Andalusia Leads Europe in Biodiversity Conservation

Between 2019 and 2025 the Junta de Andalucía invested €115 million (over €16 million per year) in large‑scale biodiversity programmes. The Zoobotánico de Jerez, together with the Doñana Biological Station and European partners, has re‑introduced the Northern Bald Ibis, releasing 695 birds and recording 319 chicks in the wild, resulting in a stable colony of about 306 individuals and 47 breeding pairs – the only self‑sustaining population in Europe.

The same period saw the Iberian lynx population rise to more than 2,400 individuals across the Iberian Peninsula, with 836 counted in Andalusia, allowing the species to be re‑classified from “Endangered” to “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List. Ongoing releases from captive‑breeding centres and new re‑introduction plans, such as in the Sierra de Grazalema, underline the region’s role as a hub for species recovery. These achievements have been supported by EU LIFE projects including LynxConnect and Northern Bald Ibis, positioning Andalusia as a leading European hub for biodiversity and geodiversity conservation.