Background The steppes of the Lanzarote and Fuerteventura islands in the Canaries host the only European populations of the endangered houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata fuertaventurae), a subspecies endemic to these islands, and other species considered as priority for LIFE-Nature funding, such as the cream-coloured courser (Cursorius cursor). Special Protection Areas make up the habitat range of these birds. Breeding populations in this area are threatened by landscape changes associated with the socio-economic development which occurred in the archipelago in the last decades. These factors are causing the loss of habitats, mainly outside the SPAs, but also disturbances within the sites. Several factors, such as uncontrolled tourism and increased stocking of goats, are seriously affecting birdlife and particularly the houbara bustard. Additionally, recent construction work, such as power lines and wind energy turbines, have increased the number of accidental bird deaths. Objectives The project aimed to provide effective protection for the houbara bustard and its habitat, with the short-term aim of maintaining population numbers and populated areas, and improving them in the longer term. These goals will also favour the cream-coloured courser and other steppe birds. To achieve these aims, the beneficiary planned to implement management actions in the SPAs to stop disturbance factors for the species. The principal actions will be the acquisition and protection of an estate which is one of the most important habitats for the houbara bustard in Fuerteventura. Other actions planned were the creation of barriers and signposting, supplemented with surveillance systems in critical areas. Bird deaths due to power lines would be monitored in order to propose corrective measures, and an agri-environment programme would be designed for important areas for the steppe birds. Research about the distribution and status of the species followed by the drafting of a recovery plan and an awareness-raising campaign aimed at young people and the main stakeholders were also foreseen. Results The project used tracking and census techniques to obtain data to accurately outline the critical areas for the priority species. It found that the potential habitat is 440 km2 (140 km2 correspond to priority habitat and 300 km2 to secondary habitat). Research data has also allowed the beneficiary to improve and complete an ‘Important Areas Network for the houbara in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura’ as well as to ask the government of the Canary Islands to designate them as SPA. In November 2006, the new SPA network for the Canary Islands including many of the IBAs suggested by the beneficiary were improved (though some other important areas have been left out of the network). A list including those priority areas currently unprotected has been passed on to the government to be designated as ‘Ecological Sensitive Areas’ and/or as other legal protection figures so that the conservation of the habitats and the houbara are guaranteed. A draft of the recovery plan for the houbara, which has also been passed on to the Government, is another result of the surveys undertaken by the project. The purchase of the estate ‘Cercado del Jarde’ was one of the basic pillars of the project, taking up over 50% of the total budget. The reserve, known as "Cercado del Jarde", lies in one of the best areas for the houbara in Fuerteventura. It extends over 200 hectares of stony and earthy ground in a good state of conservation and is completely enclosed. With this purchase the beneficiary has tried not only to preserve indefinitely a piece of optimal habitat for birds of steppe environments – and for the houbara in particular – but also to foster recognition of the significance of this type of semi-desert landscapes among the local population. A management plan for the estate has been also drawn up to establish the guidelines for action. Among other measures it envisaged the undertaking of research aimed at regulating traditional practices like cattle-grazing or hunting so that they become compatible with and respectful of the conservation of the houbara and other birds. An important surveillance work was developed throughout the project: two wardens have been walking around the distribution areas of the houbara in Fuerteventura and Lanzarote islands informing passers-by of the importance of respecting and taking care of the steppic sites and, if serious damage to the birds or habitat is detected, contacting the authorities. Although surveillance was continuous special attention was paid during the breeding season, when the species is particularly vulnerable, as well as during the hunting season. At the same time that the wardens strived to maintain the steppic environments peaceful, they also collected information that has made it possible to get better in-depth knowledge on the main threats to the species. This has proven very useful for improving the measures proposed in the aforementioned plans for the recovery of the species and for the management of the farm. Surveillance tasks were reinforced with informative signs placed along the main paths and roads. Areas of strategic importance and those more commonly used were selected; a total of 295 signs were posted. These signs inform people in several languages not to leave the main paths to avoid damaging the fauna and flora. Except for a few cases this measure was well received among locals and tourists and resulted in a reduction of damage after the placing of signs. Another important survey conducted within the project has been the identification of those points (black spots) with high mortality of birds due to power and telephone lines. The seriousness of the data obtained has been made public, which has served to propose measures for the marking or burying of the most dangerous stretches of lines that cause most of the deaths. The meetings held for this purpose with the electricity company that owns the lines (Unelco-Endesa) resulted in a plan to start corrective actions gradually. Besides conservation actions, increasing knowledge on the species was another main objective of the project, as some of the most relevant aspects of the ecology of this bird were hardly known.With the co-operation of members and collaborators of SEO/Birdlife, four general censuses were carried out by the method of covering by foot the plains occupied by the species counting the specimens present in the three islands. Data obtained allow for estimates of the Houbara population: around La Graciosa less than 20 birds, Lanzarote more than 700 birds, and Fuerteventura around 400 birds. A seasonal tracking of the houbara population was conducted for two years using existing paths. With this method a higher result was obtained also in Lanzarote (an average of 0.96 birds/km in Lanzarote in comparison with 0.28 in Fuerteventura). A wide range in the spatial and temporal results was also detected, reflecting important seasonal movements between breeding areas and those others used during the rest of the year. In all the zones covered a study was carried out of different environmental variables, such as vegetation type, availability of food, substrate type and relative abundance of competitors (rabbits, goats, etc.), related to the areas inhabited by the species. Reproduction was also researched including understanding the spatial distribution of reproductive males by the identification of their territories and the observation of families of birds. Finally, the composition of the bird communities of the environments inhabited by the houbara was also studied. An important milestone was the proposal for an agro-environmental programme in areas inhabited by the houbara. This programme envisages the recovery of traditionally crops, such as lucerne, chickpeas, beans, lentils, peas, barley and sweet potato in the areas where the houbara is present. Nine areas between both islands were selected where farmed land could be increased and birds favoured and a total cost has been estimated so that it would be profitable for the farmers. In this respect Feader funding together with aid from the two islands’ councils would be necessary. Finally, an ambitious educational and awareness raising campaign was launched among the local and tourist populations in order that they got to know better and respect the steppic environments and species related to them, especially the birds. Two environmental trainers co-ordinated by a monitor have given presentations and carried out diverse educational and awareness raising activities in La Graciosa, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura islands.