Species on the Brink in Southern Lleida
An entire Catalan population of Dupont's lark (Chersophilus duponti), a small brown steppe bird with a curved beak, survives in only 100 hectares of dryland farmland in the Timoneda d'Alfés area, south of Lleida. According to the latest census, the species now occupies just two territories in Catalonia and is perilously close to extinction. Spain holds around 3,100 male larks, the only population in Europe, but the Catalan group is the most northerly, isolated, and fragile. The nearest group is in Aragon, 40 kilometres away. Experts warn the population is subject to "stochastic processes", meaning a single stroke of bad luck could wipe it out entirely.
Recovery Plan Relies on Shepherds and Farmers
The Catalan government has opened a public consultation on a technical recovery plan aimed at preventing the bird's disappearance, supported by the European LIFE Connect Ricotí project. While the government typically favours multispecies conservation strategies, three cases, the wolf, the bear, and Dupont's lark, have warranted individual plans due to their unique challenges. For the lark, the reason is the ongoing community initiative and extreme decline. The plan proposes expanding suitable habitat from 100 to 200 hectares by purchasing adjacent land and connecting the Timoneda d'Alfés site with the protected steppe area of Mas de Melons.
The grazing maintains low, open vegetation and prevents shrubs from becoming too dense.
Ranching as Conservation Tool
To keep steppe habitats open and suitable for breeding, the plan assigns a key role to livestock grazing. According to the Department of Climate Action, grazing helps maintain vegetation structure and, when stocking density is appropriate, animal droppings support insect populations that the lark feeds on. The abandonment of extensive grazing is classified as a threat of "high relevance". The recovery strategy establishes a direct link between the lark and extensive livestock farming. Under the plan, shepherds would manage their flocks in agreed zones, with defined entry points, seasonal restrictions, and grazing intensity. The government also plans to improve water points, fences, and corrals, and establish permanent economic support mechanisms to make herding viable.
Partnerships with Farmers Also Key
A parallel strategy seeks cooperation with farmers. The goal is to preserve small fragments of natural vegetation between crops and reduce the use of herbicides and insecticides, as agricultural intensification reduces food availability and degrades ideal ecosystems for the lark and other steppe birds. However, the plan acknowledges that without financial incentives and excessive administrative hurdles, farmer collaboration may fail. It calls for specific economic incentives for agricultural sectors involved in nature conservation, a project already underway by the Department of Territory and the Department of Agriculture.
Voluntary Measures, Dependent on Action
The plan stresses that all actions are recommendations, not mandatory. The success of land purchases, grazing agreements, and access restrictions to critical habitats, including limits for cyclists, dogs, and even birdwatchers, depends on the government following through. The LIFE Connect Ricotí project has already demonstrated success elsewhere in Spain. In Guadalajara, habitat restoration and the translocation of 13 larks increased the population from four to 35 males by spring 2026. In Cuenca, where the species had been considered extinct, reintroduction efforts have led to reoccupation. In Catalonia, the lark was first recorded in 1983, declared extinct around 2006, and then rediscovered in 2016. Conservationists stress that without expanding habitat and maintaining grazing, the isolated population in Alfés could vanish again.
Primary sources: parcsnaturals.gencat.cat, mediambient.gencat.cat, govern.cat, patrimonifestiu.cultura.gencat.cat. Reported by blog.ctfc.cat, ACN, ca.wikipedia.org, lifeconnectricoti.com, El Periódico (CA).
