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Ecosistemes de Catalunya S. Maņosa i G. Bota. Els
ocells dels ecosistemes esteparis a Catalunya. In the cereal plains of Lleida (Catalonia, Northeastern Spain) there are still important populations of steppe-land birds, including the Montagu’s harrier, the marsh harrier, the lesser kestrel, the little bustard, the stone curlew, the black-bellied sandgrouse, the pin-tailed sandgrouse, the European roller, the Dupont’s lark, the calandra lark, the short-toed lark, the lesser short-toed lark and the lesser grey shrike, among others. These populations are relevant at the Catalan level, and some are also relevant at the Spanish or European level. In recent years, however, most of these species have experienced severe declines in Catalonia and some of them are now at the threshold of extinction. The main causes for these declines are changes in land use, agricultural intensification and large irrigation projects. The only solution to reverse these trends and to ensure viable populations for these species in Catalonia is the delimitation of large protected areas of steppe-land habitat, where traditional farming practices are maintained |
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