Proposals and performances for restoration and conservation of Cantabrian capercaille (Tetrao urugallus cantabricus, Castroviejo 1967) habitat and populations.

Abstract

The species Tetrao urogallus (Linnaeus 1758) is not globally threatened thank to its wide distribution range and its habitat, mostly located in remote places. However, it is suffering important declines in its occidental distribution area and in central Europe, where local extinctions are isolating its populations. The Cantabrian subspecies (Tetrao urogallus cantabricus CASTROVIEJO 1967) is the most threatened and the one which has worst future perspective in middle term, since its populations begin to be isolated without the possibility of genetic renovation. Although the Cantabrian capercaillie is protected species in Spain, its populations have been declining during the last 20 years till dramatic levels. The main causes are deforestation, human activities (stockbreeding mainly) and urban development, combined with some reproduction requirements such as the sound that males in heat need to emit, which requires no human interferences and their type of egg-lying which does not help to get many viable eggs. One of the few places were the Cantabrian capercaillie can still be seen is "Pinar de Lillo" (in Cantabrian mountains) which is included in a Site of Community Importance (SCI) and in a Special Protection Area (SPA). In the management plan of this site an inventory and analysis of the mesohabitat and microhabitat, which has the requirements needed for the maintenance and conservation of the species, have been made. And following the recommendations of the Strategy for the Conservation of the Cantabrian capercaillie in Spain, some specific actions have been defined.