The conference, organized by the Department of Environment at the Fuerteventura Congress and Training Palace, addressed the state of the island's birds and the challenges for their protection. The opening featured interventions by the Minister of Environment, Carlos Rodríguez, and the Insular Director of Ecological Transition, José Domingo Fernández.
Carlos Rodríguez emphasized the importance of understanding island biodiversity for its conservation, stating that “knowing what we have in our environment is fundamental to protecting our natural wealth and ensuring it endures over time”.
The event focused on the Kentish Plover and the Canary Islands Stonechat. Gustavo Tejera, Senior Technician in Environmental Education and Control, presented the status of the Kentish Plover, highlighting its decline and the need for conservation measures. Subsequently, Juan Carlos Illera, a researcher from the IMIB-CSIC, analyzed 20 years of decline in the Canary Islands Stonechat.
The presentation ‘Red VIGIA and the state of bird species in Fuerteventura’, led by Miguel Ángel Cabrera, a technician from the Government of the Canary Islands, delved into bird population monitoring and the importance of data for conservation efforts.
As part of the program, the documentary ‘FUERTEVENTURA, a desert full of life’, by nature filmmaker Pedro Felipe Acosta, was presented, focusing on the biodiversity of the Canary Islands and the conservation of wildlife.
The conference concluded with a round table titled ‘Avifauna of Fuerteventura: conservation, monitoring, and awareness’, moderated by José Domingo Fernández Herrera. Participants included Gustavo Tejera, Juan Carlos Illera, Miguel Ángel Cabrera, and Pedro Felipe Acosta, who shared perspectives from their respective fields.
Through this initiative, the Fuerteventura Island Council reinforces its commitment to training, knowledge exchange, and environmental awareness as tools to advance in the protection of island biodiversity and promote greater citizen involvement in the conservation of natural heritage.
