On May 20, the BESTLIFE2030 STOP Predators project was presented at the Whale Museum Auditorium in Caniçal.

 

The day began with a presentation of the STOP Predators project by biologist Manuel Contreras from SPEA Madeira. This three-year project aims to assess the occurrence and mitigate the impact of introduced species on seabird colonies on the island of Madeira, specifically to assess the impact of introduced predators, exotic vegetation, and herbivores on Cory’s shearwater nesting areas. In addition to creating strategies to protect these birds through the control and eradication of introduced species, the project aims to involve and raise awareness among various groups, including tour operators, animal protection associations, fishing communities, teachers, students, and local residents.

The event continued with a panel of presentations focusing on the conservation of seabirds in the Madeira and Azores region. Marta Nunes, representative of the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (IFCN), addressed the protection of the Madeira storm petrel through the control of invasive species. She was followed by Eduardo Nóbrega, from the Funchal Ecological Park, who presented the work underway for the conservation of the patagarro in the municipality of Funchal. Tânia Pipa, representative of the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds (SPEA) of the Azores, shared the conservation projects underway in the archipelago. Finally, Tiago Dias, from SPEA Madeira, gave an overview of seabird conservation in the Madeira archipelago. The event ended with a debate between speakers and participants, promoting the sharing of ideas and strategies for the protection of seabirds in the island territory.