The Consejería de Sostenibilidad y Medio Ambiente of the Junta de Andalucía has adopted new agreements in anticipation of the possible allocation of quotas for the hunting of the European turtledove (‘Streptopelia turtur’) in the 2025-2026 season. The measure is part of the Adaptive Management Plan for Sustainable Hunting, in line with scientific recommendations and international agreements for the recovery of the species.
The decline in the population of the European turtledove in recent decades led the European Union to activate a hunting moratorium since 2021, with the aim of recovering its population. However, the most recent data from the Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme (PECMBS) has shown a growing trend for two consecutive years, with survival rates exceeding 1 and the development of reliable capture control systems by the Member States.
As a result, the working group of the European Commission on bird recovery has proposed lifting the moratorium, establishing a capture quota for the turtledove in the western migratory corridor. Out of the total quota of 132,000 authorized individuals, Spain has received 81% (106,920 specimens), with Andalucía receiving a total of 35,497.
The resolution published in the Official Gazette of the Junta de Andalucía (BOJA) establishes that the allocation of quotas will be carried out under strict sustainability and transparency criteria. Interested hunting grounds must meet the following requirements: regarding habitat management, they must demonstrate the implementation of at least two of the ten habitat improvement measures established in the resolution of June 5, 2024, including the creation of fallow strips, the restoration of riparian forests, and the installation of water points. As for the capture record, the Digital Hunting Seal will be launched, a mobile application that will allow captures to be registered and controlled in real-time. In terms of supervision and control, Environmental Agents may conduct inspections in the hunting grounds to verify compliance with the measures adopted.
The deadline for hunting ground owners to submit the required documentation will be open until April 6, 2025. Subsequently, the Directorate General of Forest Policy and Biodiversity will analyze the applications and publish the final resolution with the distribution of quotas.
The Director General of Forest Policy and Biodiversity, Juan Ramón Pérez Valenzuela, has emphasized that this measure aims to «reconcile hunting activity with the conservation of biodiversity, ensuring a rational and sustainable use of the European turtledove». He also highlighted the importance of the involvement of the hunting sector in habitat management and the commitment of the Junta de Andalucía to transparency and compliance with the scientific criteria established at the European level.