Translated by Claire Graham.
The current management strategy for carcasses, a natural resource, is a serious threat to the preservation of biodiversity. The result of this management is that one of the pillars sustaining a large portion of the ecological processes is altered at the base.
The rigid implementation of general regulations issued as a result of EET has caused, apart from a considerable financial burden on many stockbreeders, serious problems to vulture populations in most of Spain: among others, decrease in numbers in some colonies, loss of productivity, delays in reproduction, increase in the number of dead or undernourished individuals admitted into recovery centres, and possible changes in their movements and etiology.
It is neither environmentally nor morally acceptable to have the populations of necrophagous birds of the Iberian Peninsula concentrating only at a few muladares with directed feefind. With the decrease in extensive cattle breeding and the health measures imposed, vultures are inevitably doomed to a situation similar to stabling. The presence of scavenger raptors in an ecosystem is a reflection of a good conservation status of our natural heritage.
During the First National Conference on the Management of Necrophagous Raptors and Muladares held on 4, 5 and 6th April 2008 in Caravaca de la Cruz, a new open and participative working team was created, made up of experts on necrophagous raptors and their trophic resources in order to act as observers integrating the research, management and conservation studies on scavenger birds and their feeding resources.
For this purpose, the 1st Conference agrees:
To suggest adaptations of the EU Regulatory Directives on the supply of trophic resources for scavenger birds to the situation in the Iberian Peninsula, requesting the creation of committees taking part in the appropriate adaptations of these regulations appropriately and to support the actions put forward by the Sociedad Española de Ornitología (Spanish Birdlife, SEO/BirdLife) in that direction. The administrations that so far, have not implemented preventive measures on the access to food must implement urgently a series of preventive measures within the limits established in the current legislation.
Regarding the issue on the access of necrophagous birds to additional feeding, this 1st Conference puts forward a mixed model involving the upkeep or creation of a complete network of feeding stations to provide a higher number of stations than at present. They would be supplied in such a way so as not to induce bird concentrations, and there would also be a network of muladares associated with cattle farms, both networks aiming to compensate for the deficient food supply resulting from the current management of carcasses. This would help restore a working ecosystem which would better simulate the natural supply of carcasses (it takes into account the fact the trophic resources are expected to be taken over by the largest gregarious species) and it would help access to other scavenger raptors (Egyptian vultures, kites and lammergeiers) that, in addition, are under a bigger threat, as shown by the marked decrease in the numbers of Red Kites in Segovia, the Northern Plateau and other areas of Spain. The amount, size and frequency of food supplies should therefore be taken into account.
To call upon the coordination between Administrations to avoid subordinating the appropriate management of the natural environment to other interests. A specific regulation needs to be established by the Administration of the various corresponding Autonomías to avoid withdrawal of carcasses of wild animals, free-range cattle and hunting remains.
To support the upkeep of traditional activities in the rural environment, especially the ecological extensive cattle breeding, as one of the main sectors that generate biodiversity, introducing measures to help make it viable and help the conservation of necrophagous birds. Ecological extensive cattle breeding should be clearly separated in the legislation on scavenger birds from intensive breeding. The former uses fewer drug treatments therefore generating better quality food, and priority should be given to the former over the latter.
To urge the Ministry of the Environment and the Comunidades Autónomas to create a specific insurance for the collection of carcasses to be given to scavenger birds, with a cost below the current one, adjusted to the needs of the populations of scavenger birds, and managed by public entities or by private entities involved in the conservation of these species.
To consider that carcasses or hunting remains from wild animals, except those for human consumption, must not be retrieved, thus making them available to necrophagous birds as established in the Royal Decree 664/20077.
At least in certain areas (such as remote areas, ZEPAs –special bird protection areas- and other protected areas, etc.) certain carcasses or remains thereof such as those coming from ecological extensive cattle breeding should be allowed, again, to remain in the countryside with the least restrictions possible.
The current collection, transportation and incineration of carcasses is not sustainable in the medium or long term, neither from the financial point of view nor the energy cost or environmental point of view, even without taking into account the health risks involved. The data presented during the Conference are conclusive.
Taking into account the new information obtained on the subject, we suggest the exemption of sheep and goat farms from the requirement to analyze 4% of the carcasses of animals over 18 months old so that they can be used as food for vultures.
To request the European Authorities to continue researching and to study the endorsement and approval of the methods without death already described for the detection of BSC and EET, which would enable a rational treatment of animal carcasses and their use for scavenger birds.
To insist upon the appropriate environmental administrations on the very serious risks for birds and more specifically necrophagous raptors caused by industrial wind farms and their associated power lines located in vital areas, home-range and additional feeding zones. For that purpose, the studies of locations and their corresponding assessments of environmental impact should be undertaken jointly.
At present, mortality from poisoning is one of the main threats to scavenger birds and we therefore consider that it is crucial to take precise actions to eradicate the illegal use of poison in the countryside. It is necessary to raise awareness of the fact that the use of poison is illegal and non selective, causing serious damage in the natural environment, and to offer alternative solutions to cattle farmers to avoid potential setbacks caused by scavenger birds.
We underline other serious threats for which measures must be taken to reduce their impact on scavenger birds such as mortality from power lines, interferences in breeding areas and during breeding periods, habitat destruction, certain avoidable and harmful works in protected natural areas. Deplorable examples of these are the track recently opened in the ZEPA of Sierra de Mojantes (Murcia), tracks in the Parque Natural del Alto Tajo (Guadalajara) and Sierra de Las Quilamas (Salamanca), the path in Cerro del Buitre in the Parque Natural de Sierra de Castril (Granada), the Senda Larga (Long Path) project and other projects in the Parque Natural de las Hoces del Riaza (Segovia), etc.
To request the central and autonomous authorities to open up to the full participation of collaborators such as the Sociedad Española de Ornitología or the appropriate coordinating body in order to take advantage of the full human potential of experts on scavenger birds during studies and national censuses of Griffon Vulture, Black Vulture and Egyptian Vulture in the Iberian Peninsula.
We endorse the conclusions of the III Symposium on Vultures of the UNED held in July in Palencia.
The localization of additional feeding points, muladares and feeding stations for vultures must be the object of a prior viability study specifying the required access, fencing, nearby infrastructures and safety measures for all the species of scavenger birds. In addition, we urge to speed up and find a solution, under these general viability criteria and in strict technical compliance of the requirements for these infrastructures deriving from the Decree on the Network of Muladares in the Region of Murcia, to the land register issue on the situation of the path leading to the vulture feeding station built by CARALLUMA on public land of the Sierra de Mojantes in Caravaca.
Caravaca de la Cruz, 6th April 2008
Asociacion para la Defensa de la Naturaleza CARALLUMA
http://www.caralluma-associacion.blogspot.com
