Thursday, November 11, 1999 Published at 11:46 GMT
Last chance for Europe's 'tiger'
Europe stands accused of hypocrisy
By Environment Correspondent Alex Kirby
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) says time is short if we are to save the Iberian lynx - sometime called Europe's 'tiger' - from extinction.
The Iberian lynx is one of only two carnivorous species endemic to Europe. The other is the mink. The lynx is on appendix one of the UN's Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites). This listing gives it the highest protection possible under the convention.
WWF believes there is a real opportunity to arrest the species' decline through Natura 2000, the pan-European network of protected areas designed to conserve the continent's most threatened species and habitats.
The European Union's habitats directive requires member states to set up a Natura 2000 ecological network, and the lynx is one species it calls on them to protect. A decision on lynx conservation sites is expected soon.
In any case, it says, several of the proposed conservation areas are threatened by development.
Andrew Lee, of WWF-UK, said: "The Iberian lynx is Europe's tiger. If the habitats directive cannot save this charismatic species, what hope is there for the many other species it is designed to protect?"
WWF wants the rapid designation of a comprehensive Natura 2000 network, and effective protection of all designated areas. It is also calling for the redesign of subsidies under the EU's common agricultural policy and of infrastructure plans, where these affect the lynx.
WWF says the loss of the lynx would be "a huge embarrassment" for Europe, which would undermine its credibility in calling on other regions to protect their endangered species.
The above map shows WWF proposals for the special areas of conservation for lynx in Spain. The yellow areas show the locations where the Spanish government is prepared to act. The red areas are those locations excluded by the Spanish Government proposals but which WWF believes should also be designated.
All images from WWF-UK