After an intense work of reconnaissance of the land and fruitful debates with proprietors, local councils and municipalities, at the end of 2014 the LIFE Defragmentation project has signed the first seven Land Stewardship Agreements for the plantation of the connectivity forests. The agreements have been signed with the local councils of Los Barrios de Gordón, Los Barrios de Luna, Cerulleda, Irede de Luna, Rabanal de Luna and Robledo de Caldas and with the municipalities of Los Barrios de Luna, Sena de Luna and Valdelugueros, all they in Leon.
These agreements establish a framework of cooperation to carry out the actions of native tree plantation in each area selected inside the interpopulation corridor of the Cantabrian brown bear and within Natura 2000 sites. They include the commitments of the boards or municipalities and local councils for the transfer of land, the promotion of information and participation among neighbors and the maintenance and conservation of plantations for at least the next 30 years, together with the commitments made by the Brown Bear Foundation (FOP) to carry out the previously agreed plantations, guarantee their maintenance and care, and organize information and collaboration activities with neighbors.
This winter, plantations are being carried out following the recommendations of the technicians of the Junta de Castilla y León, and with the corresponding permits and authorizations. Land Stewardship is a tool that allows the owners and users of the territory to be involved in the conservation of natural resources through their collaboration with conservation organizations. FOP has been developing Land Stewardship for many years, sharing the ownership of bear mountains with the neighbors of the area and establishing agreements with hunters, owners and municipalities to improve the habitat of the brown bear.
December 2014
The mayor of Valdelugueros (left) and the president of the FOP, at the signing of the agreement