Two of the main conservation actions included in the LIFE Connect Ricotí project are: i) habitat restoration through shrub clearing and removal of trees, and ii) translocation of individuals. These actions aim to maintain an optimal vegetation structure in the steppes—establishing a high-quality habitat for Dupont’s lark—and to promote the recruitment of individuals that support population growth.
These measures were carried out on the Embid plateaus (Guadalajara) at the end of 2022 and 2023, respectively. Before the interventions, four Dupont’s lark territories had been identified. During this spring, after the implementation of the conservation actions, a total of 34 Dupont’s lark males were recorded through foot transects, representing a very significant increase compared to the previous situation.
These direct actions provide a practical example of how maintaining steppe vegetation and translocating individuals substantially benefit Dupont’s lark populations—particularly in areas with historical records of the species or in localities with a low number of territories.
