The data had not been updated for 18 years. The new Red Book of Mammals of Mainland Portugal revealed more threatened species, but it also brings good news. Such as the recovery of the Iberian lynx population, which allowed for the alleviation of its state of threat.
The new Red Book of Mammals of Mainland Portugal, whose paper edition was sponsored by Bondalti, reveals that there are 27 endangered mammal species in our country, that is, a third of the 82 species evaluated.
The numbers update the last known data, which dated back to 2005, and had been published in the Red Book of Vertebrates of Portugal: of the 74 species evaluated at the time, 18 were threatened with extinction. The work is an important contribution to the planning of conservation measures, since it updates the risk of extinction and provides basic information to minimize it.
The result of a four-year study involving more than 300 people, the Red Book of Mammals of Mainland Portugal revealed that the porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), the orca (Orcinus orcae) and the small rat bat (Myotis blythii) are in the highest threat category, having been evaluated as “Critically Endangered”. As for the Iberian lynx, there is good news: it went from “Critically Endangered” to “Endangered”, due to the successful joining efforts of conservation programs in Portugal and Spain.
The Red Book of Mammals of Mainland Portugal project was co-financed by PO SEUR, Portugal 2020, the European Union — Cohesion Fund and the Environmental Fund, with the beneficiary of FCiencias.ID — Association for Research and Development of Sciences and as a partner the ICNF — Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests. Bondalti's support for its implementation, and the donation of the Book to various institutions and public bodies, is in line with the involvement that, for several years, the company has maintained with projects that promote biodiversity, the balance of ecosystems and the recovery of endangered species.
Examples of this involvement include support for Iberian lynx and imperial eagle conservation efforts, through a protocol with the National Association of Rural Owners (ANPC); the protection, together with the local government, of brown bears in Cantabria; the partnership with the CRAM - Center for the Recovery of Marine Animals (from Ecomare); and, more recently, support for the study of migratory birds present in Portugal.
Learn more about Bondalti's action in favor of biodiversity hereto.
