The Third Vice Presidency and Ministry of the Environment, Infrastructure, Territory, and Recovery has presented the Iberian lynx conservation plan for the Valencian Community. This plan includes the first technical study for the lynx's reintroduction in 2028 and aims to consolidate the stable presence of this emblematic species in the region, marking a milestone in the regional biodiversity conservation policy.

This was highlighted by the Third Vice President and Minister of the Environment, Infrastructure, and Territory, Vicente Martínez Mus, during the plan's presentation. He emphasized that "this is a rigorous project, with a solid scientific basis, that will allow us to make informed and responsible decisions."

The event, held in the Sierra de Mariola Natural Park, was also attended by the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Territory, Sabina Goretti Galindo, as well as her predecessor and current Commissioner for Recovery, Raúl Mérida, and the Director General of Natural Environment and Animal Affairs, Luis Gomis.

As the vice president explained, the initiative is fully aligned with the National Strategy for the Conservation of the Iberian Lynx 2024, which identifies the Valencian Community as a territory with real potential to support stable populations of the species. This scenario is further supported by recent signs of the feline's presence in the three provinces. The most recent sighting was a few months ago in the Alto Vinalopó region. During 2025, some individuals have established themselves for extended periods, as evidenced by the intensive monitoring carried out by environmental agents of the Generalitat (Valencian Government).

Viability of the Iberian Lynx

The study, which is already underway, will form the basis for the project, as it will analyze key aspects for the viability of the Iberian lynx, such as habitat suitability, prey availability, and ecological connectivity, as well as social and territorial factors.

The objective is to identify viable areas that will help connect populations in southeastern Spain and strengthen the genetic and demographic viability of the species in the Valencian Community, applying the precautionary principle at all times and prioritizing risk prevention. All three provinces have potential areas, and the study will determine the most suitable locations.

Martínez Mus noted that the Iberian lynx, in addition to being one of the most representative species due to its recovery after having been critically endangered, “is a keystone species for the balance of Mediterranean ecosystems.” Its presence helps regulate prey populations, improves the health of the land, and acts as an indicator of environmental quality. “Protecting the lynx is protecting the entire ecosystem,” he stated.

The project will be developed with efficient management of public resources and will receive funding from the European Union's Next Generation EU program, reinforcing the Valencian Government's commitment to conservation based on technical rigor and investment in the future. “We are moving towards a Valencian Community even more committed to its natural environment, based on a balanced coexistence between nature and territory,” the vice president stated.

Finally, Martínez Mus thanked the Directorate General for the Natural and Animal Environment, the technical staff of the Wildlife Service and the Natura 2000 Network, as well as everyone involved in promoting the project. “Your work is key to ensuring that initiatives of this importance are developed with the utmost technical expertise and a long-term vision,” he concluded.

Iberian Lynx

The Iberian lynx is an endemic species of the Iberian Peninsula that, until the mid-19th century, occupied a large part of its territory. However, at the beginning of this century, its situation was critical, and by 2002 the population had dwindled to barely one hundred individuals, concentrated in two isolated areas in Doñana and Sierra Morena, which led to its inclusion in the Spanish Catalogue of Threatened Species as an endangered species.

Since then, conservation programs have allowed for a remarkable recovery, with more than 2,400 individuals currently living in Spain. There are no stable populations in the Valencian Community, but in recent years it has become increasingly common to find individuals that have spent different periods of time in areas of all three provinces.