Lorraine Williamson
Efforts to protect Spain’s endangered wildlife, including the iconic Iberian lynx and brown bear, could be severely undermined by plans to scrap the EU’s flagship conservation fund.
According to the European Commission’s draft budget for 2028, the LIFE programme — which has underpinned nature protection across Europe since the early 1990s — may be dissolved and absorbed into a broader economic innovation fund.
Environmental groups and conservationists across Spain have warned that such a move could dismantle the fragile progress made over recent decades, especially in rural and mountainous regions where species once on the brink have started to rebound.
What is LIFE – and why does it matter?
Launched in 1992, the LIFE programme has funded over 6,000 environmental and climate projects across Europe, with more than 1,000 in Spain alone. From reviving wetlands to protecting rare eagles and vultures, it’s been central to restoring ecosystems and biodiversity.
In Spain, LIFE funding has been instrumental in two of Europe’s most celebrated conservation successes: the revival of the Iberian lynx and the steady return of brown bears in the north. Without it, many of these projects would not exist — or would collapse overnight.
Iberian Lynx: From extinction to cautious hope
At the turn of the millennium, there were fewer than 100 Iberian lynxes left in the wild. Today, there are more than 2,400, thanks in large part to LIFE-backed reintroduction schemes, breeding centres, and habitat recovery efforts.
In 2024 alone, 844 lynx cubs were born across 17 regions, including newly repopulated areas like Murcia and Castilla y León. Around 85% of the lynx population now lives in Spain, with the remainder in Portugal. Castilla-La Mancha and Andalucia remain the strongest lynx territories.
Revival of the Iberian Lynx
Despite this recovery, the species remains acutely vulnerable. In 2024, 214 lynxes died — 162 of them in road accidents. Habitat fragmentation and limited range continue to pose serious risks. While the IUCN has upgraded the species from “endangered” to “vulnerable”, Spanish legislation still recognises it as “in danger of extinction”.
Bears return — but bring complications
The brown bear, another beneficiary of the LIFE programme, has seen its population rebound in both the Cantabrian Mountains and the Pyrenees. An estimated 370 bears now roam the Cantabrian range, while a record 96 were counted in the Pyrenees in 2024.
Success of the brown bear
But this growth has also brought new challenges. Bears are increasingly spotted near villages, drawn by fruit trees and rubbish bins. In Asturias and Cantabria, special patrols equipped with GPS trackers now work to deter human-bear conflict. Educational campaigns also aim to reduce tension in affected areas.
Brussels eyes “productivity over protection”
Under the Commission’s new budget plan, LIFE would be absorbed into a broader fund focused on competitiveness, innovation, and economic growth. Environmental initiatives would only be eligible for support if they can prove direct economic benefit — such as reducing emissions or developing green tech.
Worryingly for conservationists, the management of these funds would also shift from EU institutions to individual member states, raising concerns about transparency, continuity, and national political agendas. Critics argue this could effectively sideline biodiversity projects in favour of profit-driven ventures.
Loss of collaboration, jobs and rural regeneration
Conservationists say this isn’t just about animals. LIFE has been a rare example of successful transnational cooperation, with projects linking scientists, regional governments, NGOs, and landowners from across Europe.
“The funding is vital, but LIFE also connects us,” said Guillermo Palomero, director of Spain’s Brown Bear Foundation. “We exchange strategies, share data, and learn from each other. If this disappears, the impact goes far beyond the money.”
Luis Suárez of WWF Spain agrees: “LIFE has provided stability for projects that take years, not months. You can’t recover a species with one-off grants.”
The programme’s impact on rural economies is also substantial. Though modest in size — €5.5 billion across the entire EU until 2027 — LIFE projects have generated thousands of jobs in isolated areas, where alternative employment is scarce. NGOs warn that up to half their operating budgets depend on these grants.
A political target
For years, conservative and far-right factions in the European Parliament have lobbied against the LIFE programme, accusing it of funnelling EU money to activist NGOs. In reality, most of the funding goes to local authorities and businesses. But the political narrative appears to be gaining ground in Brussels.
Species at the edge once more
Environmental advocates fear that winding down LIFE will erode decades of painstaking progress — and derail Spain’s nature revival just as it begins to bear fruit.
“If LIFE goes, we lose the best tool we’ve ever had for protecting biodiversity,” said Juan Carlos Atienza of SEO/BirdLife. “It’s not just about lynxes or bears. It’s about every ecosystem that holds them — and every person who’s worked to bring them back.”
What now for Spain’s wildlife?
The final decision on LIFE’s fate rests with EU member states and the European Parliament. Negotiations are expected to continue through 2026 and 2027. Until then, conservationists are urging the public and politicians alike to speak up — before the opportunity to protect Europe’s natural heritage quietly slips away.
Source: El País