The AQUILA a-LIFE project (LIFE16 NAT/ES/000235) is an initiative co-funded by the European Union’s LIFE Programme and led by GREFA, in collaboration with strategic partners such as the Natura Parc Foundation. It is designed to halt the decline of the Bonelli’s eagle (Aquila fasciata) and restore its former distribution range in the Western Mediterranean.
Key Objectives
Our primary mission focuses on four fundamental pillars:
- Territorial expansion: Increasing the number of territorial pairs in historical areas of the Iberian Peninsula and on the Italian island of Sardinia.
- Environmental safety: Reducing mortality caused by electrocution and collision by correcting hazardous power line supports.
- Science and conservation: Scientifically evaluating the Mediterranean metapopulation to design new and effective conservation actions.
- Social awareness: Involving administrations, power companies, the educational sector, and citizens (with direct training support from the Natura Parc Foundation in the Balearic Islands) to build a long-term protection network.
Our Main Actions
To achieve these goals, we work directly on the ground with hands-on actions:
- Release and population reinforcement: More than 200 captive-bred or rescued specimens have been reintroduced in Madrid, Navarra, Álava, Sardinia, and Mallorca (where the Natura Parc Foundation coordinates all local logistics), using individual GPS tracking to ensure their survival.
- Correction of power lines: The insulation and redesign of more than 1,200 priority pylons have been achieved to minimize tragic electrocutions and collisions.
- Training and awareness: We have conducted courses (both in-person and online) for environmental agents, electrical technical staff, and volunteers. Thanks to the Natura Parc Foundation’s environmental education center, we have fostered an active community of thousands of students.
Outstanding Results we are proud of
Joint efforts are already bearing fruit in the wild:
- 208 eagles released and 128 tagged with GPS technology. The analysis of their flights guides us in installing precise anti-electrocution measures.
- More than 10 established breeding pairs in Mallorca. In fact, the species was declared self-sustaining on the island in 2021 after a decade of reintroduction locally coordinated by the Natura Parc Foundation.
- International Network: We have consolidated a historic synergy integrating Spain, Italy, and France, laying the definitive foundations for future LIFE projects dedicated to large raptors.
Why is this project vital for everyone?
Saving the Bonelli’s Eagle is not just about saving a bird. It generates a positive chain reaction:
- Protects Mediterranean biodiversity: Its presence as an apex predator balances the natural food chains of our environment.
- Modernizes infrastructure: Reforms in electrical networks reduce risks for dozens of other bird species.
- Boosts rural areas: It promotes the local economy through responsible ecotourism and the creation of specialized green jobs.
