Skip to main content

In a remarkable conservation success story, the Iberian lynx population in Portugal has shown a dramatic recovery over the past decade. Focused efforts, including rewilding initiatives, recovery of key prey species, and the establishment of wildlife corridors, have lifted the species’ status from Endangered to Vulnerable.

Captive breeding programs in Portugal have played a pivotal role, bolstering numbers and enabling the lynx to reclaim territory across the Iberian Peninsula.

By 2024, the Iberian lynx population in Portugal had grown to approximately 300 individuals, a significant rise from the brink of extinction just 15 years earlier.

Iberian lynx population in Portugal lives almost exclusively in the Vale do Guadiana Natural Park of the Algarve shown in this satellite image
Algarve, Portugal. Credit: European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery

The species is now concentrated in the Vale do Guadiana Natural Park, located in the Algarve region. This region is highlighted in a striking image captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite on December 29, 2024.

The Sentinel satellites are vital for monitoring ecosystems, offering high-resolution imagery and data to guide conservation strategies. These tools not only document the progress of species like the Iberian lynx but also help ensure the preservation of their habitats, supporting long-term ecological stability.

Featured image credit: European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery

Brazil authorities warn of more floods, landslides as new rains hit south
Brazil authorities warn of more floods, landslides as new rains hit southNews

Brazil authorities warn of more floods, landslides as new rains hit south

By Mauricio RABUFFETTI | AFP Porto Alegre, Brazil - New rains in waterlogged southern Brazil are expected to be heaviest between Sunday and Monday, authorities…
SourceSourceMay 12, 2024 Full article
Net zero needs women
Vegetable farmer watering plants at the organic farm in Boung Phao Village
Net zero needs womenNews

Net zero needs women

Recognising the leadership role of women is essential to addressing climate change across the Indo-Pacific.Women’s vital role in just transitionsGender Action Plan at COP28From commitments…
SourceSourceNovember 19, 2024 Full article
New Zealand to end ban on oil and gas exploration
Illustration 3d letter blocks forming the word news
New Zealand to end ban on oil and gas explorationNews

New Zealand to end ban on oil and gas exploration

Wellington, New Zealand (AFP) - New Zealand's government said Sunday it plans to reverse a five-year-old ban on new oil and gas exploration, igniting a…
SourceSourceJune 9, 2024 Full article