Roe deer reintroduction in central Portugal: a tool for Iberian wolf conservation

• Main Authors: Cruz, Tamira, Fonseca, Carlos, Carvalho, Joào, Oliveira, Bruno, Torres, Rita T.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad de Málaga (UMA): Sociedad Española para la Conservación y Estudio de los Mamíferos 2014
• Subjects: Canis lupus signatus; Capreolus capreolus; habitat suitability; Portugal; reintroduction; modelo de adecuación del hábitat; reintroducción; Canis lupus
• Online Access: https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/oaiart?codigo=4970685

Species reintroduction is an increasingly important tool for species recovery programs and habitat restoration initiatives worldwide. Roe deer Capreolus capreolus (Linnaeus, 1758) densities are very low in central west Portugal (the Freita, Arada, and Montemuro mountains). This area is inhabited by the endangered Iberian wolf Canis lupus signatus Cabrera, 1907, whose numbers have dramatically decreased since the 20th century. An important step in a roe deer reintroduction program is to establish suitable reintroduction sites. The aim of the study was to identify such sites in central Portugal. An Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in combination with a GIS was applied to develop a habitat suitability model, which integrated empirical models and expert knowledge. The variables used in the model included land use, hydrographic network, asphalted roads, population/villages, and relief. Three reintroduction sites suitable for roe deer were identified as potential habitats for their future natural expansion. Those sites were considered as preliminary ones. Finally, future goals and actions are discussed in relation to the promotion of the ecological and social conditions that would favour the survival of roe deer and Iberian wolf in central Portugal. La reintroducción de especies es una herramienta clave en programas de recuperación de especies y de restauración de hábitats. El corzo Capreolus capreolus (Linnaeus, 1758) se ha extinguido prácticamente de las sierras de Freita, Arada y Montemuro (centro de Portugal), ambas habitadas por el lobo ibérico Canis lupus signatus Cabrera, 1907. Tanto el número como la distribución de este carnívoro se han reducido drásticamente en Portugal durante el siglo XX. Uno de los aspectos clave en cualquier programa de reintroducción es establecer qué lugares son los más adecuados para introducir la especie. Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron identificar los lugares idóneos para reintroducir el corzo en el centro de Portugal (sierras de Freita, Arada y Montemuro). Para ello, ...