting with your team to adopt – I hope from consensus – the most suitable measures for the new situation, in compliance, in addition, with the National Strategy for the Conservation of the Lynx. It will be the opportunity to analyse your offer to create a lynx captive breeding centre in the Community of Madrid, as well as the reasons why you question the work of scientists of recognised prestige”.