The LIFE program is the only financial instrument of the European Union dedicated exclusively to the environment. Its overall objective for the period 2004-2020 is to contribute towards sustainable development on the European Strategy 2020 and of the relevant strategies and plans of the Union regarding the environment and climate.
The SPAs are a designation under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds. Together with Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), the SPAs form a network of protected sites across the EU, called Natura 2000.
The Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) is a small diurnal raptor basically migrating although in some areas, such as southern Spain, Italy and northwest of the African continent, is present throughout the year. It occupies regions of warm climate with the presence of more or less natural steppes and cultivated areas throughout the Palearctic region, from southern Europe (Mediterranean basin) to Mongolia and China, reaching North Africa and Turkey (Eurasian distribution) . Its main wintering quarters are in central and southern Africa.
It is a colonial species that in the breeding season is associated with urban environments, installing their nests in different types of buildings, preferably in hollow walls, mechinales or under tiles, so it is easy to find in buildings in the countryside as well as buildings in the interior of urban centers. More rarely it is installed in small cuttings where it uses natural holes as nests.
Other Life projects related to the species.
The purpose of the project is to develop a model of management of urban SPAs that ensures the conservation of the lesser kestrel in the long term, since the population has suffered a great decrease in recent years. For this purpose, specific and effective management and conservation measures will be adopted to reduce or eliminate their main threats.
The actions that Terra Naturalis is going to carry out are: