Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura) (EFE) Dreamland for the Canarian houbara, a species on the verge of extinction in Fuerteventura.
In the allegations presented to the declaration of the project as of insular interest, the scientists have indicated that Dreamland and its impact zone overlap with the distribution area and the center of activity of the houbaras of the population of the Special Protection Zone for Birds. (ZEPA) “Dunes of Corralejo and Isla de Lobos”.
In addition, they have warned that said infrastructure has been planned in an area where the quality of the habitat is very high.
“Taking into account the irreversible negative effect of large infrastructures on bustards, it is estimated that an exclusion band of at least 800 meters would be created around the facility, which would be practically unused as a habitat for the houbara”, they have explained the scientists in a statement.
In addition, they have highlighted that the degree of humanization is “the main determinant of habitat abandonment by the houbara in Fuerteventura.”
“The proximity to built-up areas and the density of paved roads have a negative influence on its distribution pattern on the island, and sparse and uncontrolled urbanization in the steppe habitats of Fuerteventura must be strictly regulated if the species is to be conserved,” they stated. from the research group.
“It has been shown that houbara males select display sites away from sources of nuisance of human origin, such as buildings, urban centers and communication routes, which is why the construction of the Dreamland project would also negatively affect the presence of breeding males. in the area,” they explained.
In addition, they have continued, “it has been verified that the infrastructures affect the reproduction of other species of the same family, such as the Eurasian bustard, reducing nesting and the presence of females with young in their proximity, and it is foreseeable that these negative effects will also be occur in the case of the houbara”.
Finally, the research group has ensured that “the presence of humans and vehicles is one of the main sources of annoyance for bustards, altering their behavior and causing them to fly, with the consequent negative effects on their energy balance and increasing the chances of mortality from causes of anthropic origin”.
For these reasons, the scientists consider that the Dreamland project could affect “very negatively the population dynamics of houbaras in the north of Fuerteventura, an island where the species is on the brink of extinction.”
The researchers Alberto Ucero, Carlos Palacín, Inmaculada Abril-Colón and Juan C. Alonso have pointed out that “the construction of the Dreamland project and associated infrastructure such as sewerage, electricity, streets, accesses, telecommunications and public lighting on the buffer zone that must be respected around the houbara bustard’s range, it would entail impacts that would imply the alteration and destruction of its habitat”.
These cause “negative, irreversible and permanent effects on this species classified as endangered, seriously violating protection regulations.”
Due to all these circumstances, the scientists have requested that alternative locations be considered for this project in areas of lesser ecological and landscape value on the island”. EFE