Final Red Book Evaluation for wild cat European (felis silvestris), sponsored by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), indicates an alarming scenario For this Little cat in the Iberian Peninsula. What proves in the first place is a massive fragmentation of their populations in Spain and Portugal. This study also reveals some knowledge gaps, particularly regarding its abundance and trends.
Based on this situation, a group of experts from both countries will organize a technical meeting for this little cat at the beginning of 2022 to gather up-to-date information on the status of the breed and Create a roadmap to help reverse this situation.
Different groups working with the species shared for the first time the information available for different regions of Spain and Portugal and came to the following conclusion: the species has two different and opposite states in the region. In the north and northeast, the species is apparently well distributed with relatively high densities. However, there is a low occupancy rate in the south and center of the Peninsula. excessive fragmentation and low density, agency reports Sync.
The team of experts, including Emilio Virgós, researcher in Biodiversity and Conservation at Rey Juan Carlos University (Madrid), point out: Urgent actions to clarify the reasons for this widespread decline and designing necessary conservation measures, particularly in the Mediterranean subpopulation.
pre-extinction scenario
“Priority actions will include compiling all available information on status and trends, agreeing on standard and combined monitoring methods that allow periodic assessment of populations, assessing the possibility of regional assessment of conservation status, and raising awareness among the public and conservation administrations. pre-extinction scenario The situation facing the species in most of Iberia, according to the analysis”.
Currently executing national census of the species, with the cooperation of dozens of volunteers. Complete with camera traps, which will end this summer, will cover more than 120 points (2,000 hectares each) scattered across Spain’s geography. This record may be the first quantitative diagnosis of the current situation in the state.
In addition to these results, the researchers also identified some key steps to follow for the conservation of the species; constitute among them specific working groups and to assess their situation at the regional level with the IUCN and also awareness campaign addressed to the public and to those responsible for administrations on the status of species.
Reference article: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/181049859/181050999
……
Contact address of the environment department: [email protected]