Priolo population stabilizes after conservation efforts
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Conservationists in Portugal have maintained a stable population of around 1000 priolo, a bird found only on the island of São Miguel in the Azores archipelago.
The priolo faced extinction at the start of the 21st century, but two decades of conservation work reversed this trend. The Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA) recently released its annual Priolo Atlas, which confirmed the stable numbers following a survey conducted by over 70 volunteers and technicians from nine countries.
These volunteers surveyed approximately 300 points across the bird’s habitat, and received specialized training to ensure data quality. The SPEA emphasizes that monitoring the distribution of the priolo is crucial, as habitat loss remains a primary threat to the species. The results of the Atlas also demonstrate the success of habitat restoration efforts, specifically in the Pico Verde/Pico da Vara area where the native Laurissilva forest was restored in 2004.
SPEA continues to implement conservation actions in this area through the LIFE IP Azores Natura project, coordinated by the Regional Government, to preserve favorable conditions for the priolo. The organization also notes that conserving the priolo benefits local communities by promoting sustainable tourism and valuing native forests.
