28 August 2025
Protocol signed with the Municipality of Carrazeda de Ansiães reinforces monitoring of the Montagu’s harrier
Signing of the collaboration protocol. Photo: Palombar.
On 28 July, as part of the LIFE SOS Pygargus project, Palombar signed a collaboration protocol with the Municipality of Carrazeda de Ansiães, with the aim of strengthening the monitoring and protection of Montagu's harrier populations in the municipality.
With the formalisation of this protocol, Palombar and the municipality will collaborate to promote joint actions for the conservation of the Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus) in the municipality, a migratory bird at risk of extinction, as well as planning, dissemination, awareness-raising and environmental education activities throughout the duration of the project.
The focus is on monitoring and protecting Montagu's harrier pairs and nests in the municipality during the breeding season, which goes from March to August.
This partnership represents another important step towards the conservation of the Montagu's harrier and the promotion of land management practices that benefit biodiversity and local communities.
About the project
LIFE SOS Pygargus - Urgent conservation actions to sustain Portuguese and transborder populations of the Montagu’s harrier is an Iberian project that brings together conservationists, farmers, scientists and public and private entities in an unprecedented effort to save this migratory bird from imminent extinction in some of its main areas of distribution in the Iberian Peninsula.
It combines nature conservation and agriculture to protect this species, which is fundamental to the balance of ecosystems. It is 75% funded by the European Union's LIFE programme and co-funded by Viridia – Conservation in Action, Lightsource bp and the Environmental Fund.
It is implemented by a consortium comprising Palombar – Conservação da Natureza e do Património Rural (coordinating entity), BIOPOLIS-CIBIO Association, AEPGA - Associação para o Estudo e Proteção do Gado Asinino, ANPOC - Associação Nacional de Produtores de Proteaginosas, Oleaginosas e Cereais, CCDR-N - Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do Norte, EDIA - Empresa de Desenvolvimento e Infraestruturas do Alqueva SA, ICNF - Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas, INIAV - Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, LPN - Liga para a Protecção da Natureza, MC Shared Services SA, Modelo Continente Hipermercados SA, SPEA - Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves, UTAD - Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vita Nativa - Conservação do Ambiente, AMUS - Acción por el Mundo Salvaje, Consejeria de Agricultura, Ganaderia y Desarrollo Sostenible - Junta de Extremadura, GREFA - Grupo de Rehabilitación de la Fauna Autóctona y su Hábitat and the University of Murcia.
With the formalisation of this protocol, Palombar and the municipality will collaborate to promote joint actions for the conservation of the Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus) in the municipality, a migratory bird at risk of extinction, as well as planning, dissemination, awareness-raising and environmental education activities throughout the duration of the project.
Signing of the protocol. Photo: Palombar.
The focus is on monitoring and protecting Montagu's harrier pairs and nests in the municipality during the breeding season, which goes from March to August.
This partnership represents another important step towards the conservation of the Montagu's harrier and the promotion of land management practices that benefit biodiversity and local communities.
Municipal technician Nelson Tito Domingos monitoring Montagu's harrier populations in the municipality, in April this year. Photo: Palombar.
About the project
LIFE SOS Pygargus - Urgent conservation actions to sustain Portuguese and transborder populations of the Montagu’s harrier is an Iberian project that brings together conservationists, farmers, scientists and public and private entities in an unprecedented effort to save this migratory bird from imminent extinction in some of its main areas of distribution in the Iberian Peninsula.
It combines nature conservation and agriculture to protect this species, which is fundamental to the balance of ecosystems. It is 75% funded by the European Union's LIFE programme and co-funded by Viridia – Conservation in Action, Lightsource bp and the Environmental Fund.
It is implemented by a consortium comprising Palombar – Conservação da Natureza e do Património Rural (coordinating entity), BIOPOLIS-CIBIO Association, AEPGA - Associação para o Estudo e Proteção do Gado Asinino, ANPOC - Associação Nacional de Produtores de Proteaginosas, Oleaginosas e Cereais, CCDR-N - Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional do Norte, EDIA - Empresa de Desenvolvimento e Infraestruturas do Alqueva SA, ICNF - Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas, INIAV - Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, LPN - Liga para a Protecção da Natureza, MC Shared Services SA, Modelo Continente Hipermercados SA, SPEA - Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves, UTAD - Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vita Nativa - Conservação do Ambiente, AMUS - Acción por el Mundo Salvaje, Consejeria de Agricultura, Ganaderia y Desarrollo Sostenible - Junta de Extremadura, GREFA - Grupo de Rehabilitación de la Fauna Autóctona y su Hábitat and the University of Murcia.