The recognition values the support to extensive mountain livestock farming in coexistence with wildlife, which results in an increase of livestock farmers in the initiative’s area of influence and in the improvement of their economy.

The Foundation for the Conservation of the Bearded Vulture (FCQ) has been recognized by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) in the framework of the presentation of results of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), in an event held at the Official College of Architects of Madrid and chaired by the Third Vice President of the Government and Minister Sara Aagesen. The award, presented during the PRTR results presentation day, recognizes a total of 39 entities that have excelled in the exemplary execution of some of their projects.

The award was collected by the vice-president of the FCQ, Gerardo Báguena, and recognized the innovative nature of the ProBiodiversity Mountain Livestock program, which has tackled the complex challenge of the disappearance of mountain livestock farming in Spain, while at the same time addressing the coexistence with wildlife. Báguena emphasized that “the work developed in innovation has been valued in both aspects, achieving economic benefits with an increase in livestock and income in the areas of influence of the project and ecological benefits with the recovery of an endangered species such as the bearded vulture”.

During the meeting, Báguena also participated in the round table on territorial transition, which was moderated by the Secretary General for the Demographic Challenge, Francesc Xavier Boya. The discussion table was shared with the researcher of the Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Montserrat Núñez, and the president of Galletas Gullón, Lourdes Gullón. In this forum, Báguena stressed the need to link economy and ecology as two inseparable dimensions: “It is no longer acceptable to talk about ecology without talking about the economy, nor about species without talking about the people who live with them. The bioeconomy must play a leading role as a solution to environmental conflicts”. He also explained that the work of the FCQ is oriented towards the recovery of complete systems, in which the species is just one more, integrating financial, social and welfare factors so that the improvement of nature has a direct impact on people’s quality of life.

ProBiodiversity Livestock

The ProBiodiversity Livestock project, promoted by the FCQ with the support of the Fundación Biodiversidad del MITECO, is being developed in mountain areas of Asturias, Ávila, Cantabria and Segovia, and has the collaboration of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) and the Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla y León (ITACyL). With a budget of more than 775,000 euros, 95% of which has been subsidized with European NextGenerationEU funds, the program aims to strengthen the viability of extensive livestock farming as a strategic activity for the conservation of biodiversity and rural development.

Its objectives include an increase of up to 60% in the direct benefits of member farmers.

To achieve these goals, the project articulates different innovative lines of work: the development of an animal welfare protocol adapted to extensive systems, the strengthening of short marketing circuits under the ProBiodiversity guarantee brand, research into wolf deterrents based on canine metabolites, the study of guard dog behavior using digital tools, the valorization of by-products such as sheep wool and the consolidation of distribution agreements that reinforce farm profitability. The proposal is characterized by placing coexistence at its core: livestock farming that protects the territory, sustains the local population and guarantees the conservation of endangered species.