tO SAVE THE ROLLER
FROM EXTINCTION
by Associação Estação Biológica de Mértola
EBM – Biological Station of Mértola, is a private, non-profit, scientific association formed in june 2021 established as a Center for Valorization and Technology Transfer (CVTT), in Biodiversity, Agroecology and Management of wild Resources.
It aims to contribute to sustainable development, in a Mediterranean territorial context of extreme vulnerability to climate change and desertification, involving national and international scientific and academic institutions.
The EBM (Ecological Biodiversity and Management) aims to support and promote scientific knowledge in biodiversity and ecosystem preservation, management and conservation of aquatic, wild and game resources, environmental monitoring, ecological restoration, and ecosystem resilience. It also seeks to promote sustainable agriculture systems and preserve and enhance endogenous animal and plant resources. The EBM aims to provide specialized training to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the public and private sectors. It focuses on advanced training, knowledge transfer, communication, and dissemination of science. The EBM also aims to train local governance for active involvement in territorial specialization processes and attract and retain qualified technical staff in the territory.
Project Description
The aim of this project is:
- Creating a network of nest boxes in the primary ZPE with steppe habitats in order to encourage an increase in the number of pairs and to promote the expansion of the distribution area, restoring populations in regions where the species has recently disappeared.
2. Re-establish the population’s long-term monitoring programme to investigate the reproductive and demographic parameters and evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented measures; conduct a national census to estimate the population size and trend.
3. Investigate the impact of land use changes, namely, the type and intensity of grazing on breeding success.
4. Investigate migratory routes and wintering areas to identify potential threats in the non-reproductive period.
5. Promote awareness among the public and stakeholders to ensure conditions that allow for the long-term preservation of the rolieiro.
Key Ecosystems
Typically mediterranean ecosystems with sparse but mature mediterranean forests.
Key Species
European Roller (Coracias garrulus).
Project Managers
Paulo Alves, Inês Catry, Teresa Catry and João Gameiro
Responsible Associate
Nuno Ferrand and Tobias Azevedo
Place of action
Alentejo e Beira Baixa
Implementation period
34 months
(January 2023 to March 2026)
Investment
€ 128.000
About us
Want to know more about us? Meet our team and our background. Also you can learn more about Viridia’s history and the support given to various associations.
Get in Touch
Praça de Liège, 146 Porto, 4150-455, Portugal Email: bcpereira@fba.org.pt