Conservation status and Action Plan for the recovery of Iberian lynx populations in Portugal

From the first half of the 20th century onwards, the Portuguese Iberian lynx population was distributed in three major nuclei: Sado Valley, Malcata and Contenda-Barrancos. In the following decades these areas were subjected to a process that culminated in the specie’s considerable regression, probably as consequence of a major allocation of potential habitat to forestry and of prey scarcity as a result of viral diseases. The most recent survey, conducted from 2002 till 2004, revealed that the species is presently on the verge of extinction. Aware of the critical situation of the Iberian lynx in Portugal, the Institute of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity developed a Conservation Action Plan for the Iberian lynx in order to provide a consistent and effective approach to conserve the species in Portuguese territory. The on-going Action Plan is being applied in all Natura 2000 Sites, located in the lynx historical distribution that present suitable characteristics for the species potential presence or landscape features that can be optimised for lynx survival and that can be relevant for the species life-cycle. The goal of this Plan is to apply pre-release strategic reintroduction activities in order to make it possible, in the long-term, the reintroduction of Iberian lynx. Integrated in the plan, there are several ongoing conservation projects, which include habitat and prey restoration and the construction of a breeding centre that will be integrated within the overall Iberian Lynx Ex situ Conservation Programme