Allied Rove Project in Red Partridge Restoration

Donostia – reversing the decrease in the numbers of red-legged wild partridge (Electores Roofa), Which in the past four decades has put experts at around 70%, is the primary target of the Rova project that the Artemisan Foundation is developing in various parts of the Iberian Peninsula, including one located in a wagon.

This initiative, which will be implemented over the next few years and which also aims to protect other species of steppe birds, aims to reverse the decline in their numbers due to environmental and social issues. Habitat loss, changes in agricultural practices, predation, unsustainable hunting and, in some cases, poor recovery policies based on the use of captive-bred partridge are some of the actions that have led to a situation that is supposed to be reoriented.

The recovery plan, which began at the beginning of 2020 after a pilot trial developed in two reserves in Madrid, has two directions. In the first place, a series of experimental reserves run by hunting communities prior to selection were implemented, in which there was no significant abundance of partridges and they did not completely disappear. In addition, it was necessary to create a collaborative network between hunters and scholars who acted as partisan working groups.

HamasThe characteristics of the reserves that participate in the ROFA project differ greatly from one another, since they range from those in the arid mountains to those in the agricultural lands of the highlands of Andalusia, Aragon, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura, Valencia, Madrid or Euskadi. Etxamenda occupies, in a cart, 1,300 hectares and is located between the boards of Etxabarri Ibiña, Mendarozketa and Berrikano of the municipality of Zigoitia, on the slopes of Gorbeia.

The work carried out in these areas brings together the enthusiasm of the managers and hunting owners, and although they receive advice from Artemisan technicians, the decision-making about the work to be carried out corresponds to those who manage the land. In the case of the Arapara Reserve, the work in progress has made it possible to verify the existence of the Karawan.

Managers of spaces in which the ROFA project is being implemented must take into account a fundamental aspect such as controlling the predators that are in the supply reserve itself, since it is necessary to adapt the current intensity of hunting, specifically the species of corvids, such as as well as foxes, and above all wild boars.

Other types of predators, such as stomata (Mustela Armenia), Weasel (Mustela Nevalis(And gangs)Mustela Butorius) It represents a different problem because it is a protected species in the Spanish state. Faced with this situation, Artemisan is working to obtain special licenses that allow control of this population.

hybridization Although the release of cultured partridge may appear to be part of the solution in restoring the red partridge, project officials have dispensed with this option in supply reserves in order to avoid harming wild partridge populations.

Faced with the crossbreeding problem that might cause captive-bred specimens to be released, managers and technicians who devised the recovery plan for this expensive form are prioritizing the fact that having two or three pairs per square kilometer allows for an increase in the number of specimens within four years, provided that a habitat is established. Suitable and relieve predator pressure.

The basis for the Rova project originated in a similar initiative developed about 40 years ago in the United Kingdom, although the species intended to protect it in this case is the gray partridge “which was in a position similar to that of the wild red partridge here,” according to researcher and literal member Jose Luis. Guzman.

The work of the Artemisan Foundation to restore red partridge in those areas where the population has decimated considerably in recent years has won the attention of the specialized foreign press.

Specifically from the specialized quarterly publication Jamwizy, Published in the UK by Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, which has over 50,000 subscribers.