The project seeks the conservation of the Bearded Vulture in the national parks of the Picos de Europa and Ordesa y Monte Perdido.

The precarious status of the bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) and its current geographical limitation of distribution, restricted in the Iberian Peninsula mainly to the Pyrenees, makes it a species vulnerable to different threats, which is why the current Spanish Conservation Strategy for this species advises the expansion of its distribution area and the recovery of the most recent extinct populations. To this end, the Foundation for the Conservation of the Bearded Vulture (FCQ) with the support of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and the Environment is developing the project “Conservation of the Bearded Vulture as a resource for the maintenance of ecosystem services: LIFE+ Bearded Vulture Network”.

The conservation actions proposed by the FCQ are being carried out in the national parks of the Picos de Europa and Ordesa and Monte Perdido, both included in the Natura 2000 Network and seek the reintroduction of the bearded vulture in the Picos de Europa and the improvement of the Pyrenean population, promoting connectivity between the Iberian populations of this species. helping to demonstrate the social and economic benefits related to the recovery of the same.

The main objectives of the project are:

• To establish a set of good practices aimed at facilitating the recovery of an extinct population of bearded vultures, including the reinforcement of the population of Picos de Europa through the reintroduction of specimens.
• Reinforce the idea that species conservation is linked to local development and the maintenance of ecosystem services.
• To highlight inter-territorial relations and work from common objectives between public administrations and civil society within national parks, aimed at achieving the recovery and conservation of endangered species.
• To demonstrate that the behavioral learning technique through natural imprinting can be an efficient tool, thus complementing other techniques of proven effectiveness.
• Use ecotourism as a powerful means of support and participation in biodiversity conservation.