Aragon will participate in it National Lynx Conservation ProgramIberia, following the decision taken by the working group at a meeting held on Friday at the Ministry of Environmental Transition and Demographic Challenge, in which it was agreed to receive eight copies, … Four males and four females from a captive breeding program for this species, which will be reintroduced into the Huerva River basin, in the province of Zaragoza.
This is the first reintroduction of the Iberian lynx into the Ebro Valley Throughout the northeastern Iberian Peninsula, regional government emerged.
The “exceptional” result of the participatory process had a fundamental weight in this decision, as the reintroduction of this species received unanimous support from the 16 municipalities of the Huerva Basin, which will hold a return session next Monday in Julin.
The first releases of this feline will occur in the first quarter of 2026 from acampo armijo farm, In the municipal area of Zaragoza.
The Iberian lynx reintroduction project in Aragon will be developed with the aim of working in the municipalities that make up the so-called Huerva Basin – Julin, Valmadrid, Mezalucha, Villanueva de Huerva, Tosos, Fuenditodos, María de Huerva, Muel, Longares or Bañeza, La Puebla de Alburton, Butorita, Mozuta, Mediana, Aladrin. And Zaragoza- to serve as Predator to regulate rabbit populationMostly.
The Huerva region was selected according to the criteria of the protocol for the selection of areas for the reintroduction of the Iberian lynx prepared within the framework of the protocol. LIFE Lynxconnect projectThis is due to the availability of habitats and the high density of rabbits, the main food of the lynx, and was implemented thanks to the work of nature protection agents and the financing of the Ministry of Environmental Transformation and Demographic Challenge, through the Tragsa Public Company.
Release area extends 27,500 hectares It has been certified by the Lynx Working Group for its great ecological value, as evidenced by the fact that 70% of it is part of the Natura network.
Among the habitats included in this area in the central area and Campo de Belchite, it contains important specimens of jungle associated with gypsum, and pine forests on the slopes with abundant incised valleys of great importance for concealing species, especially in the vicinity of La Plana.
In the areas around Campo de Cariñina, the selected area enters the foothills of the Iberian system and includes some of the Huerva and surrounding valleys, with riparian forests and tree formations of holm oak and repopulated pine forests, as well as large areas of shrubs and habitats of great value for species such as dryland cereals mixed with vineyards, olive groves and almond trees.
With the arrival of these eight samples, Aragon will truly begin Creating a new population of Iberian lynxin compliance with the Iberian lynx conservation strategy, which provides for the formation of new breeding populations throughout the peninsula.
Reintroduction of species into Aragon It became extinct in society in the second half of the twentieth centuryIt could represent an economic and tourism boost given the great interest it arouses, as well as a significant improvement in the biodiversity and balance of ecosystems in Aragon.
Thanks to the reintroduction program, the population of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) in Spain and Portugal during 2024 will reach 2,401 individuals, and in fact, the increase in the numbers of this species has become one of the best examples of the success of the conservation program for endangered species.
Since the first releases into the natural environment of captive-bred individuals began in 2011, and until 2024, 403 specimens have been reintroduced in different areas with favorable ecological, social and ecological conditions to host the Iberian lynx – Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura, Portugal, Murcia and Castilla y León -.
The experience provided in this comprehensive project, one of the world’s most successful in biodiversity conservation, made it possible to verify that the reintroduction of this species did not entail any restrictions on existing agricultural, pastoral or hunting uses in the region.
In addition, there are several private entities that have expressed their willingness to participate in the project by financing the actions, such as the SAMCA Foundation, which has signed an agreement with the Government of Aragon to Contribute €200,000 over four years With the ultimate goal of cooperating in the tasks necessary to reintroduce the Iberian lynx.
On the other hand, both the Regional Executive and Sarga participate as partners in the LIFE project submitted to the European Commission called “Resilience” with more than twenty partners including autonomous communities, ministries, universities and social entities in Spain and Portugal with the aim of achieving a suitable conservation status for the species by establishing populations in the northern half of Spain.
In addition, work has begun on concluding agreements and agreements with owners and game reserves to implement measures to improve habitats, such as creating and maintaining water points useful for lynx as well as other species of animals such as game.
This line of work includes the agreement signed between the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and Acampo Armijo that defines the cooperation framework for the development of the reintroduction project, including the construction and maintenance of release fences, monitoring of the population through photography, habitat improvement works and care of the specimens during their acclimation in the fence, as well as making land available for all planned actions.
The document also provides for the establishment of a mixed monitoring committee, composed of representatives of both parties, charged with approving the annual report on the procedures and evaluating the progress of the project.