Cabra (Córdoba), 24 (Europa Press)
El Director General de la Junta de Andalucía de la Política Forestal y la Biodiversidad, Juan Ramón Pérez Valenzuela, participó en «Talk-Collaquum sobre la gestión y las enfermedades del conejo salvaje», organizado por la Sociedad Deportiva de Cabra Hunters (CÓRDOBA), con la colaboración sobre una gestión basada en la ciencia y el conocimiento basado en el proyecto. Vida ibercoonejo
La reunión, que tuvo lugar en el Hotel Fuente de Las Pietrad, reunió a numerosos representantes del sector de caza, agrícola y universitaria, para compartir conocimientos y experiencias en torno a esta especie clave para los ecosistemas mediterráneos.
During his speech, Pérez Valenzuela emphasized the strong commitment of the Junta de Andalucía to the recovery of the wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), a species considered «endangered» by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to the drastic decline of its populations in the Iberian Peninsula.
«The wild rabbit is a hunting species and a true biodiversity engine, a key to the balance of the Mediterranean mountain and the survival of emblematic species, such as the Iberian lynx or the imperial eagle,» he said.
In this sense, he emphasized that the strategy of the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment is based on scientific knowledge, but also on the direct experience of the territory, with hunters, farmers, combat companies, and forestry techniques that live daily with the reality of the field. «Listening to those who live and manage the field is as important as the law. That’s why we advocate for sharing and dialogue,» he said.
Life Ibercoonejo Project
One of the main examples of this line of work is the Life Ibercoonejo Project, in which Andalusia has played an exceptional role. This European initiative has allowed significant progress in understanding the species and implementing useful tools for its management, both in terms of health, population, and economic point.
Within the project, common monitoring protocols were developed, over 1,200 clinical cases of diseases were documented, and specific biosafety measures were developed for hunting and breeding farms. In addition, Pérez Valenzuela emphasized that the project has contributed to estimating a positive economic impact of over six million euros in sectors such as hunting, agriculture, and conservation. It also promoted the creation of the ERICC European committee, which coordinates different regions in a common long-term vision.
During the colloquium, the general manager highlighted the added value, which means bringing scientific knowledge to the actors in the territory. «One of the great achievements of the Iberonjo Life Project was its ability to translate science into practical tools. But, above all, it demonstrated that only through common collaboration and training can we effectively address the major challenges of the natural environment,» he said.
Two reference experts in the field intervened, Professor Antonio Casas from the University of Córdoba (UCO) and Professor Ignacio García Bocanegra, both responsible for fundamental research to understand the ecological health and evolution of the wild rabbit in Andalusia.
The general manager emphasized that «the work carried out by this province, both in research and in territorial management, is an example of how to act with efficiency and scientific rigor to recover a key species of the Mediterranean ecosystem.» He also mentioned that «events like this help strengthen the connections between science, administration, and users of the natural environment, which is the basis of any efficient environmental policy.»
Finally, the general manager thanked the company Cabra Hunter for its initiative to organize this meeting, as well as the city of Cabra, for its collaboration and commitment. «Taking care of the wild rabbit is, in reality, taking care of the mountain, cultures, predators, soil, and ultimately, a model of a living, sustainable, and future field,» he concluded.