Line of action:

Terrestrial ecosystems

Status:

Finalizado

Execution date:

2019

End date:

2019

Total budget:

€10,553.00

Amount of aid from the Biodiversity Foundation:

€7,384.00

The Dupont’s lark (‘Chersophilus duponti’) is included in the Red Book of Birds of Spain as “Endangered” with a declining population trend.
One of the largest populations is located in the moors of Guadalajara, included within the Molina and Alto Tajo Geopark that includes, among others, two areas of the Natura 2000 Network that name this species in their management plans.
Despite the incipient progress in the knowledge of this species in the scientific-technical field, the knowledge of it and its situation is residual in the population that inhabits the area of scope of the project.
From all these factors lies the need to prepare the ground socially for future actions in the moorlands of the province of Guadalajara, making known to the agents resident in the habitat of this bird, the species they treasure and the role they have in its conservation.

The main objective is to sensitize and raise awareness among the local population about the importance of conservation and knowledge of the Dupontine Lark (Chersophilus duponti). Among its specific goals are:

• To disseminate the ecology and current situation of the species among the local population of the Geopark of the Comarca de Molina – Alto Tajo.
• To raise awareness among younger generations about the conservation and biology of the Dupont’s lark.
• Publicize the opportunities derived from the conservation of the species.

• Informative actions for the general population: conferences on the Dupont’s lark in the main municipalities located within the limits of the protected natural areas that have referenced potential habitat for this species.
• Workshop on good practices in the field with sectors directly related to the habitat of the Dupont’s lark (livestock and agricultural sectors and environmental technicians).
• Environmental education programme “Ricotí, the invisible bird”, with educational awareness sessions in schools located within the protected natural areas covered by the project with presence or influence on populations of the Ricotí lark.
• Course ‘Ornithological tourism in steppe landscapes’, with a duration of 20 hours in three theoretical sessions and a practical session of 5 hours.
• Dissemination and advertising actions through social networks and contact with the media.

• 18 meetings have been held to raise awareness and disseminate the importance of the species between conferences, sectoral workshops, environmental education sessions and an ornithological tourism course.
• The importance of the conservation of the Dupont’s lark has been transmitted to a total of 326 people between 3 and 90 years old, which represent a total of 3.26% of the population that lives in the region, of 13 villages with the presence of the species within the Geopark of Molina de Aragón – Alto Tajo.

National Mycorrhiza Association