Just back from the closing congress of the LIFE Connect Ricotí (Dupont Lark) project (Autonomous University of Madrid, 1–2 July). ACOBIJA was invited to give a talk on real case studies of extensive livestock farming for maintaining open habitats and managing habitat for steppe species.
Two days covering restoration of open ecosystems, livestock management for conservation, and population reinforcement, with a genuinely broad mix of people in the room: researchers, universities, public administration, NGOs, and farmers.
A few case studies especially relevant here: LIFE Cañadas (drove ways and Natura 2000 connectivity), LIFE Global (management in the A Limia SPA, Galicia), and LIFE Granatha + LIFE Shep4Bio, presented by D.R.E.A.M. Italia.
I gave the talk “Extensive livestock farming: a tool for conservation and connectivity in the Iberian System — real cases and remaining challenges” in the livestock management session, presenting four case studies from different points across the Iberian System — different managers and different animals in each — but all contributing, to a greater or lesser extent, to biodiversity conservation.
At the closing, the congress also served as the launchpad for a brand-new project, LIFE Iber Ricotí.
One conclusion came up again and again across sessions: managed herbivory is one of the most effective tools for maintaining open habitats and steppe bird biodiversity — very much in line with what this network is about.
Full programme here, in case anyone wants to dig into specific talks.
Did anyone else attend, or is there a similar national-level congress on open habitat conservation happening in your country this year? Happy to share more detail on any of the talks if useful.