Background The La Serena district of Badajoz province contains some of the largest and best-conserved areas of steppe in the European Union. It is surrounded by low mountain ranges covered with Holm oak (Quercus ilex), sub-Mediterranean (Quercus pyrenaica) oaks, and/or cork oak (Quercus suber) woods and bounded or crossed by the river Zujar. The Orellana and La Serena reservoirs lie inside it. Due to this diversity of habitats there are large populations of priority species here, especially birds. Great bustard (Otis tarda), little bustard (Tetrax tetrax) and lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni) are striking because of the numbers found here, while others are remarkable for their rarity, such as Bonelli's eagle, Imperial eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus) and Eurasian black vulture (Aegypius monachus). However, a lack of planning and changes in land-use are leading to the destruction of the habitats. Threats to the conservation of the area’s natural resources include overexploitation of resources (grazing, hunting pressure), the abandonment of activities that maintained a traditional landscape (dry-farming crops), or the promotion of more productive and environmentally aggressive systems. Objectives The project targeted the conservation of the region’s habitats and species through the integrated management of the three Natura 2000 sites (La Serena-Sierra de Tiros and the mountain ranges of Siruela and Moraleja). Project actions comprised of preparatory measures (inventories, plans and studies) and other measures to conserve the habitats or species (surveillance, habitat improvement, impact minimisation, species monitoring, etc). Provision was also made for follow-up and evaluation of the measures carried out. The project worked in cooperation with another project already under way in the area, carried out by NGO, SEO BirdLife also with the support of LIFE Nature (LIFE00 NAT/E/007617). Finally, the project team carried awareness-raising activities to ensure the involvement of the various stakeholders concerned, i.e. landowners, farmers, hunters and stockbreeders, as well as the local population in general. Results There were some delays due to administrative problems in the first two years of the project. This resulted in a shorter implementation period than forecast for some of the (31) project actions. Despite this, most of the project’s objectives have been met and the actions for the most part, have been effective resulting in an improvement of the birds conservation status in La Serena, in particular Otis tarda, Tetrax tetrax, Circus pygargus, Hieraaetus fasciatus, Aegypuis monachus, Falco naumanni, Aquila adalberti and Ciconia nigra. Some notable actions results included: Management tools to control and protect species have been set in place and detailed knowledge of populations and their distribution is now available. Based on this information, a zoning of the area has been established. An improvement in the conservation status of steppic habitats. Detailed knowledge of the management of these habitats has been attained with actions implemented over the project life-time. Preparation of a draft land-use management plan, incorporating the results from all the project actions. This has still to be formally approved, as official adoption is first awaiting a modification of the Extremadura region’s nature protection law to accommodate the creation of management mechanisms for Natura 2000. An improvement in management tools to maintain the pasture quality. Publication of a study on suitable livestock density for maintenance of good quality pastures: this is a particularly significant achievement – determining rates of supplementation that will avoid damaging of pasture by overgrazing. Definition of adequate and specific agri-environmental measures for La Serena (7 agro-environmental rules and 9 general commitments).The agro-environmental measures proposed are: harvest delay to avoid disturbance during birds reproductive period, cattle density adjustment, pasture improvement by sowing leguminous, preservation of the border of cultivation without harvest, and restoration of the cultivation borders. For each measure, the project calculated its real cost, in order to define the exact compensation value to be supported. The measures applied have been prized by the farmers involved in the project, and at the same time becoming increasingly interested on the project objectives all along its implementation. In fact, during the project they proposed additional measures that they implemented without costs to the project. Other farmers have been convinced by the proposed management measures, and some of them, not collaborating with the project, have begun to apply some of the measures by themselves (i.e. sowing of legumes) This proposal has been submitted to the Extremadura regional Agriculture DG, and will included under the next Rural Development Programme. Reduction of mortality due to human causes: modification of power lines, modification of agrarian practices incompatible with wildlife; signposting of fences. All of these actions have also proved very successful. Collaboration with sanitary services to avoid indiscriminate use of pesticides. Awareness-raising among local people has increased. This has helped to enhance perceptions of the value of the landscape and its natural assets. This work has been especially effective among the farming community. It has also helped to promote awareness of the Natura 2000 network. Finally, the opportunity for the transfer of project results has been created through the various guidelines created for the management of steppic habitats – for instance, the installation of nesting boxes, modification of power lines, roof repairs, agri-environmental measures, the management plan, etc.