In the last 20 years, Extension of olive groves in Andalusia increased by 115,000 hectaresgrowth It overlaps with the distribution area of steppe birds such as bustards. The little bustard is more than two representative species of the Andalusian countryside and is in a state of decline.
Both birds are included in the threatened Andalusian catalog of wild flora and fauna as they are particularly affected by the concentration of crops and the gradual loss of habitats traditionally associated with farmland.
At the national level, the bustard is listed as endangered, while the bustard is listed as near threatened in the Red Book of Spanish Birds published in 2021 by the Spanish Ornithological Society (SEO/BirdLife). But what threatens them?
These steppe birds often live in open areas consisting of meadows and also in fields of annual crops such as grain fields or rural areas.. However, since the olive tree is a perennial product, not an annual product, the unstoppable expansion of olive groves harms these species.
ANDThis situation is exacerbated where dense olive wood proliferates compared to traditional olive trees.With a higher tree density (usually 200 to 500 olive trees per hectare compared to 100 olive trees found on a traditional plantation) to drive greater profitability from the farm. This contrasts with the habitat of large bucks and bustards, which are characterized by extensive and almost barren land with little vegetation.
Definitely, this extension of the olive tree inflames steppe environmentsis characterized by large areas and poses a real threat to the species living in it. This is the result of a study published by the University of Córdoba and the Technical University of Manabí (Ecuador). International Bird Protectionbased on data provided by the satellite database Corina Land Coverthis allows to analyze how land use is changing.
The study found: Over an 18-year period (2000 to 2018), new olive trees occupied between 2.14% and 2.16% of the Eurasian bustard and bustard habitat in Andalusia.It became more and more limited with the advent of woody cultivation to the detriment of crop fields, which fragmented the Andalusian landscape and replaced these two species.
Prohibit cultivation in key areas
For this reason, the researchers stress that urgent progress is needed in a regulation to protect the range of these two threatened birds against the extension of olive trees. prohibit them from being reared in duly designated “hot spots” such as courtship or nesting areas.
As José Guerrero Casado, researcher and study participant in the UCO Department of Zoology explains, “measures must be taken to protect the habitats of these birds.” Established by Bird Life International as a recognition of areas that need to be protected to preserve bird populations, Areas Important for Birds and Biodiversity, namely By rethinking the utility of IBAs.
In fact, this study showed that Thousands of hectares of olive groves were planted within the IBAs designed to protect the habitats of bustards and bustards. among other species.
“While the expansion of the olive orchard over the last two decades has not been of great significance quantitatively – 5%, if not less – it has been qualitative, because it has come at the expense of it. It occupies farmland devoted to cereal crops and has an impact on habitat loss and fragmentation that has accumulated over previous decades.Adds José Eugenio Gutiérrez, SEO/BirdLife representative in Andalusia and responsible for the Life Olivares Vivos + project.
The researchers regret that there is no legal framework that protects Areas Important for Birds and Biodiversity (IBA) for what they propose as a solution.That the Community Agricultural Policy for the period 2023-2027 contemplates measures to maintain and improve the conservation status of open cultivation areas. in these areas it seeks greater profitability, in addition to subsidies to farmers to prevent these lands from being converted into dense olive groves.
….
Environment department contact address:[email protected]