The Biodiversity Foundation, SEO/BirdLife and the Oxygen Foundation are holding today the first information sessions in Cangas de Narcea and Ibias (Asturias) of the series of 14 meetings scheduled between May and June to disseminate land stewardship as a tool for the conservation of the Cantabrian capercaillie and promote the participation of society in the preservation of this endangered species. Within the framework of the project LIFE+ Cantabrian capercaillie, the seminars address the different land stewardship actions that can be carried out for the conservation of the capercaillie and the benefits they bring to owners in the improvement of the management of their farms. Thus, they can promote forest treatments for the restoration and improvement of the capercaillie environment, implement fire prevention actions or the recovery of traditional uses that improve the habitat of the species, among other initiatives.

The meetings are especially aimed at representatives of town councils, neighbourhood councils, parishes, livestock farmers, owners of farms and land in capercaillie habitats, public and private technicians, cultural and environmental associations active in these territories.

During the months of May and June, the information sessions will be held in the autonomous communities of Cantabria (Reinosa), Asturias (Cangas del Narcea, Ibias, Pola de Somiedo, Benia de Onís, San Juan de Beleño, Riaño, Campo de Caso, Pola de Lena and Riello), Galicia (Becerreá) and Castilla y León (Villablino, Villafranca del Bierzo and Cervera de Pisuerga). The dates, places of celebration and schedules can be consulted on the information poster.

Along the same lines, the seminar “Capercaillie and land stewardship” was held on February 18 in Potes (Cantabria) organized by the Government of Cantabria, SEO/BirdLife and the Oxygen Foundation, together with the Biodiversity Foundation. All the information about the meetings is available on the website of the LIFE+ Cantabrian Capercaillie project.