Project Actions
Work Packages - WPs
WP1 - Overall Project Management

This WP aims at ensuring the duties of project management and coordination. It embraces internal management (including operational monitoring and assessment of execution), and reporting/communication with CINEA and the LIFE Monitoring Team, along the project lifetime.

T1.1 Administrative, Technical and Financial Management - This task aims at fulfilling the duties of the Grant Agreement in terms of overall project management, which will be ensured by RP, the coordinating beneficiary.Esta tarefa visa cumprir os deveres do Acordo de Financiamento do Programa LIFE no que respeita à gestão global do projeto, sendo coordenada pelo beneficiário coordenador, Rewilding Portugal.

T1.2. Independent Auditing of Financial Statements - This task implements the mandatory duties stipulated in the LIFE Programme's Grant Agreement, with the main goal of submitting the Certificates of Financial Statements (CFS).Esta tarefa assegura os deveres obrigatórios estipulados no Acordo de Financiamento do Programa LIFE, tendo como principal objetivo a entrega dos Certificados das Declarações Financeiras (CFS).

T1.3 After-LIFE Plan -
The aim of this task is to draft, discuss and approve the project's Post-LIFE Plan, to deliver at the end of the implementation period. The Post-LIFE Plan will follow the guidelines and good practices of previous LIFE projects, with the aim of ensuring post-project sustainability and the continuity of the project's work, as well as its ability to be replicated.

WP2 - Governance and Advisory Boards

This WP will promote a set of good governance tools, with the aim of leveraging support and gathering advice from key actors and experts to help the project team mitigate problems, overcome unforeseen difficulties, and gather opinions and contributions that can improve the project's results. By engaging different stakeholders, it will improve and promote good governance, co-operation with various public administrations and ensure the availability of relevant technical expertise.

T2.1 Stakeholders Board (SB) - In order to ensure participatory planning and management processes, a Stakeholder Board (SB) will operate for the duration of the project. The SB will meet regularly, with the main agenda focussing on presenting and discussing the main work and progress made over the course of the project, as well as gathering opinions and suggestions from the different stakeholders.

T2.2 Advisory Board (AB) - The Advisory Board (AB) will regularly bring together a fixed group of experts from different sectors (scientific, technical, administrative, political, social) working on the conservation of target species, with the aim of promoting the exchange of knowledge and technical advice that can improve the solutions and results relating to specific project themes and issues. The AB will help to overcome possible deviations and unforeseen difficulties that may require specific attention, as well as identifying suitable and effective solutions and tools that can improve the implementation and the impact of the project.

WP3 - Monitoring Execution, Outputs and Impacts

This WP combines a set of tasks aimed at monitoring, evaluating, and communicating the results and impacts of the project's actions on the resolution of the problems targeted and the achievement of the established LIFE key performance indicators (KPIs). These tasks include the regular collection and assembly of basic operational data on socio-economic and environmental impacts, as well as their processing and comparison with the baseline and the planned objectives. The actions of this WP also include fieldwork in the areas to be intervened through conservation measures, consultations and communication as well as awareness-raising activities with the target audiences.

T3.1 Operational Outputs - All beneficiaries will regularly collect data on the operational results of the actions they lead, in order to record and highlight the evolution between the initial situation and the post-intervention period. As part of this task, it will be assessed the impacts of the project on the target species (wolf and lynx), on the prey species (rabbit, partridge, ungulates), on damage prevention, among other aspects. There will be a compilation of baseline values for the different species, and cooperation with other LIFE projects will be promoted through the exchange of knowledge and results.

T3.2 Socio-Economic Assessment - This task will include an initial study of social attitudes in the main project areas, as well as a mapping of the project's area of intervention.  In addition, following. Additionally, following LIFE's best practices, a specific research will be carried out into the socio-economic impact of the project's actions in the local economy and populations, and will be updated throughout the project's life cycle.

T3.3 LIFE Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) - This task will involve monitoring a set of key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess the project's results and the LIFE programme's contribution to this. For each KPI, baseline values will be calculated and the expected impacts of the project will be estimated.

WP4 - Communication, dissemination and networking

The WP4 main objectives are to communicate with the public, stakeholders and the media in order to promote and publicise the progress in implementing the project, to provide up-to-date information on its developments and to promote the exchange of technical knowledge with other technical teams.
 
T4.1 General Communication - This task focuses on regular communication actions with the general public, local communities, the technical-scientific public, decision-makers and policymakers, as well as maintaining contact with the media and organising press trips to publicise the project's objectives and results. It also includes the development of online communication tools (project website and Instagram page) and promotional materials to be distributed and installed in the project's areas of intervention, as well as the production of a Layman report at the end of the project.  

T4.2 Documentary - With the aim of disseminating the project to the public, a documentary film will be produced about the work done. This task includes the collection, editing and production of two versions, intended for online distribution and broadcast at events related to wildlife and documentary cinema, as well as on television channels.

T4.3 Itinerant Exhibits - To complement the environmental education and awareness-raising activities, a series of photographic and information exhibitions regarding the lynx and the Iberian wolf will be held throughout the project Set up in an itinerant format, the exhibitions will be installed at relevant local and regional events taking place in the project area.

T4.4 Involvement of municipalities and engagement with local communities - To promote the active involvement of the municipalities within the areas of intervention of the project, there will be an annual month-long awareness-raising campaign in the municipalities focussed on the target species. The aim is to promote the biodiversity of the territories in which the project is based and to encourage the involvement of local communities in the activities.

T4.5 Environmental Education Programme - An Environmental Education Programme will be implemented to raise public awareness about the conservation actions to be implemented and the problems faced, targeting students and teachers from schools in the intervention area, as well as non-formal education educators, municipal libraries and informal nature education groups.

T4.6 Networking - This task aims to establish direct and regular contact with technical teams from other projects and initiatives involved in the conservation of target species and the resolution of the same type of conservation challenges. There will also be active networking with other ongoing LIFE projects that have similar objectives and scope of action.

T4.7 Technical Dissemination - To allow for a wider reach in technical dissemination, the project team will take part in national and international conferences and seminars during the project period to present its development and results. This task also includes the organisation of a Final Symposium to present the results and actions implemented.

T4.8 Translation and edition of the Carnivore Damage Prevention News - Carnivore Damage Prevention News (CDPnews) is a professional electronic journal centred on the challenges and complexity of coexistence between large carnivores and human activities. To promote wider dissemination of CDPnews, translations will be made into Portuguese and Spanish, which will considerably expand its reach not only in the project countries, but also in other Portuguese and Spanish-speaking countries. In addition, the publication of CDPnews will be continued within the framework of the project with support for the publication of two issues at the end of the project, and the respective translations into Portuguese and Spanish.

WP5 - Preparatory Governance and Technical Works

This work package will focus on preparatory actions for the project, which will be essential for the implementation of the conservation works and prevention measures.

T5.1 Engagement of Stakeholders - To prepare conservation actions and the implementation of prevention measures, this task focuses on involving stakeholders (livestock farmers, game managers, landowners) through participatory sessions. The aim will be to identify and address the main concerns and gaps in information about the wolf and lynx in the project's areas of intervention and later promote the discussion of such topics with experts and policymakers in order to jointly propose and find solutions that foster a positive coexistence.

T5.2 Development of Operational Strategies for increasing prey abundance at Pilot Sites - This task will consist of compiling a document of best practices for increasing prey abundance, as well as organising a workshop to present and discuss the report with landowners, hunting associations and other stakeholders. The aim of the task is to establish a co-creation process to define strategies and operational procedures to increase prey abundance in identified pilot sites. A working group will also be set up with academic and research organisations to seek a consensus on the recommended abundances and diversities of wild prey in natural landscapes for the Iberian lynx and wolf.

T5.3 Development of Proposal for Legislation Changes in Portugal on Livestock Guarding Dogs - This task will create and implement a working group focused on developing a new legislative proposal in Portugal for livestock protection dogs. With the involvement of government bodies and key players, the proposal to be developed will later be presented to the relevant bodies and groups (parliamentary groups, CPADA, other NGOs).

WP6 - Improving Abundance of Prey in Private Land Areas

This WP aims to implement concrete conservation actions in the identified intervention areas to improve the abundance of prey species for Iberian wolf and Iberian lynx across the project area. 

T6.1 Setting up Demonstration and Best-Practice Areas for restocking of rabbit and partridge in Portuguese rewilding reserves - In the areas owned or managed by one of the project partners, there will be implemented several measures to increase the abundance of prey species, such as the construction of high-density nuclei for rabbits, translocations of rabbits and other significant habitat improvement measures.

T6.2 Setting up Demonstration and Best-Practice Areas for restocking of preys in of rabbit and partridge in other intervention areas - For areas belonging to other organisations (municipalities, private owners, hunting associations), there will be agreements for implementing actions or supporting organisations in carrying out actions to improve the abundance of prey and their habitat.

T6.3 Update Standard Data Forms for target species - Since not all the sites included in the project area have been designated for the target species, during the project the Standard Data Forms (SDFs) of these sites will be updated for the target species.

WP7 - Improving Abundance of Prey in other Areas – Small Grants Scheme

The aim of this WP is to expand conservation work to a wider area of the Guarda and Castelo Branco districts through a system of small grants to implement good conservation practices.

T7.1 Setting up Pilot-Areas for Results-Based Payment Scheme on increasing Prey Densities - Pilot project for small grants scheme for game managers and hunting associations intending to implement best practice measures to increase prey abundance and habitat restoration.

T7.2 Presentation of results and a potential proposal for EAFRD funding to the management bodies - Based on the results of task T7.1, work will be done to define (with the support of legal consultants) concrete proposals for funding models focussed on the project's goals and objectives in terms of habitat recovery and increasing prey abundance. These proposals will be presented to the government bodies responsible for nature and land management.

WP8 - Setting up Improved Prevention of Damages with Livestock Breeders

The work of this WP includes a set of concrete good conservation practices needed to improve the prevention of damage caused by wolf or lynx attacks on livestock. The work is based on the replication of effective solutions that have been trialled and used in other LIFE projects and whose cost-effectiveness in preventing and reducing damage is widely supported by scientific and technical literature.

T8.1 Extending Use of LGD to recent wolf areas - Livestock protection dogs of native breeds will be provided for livestock farmers in the project areas. The selection will be based on the existence of damage or on being located in previously defined priority areas. Livestock farmers will be supported for the first eighteen months, covering the integration of the dog with the livestock, training and the provision of food and veterinary care.

T8.2 Complementary protection with fixed fences - To increase the protection of herds at resting places, this task aims to install fixed fencing solutions that can protect small plots of land where livestock can rest overnight or feed safely at periods when livestock farmers cannot be watching.

T8.3 Complementary protection with mobile electric fences - This task involves implementing a series of on-farm demonstration cases of livestock protection measures based on mobile electric fencing with the aim of demonstrating the advantages of using this solution against wolf attacks.

T8.4 Peer-to-Peer Replication Workshops - This task will focus on implementing workshops among livestock farmers with the aim of promoting the replication and transfer of good practices. These workshops will include disseminating technical information about the damage prevention solutions being implemented in the project and showing in the field how they are installed and used.

WP9 - Increasing Surveillance and Capacity for Action on Compensation of Livestock Damages

Environmental crime is one of the main threats to wildlife, with the widespread use of poison and illegal traps to capture animals. This WP will focus on improving surveillance efforts in the project area, as well as training on predator damage assessment.

T9.1 Transboundary Training for environmental police agents - This task will promote the exchange of good practices and knowledge between the environmental police authorities of Portugal and Spain. Since these bodies are responsible for investigating environmental crimes, the training will focus on relevant procedures such as the ANTIDOTE procedure for poisoning cases.  

T9.2 Pilot project for forensic analysis of predated livestock - This task will create a pilot team in the Malcata region, by pairing a veterinary trained in forensic analysis of predated livestock with a team of nature ranges from the ICNF, to accompany the inspection visits to suspected predated livestock in order to carry out forensic inspection and determine cause of death and when proceed, which species caused the attack.  Moreover, genetic samples of saliva will be collected to assess predator presence. An analysis of efficacy and costs of each method and the combination of all will be carried out together with the ICNF.

T9.3 Network of local wildlife ambassadors - This task aims to set up a network of local wildlife ambassadors that contribute on disseminate information about the target species and the engagement of local populations with the project.

WP10 - Increasing overall socio-economic outputs and understanding, through integration with tourism

The socio-economic dimension of the project in local communities will be addressed through this WP, centred on fostering the development of the region through nature tourism and other relevant economic activities in the region. The aim is to enable the creation of new training and income-generating opportunities for local producers and entrepreneurs.

T10.1 Building Capacity for Improved Nature Tourism - Trainings for capacitating local operators and other interested people in nature tourism, with a special focus on tourism with target species (Iberian wolf and lynx).  

T10.2 Supporting local enterprises for promoting local economic development - To provide technical support to local businesses through an informal network that promotes partnerships, joint marketing actions and the development of product offers which increase the visibility of businesses in the region.

T10.3 Creating added value for farmers with good coexistence practices - Creating collaborations with private sector companies to add value to the products of farmers who adopt positive coexistence measures with the wolf and lynx.

WP11 - Sustainability, replication and exploitation of project results

T11.1 Sustainability - The sustainability of the project's work will be ensured through a set of ongoing actions that will ensure that the outcomes can be realised and continued after the end of the project.

T11.2 Replication - This task will focus on replication and the potential for upscaling the results and actions of the project once it has ended, in a post-project context It will seek to promote and facilitate the use and achievements of the work carried out in the other tasks for future new nature conservation projects and actions.

T11.3 Valorisation of project results - Contributing to greater exploitation of the project's results will be the main objective of the technical dissemination activities, as well as the specific training tasks to be carried out as part of the conservation work. As a complement to these actions, in this task, looking ahead to the post-project, a Post-LIFE Conservation Plan will be developed to provide additional guidance and identify strategic target audiences to whom post-project dissemination, aimed at greater outreach, should be directed.

Objectives
• Improving the ecological conditions necessary for the Iberian wolf and Iberian lynx in a cross-border area south of the River Douro, by increasing the abundance of wild prey and habitat improvement.

• Improving social conditions by promoting a positive coexistence of the species with rural communities and their activities and promoting local socio-economic development.

• Increase capacity and knowledge exchange in damage prevention assessment and environmental crime detection.

• Promote cross-border cooperation and foster joint solutions for nature conservation.
Main expected results
• Increased habitat and prey availability for wolf and lynx on 16 881 hectares, with replication in private proprieties.

• Increased use of damage prevention measures (livestock guarding dogs and fences) on 30 new farms.

• Improvement of the Portuguese legal framework for livestock guarding dogs.

• 10 participatory sessions with key local players focused on identifying and jointly developing solutions that promote positive coexistence.

• Environmental education and training programmes for 9 000 students and 150 teachers.

• Cross-border training to strengthen the capacity of at least 50 Portuguese and Spanish environmental law enforcement officers.

• Cross-border training focused on best practices for the design, operation and management of nature tourism programmes for target species.

• Establishment of a local network of wildlife ambassadors to provide close monitoring of the areas inhabited by the target species.
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