Approval of the Management Plan for Special Protection Zones for Birds in steppe environments in CLM

On May 15, 2024, the Official Gazette of Castilla-La Mancha published the Order 72/2024, of May 9, of the Ministry of Sustainable Development, approving the revision of the Management Plan for Special Protection Areas for Birds in Steppenian Environments in Castilla-La Mancha. [2024/3697].

Scope of application

Derogatory provision. The Order of 77/2019, of May 22, of the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development, is repealed, by which, in execution of the judgment, Order 63/2017, of April 3, was published in full in the Official Gazette of Castilla-La Mancha, approving the Management Plan for Special Protection Areas for Birds in Steppenian Environments.

Final provision. Entry into force. This order will enter into force the day following its publication in the Official Gazette of Castilla-La Mancha, and will be in force from that moment until its revision. This Management Plan will be reviewed every five years, unless exceptional circumstances make it necessary to review it in an earlier period, and will be extended until the approval of the next one.

Spaces of the Natura 2000 Network, subject of the Management Plan

CODE TYPE NAME PROVINCEES0000153ZEPASteparian Area in the east of Albacete Albacete ES0000154 ZEPASteparian Zone of El Bonillo Albacete ES0000157 ZepaCampo de Calatrava Real City 0000158 Zepa Steparian Areas of the Montiel Field and Real City0000390 ZepasSan Clemente Cuenca ES0000167 Zepas Cerealists of La Campiña Guadalajaraes0000170 ZEPA/Steparian Area of the Guadarrar River I loved Toledo

Objective of the Plan

To group together in a single Plan the management of special protection areas for steppe birds existing in agricultural environments, in line with what is indicated both in Law 42/2007, of December 13, and in Council Directive 92/43/EEC, of May 21, 1992, adopting measures aimed at safeguarding the ecological integrity of the space and contributing to the coherence of the Natura 2000 network in Castilla-La Mancha.

Relevant aspects of the plan

Key element “steppe birds”

The class species of the plan are defined, being:

The bustard (Otis tarda) (VU), the sison (Tetrax tetrax, VU), the primilla kestrel (Falco Naumanni, VU), the common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus, IE), the Iberian gangue (Pterocles alchata, VU), the Ganga Ortega (Pterocles orientalis, VU), the ashy harrier (Circus cyaneus, VU), the pale harrier (Circus pygargus, VU), the caravanna (Burhinus oedicnemus, IE), the common crane (Grus grus, VU), the calandria (Melanocorypha calandra, IE), the country swallow (Anthus campestris, IE), the mountain scourge (Galerida theklae, IE), the common cougada (Galerida cristata, IE), the common ground (Calandrella brachydactyla, IE), the common quail (Coturnix coturnix, NC), the blue elanium (Elanus caeruleus, VU), the Carambolo plover (Eudromias morinellus, IE), merlin (Falco columbarius, IE), the lark totovía (Tree lullula, IE), the European bumblebee (Merops apiaster, IE), the blonde collalba (Oenanthe hispánica, IE) and the European turtledove (Streptopelia turtur, NC).

Oddly enough, the Marismeña terrera is not included (Alaudala rufescens, IE).

Delimitation of ZEPA zones

The cartography of the ZEPA areas covered by this Plan are similar to the existing cartography.

However, it has been necessary to make specific surface adjustments (without cartographic modification) in perimeter areas of the ZEPAs when observing the presence of very small areas in neighboring municipalities.

Habitat suitability and ecological connectivity of the territory

During the process of reviewing the management plan, a series of territorial analysis models have been developed that complement the characterization of the environment to contribute to the management of these species and their habitats.

The models obtained are based on methodologies supported by the scientific community, and collected as one of the tools for identifying areas of interest for the conservation and restoration of ecological corridors within the National Strategy for Green Infrastructure, Connectivity and Ecological Restoration.

• Habitat suitability model for steppe bird species linked to the agrarian environment. It consists of a regional grid in which each grid acquires a relative value in terms of its suitability as a habitat for these species. The work commissioned as part of the monitoring of these species since 2019 (“Monitoring of steppe birds in ZEPA areas and other important areas for these species in the territory of Castilla-La Mancha during the 2019-2023 annuities”), as well as the different censuses available for these species, validate the developed model.

• Territorial resistance model, similar to the previous one, but in which each component of the grid acquires a relative value in terms of capacity to facilitate or hinder the dispersion of species in the territorial matrix.

• Ecological connectivity model. The analysis of the functional and structural connectivity of the territory is shown with the objective of assessing the degree of viability of the environment to favor the dispersion of the target species between areas of interest called core zones, and which in this case are represented by the ZEPA spaces of pseudosteppe environments and some observed areas of interest to this group of birds that allow obtaining more representative corridors over the entire surface of the region. These areas of ideal habitat must be taken into account, as well as the areas identified as connectors for effective management of these species, avoiding the loss or deterioration of these areas outside the ZEPA spaces of Red Natura 2000.

Zoning

The zoning of the Natura 2000 Space seeks to organize the territory according to the value of existing natural resources and the capacity of each area to accommodate potential uses and infrastructures, in such a way as to ensure compatibility between them. The following zoning categories are proposed within the spaces covered by the Plan:

— Priority Conservation Area (zone A).

— Compatible area of use (zone B).

— Special Use Area (Zone C).

How does this modification affect the implementation of renewable energy projects?

Criteria to be taken into account in environmental assessment procedures.

In the section Horizontal measures and administrative costs related to the Natura 2000 network are proposed as part of the environmental assessment (6.1), it is indicated that within the spaces of the Natura 2000 Network, the installation of new renewable energy installations is not considered authorizable, due to the loss of habitat they cause and the impact on steppe birds.

Outside the spaces of the Naura 2000 Network, in the development of renewable energy projects, the ideal habitat and connecting areas, collected in the plan shown above, should be taken into account. Even if these areas do not have specific regulations, their loss or deterioration must be avoided:

• Suitability model.
• Territorial resistance model.
• Connectivity model and steppe environments of interest.

Compensatory measures

The correct establishment, maintenance and monitoring of compensatory measures for steppe habitat is recommended, in line with Measures for the maintenance and restoration of species and habitats related to Natura 2000 sites (6.2), as well as the recommendations, protocols and methodological guidelines issued by each administration.

These measures should be aimed at promoting and improving habitats for the “main key species” of steppe avifauna through the diversification of the traditional agricultural landscape, establishment of long-lasting fallow lands and borders of natural vegetation.

References:

The cover photo was taken by Alfonso Guío

Related links: https://ideasmedioambientales.com/estrategia-para-la-conservacion-de-las-aves-esteparias/

Rosa María Colás, Environmental Assessment

Cristóbal Martínez and Gaspar Arenas, Biodiversity