The European turtle dove: a success story of adaptive game management
The European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur) , a vulnerable migratory bird, has recently shown signs of recovery thanks to the implementation of an adaptive game management system . This species, whose population has declined alarmingly in recent decades in Europe, remains a game species in several countries, including Spain. However, the joint action of authorities and scientists has taken an important step toward its conservation.
An Action Plan to Reverse the Decline
Faced with the drastic decline of the European turtle dove, in 2018 the European Commission , in collaboration with a research group led by the Institute for Research in Game Resources (IREC – CSIC, UCLM, JCCM) , launched an International Action Plan . This plan focuses on establishing adaptive hunting management that will carefully regulate hunting of the species, a fundamental step towards its protection. By creating population models and simulating different scenarios, scientists concluded that a moratorium on hunting would be key to giving the species a chance of recovery.
Source: IREC
Implementation of the moratorium and initial results
The recommendation to impose a moratorium on the entire turtle dove flyway was implemented in 2021 , marking a pause in hunting that was to be maintained until adequate sustainability measures were in place. This decision has been fundamental in the increase in the species' population in the Western Flyway, which registered a notable increase in the first two years. According to data from the Pan-European Breeding Monitoring Programme for Common Birds (PECBMS) , in 2021 the turtle dove reached its lowest level with 1.56 million breeding pairs in this flyway. However, in 2023, coinciding with the moratorium, the population increased to 1.96 million pairs , a 25% increase in just two years.
Comparison of migration routes: West and Central-East
While the complete moratorium on the western route showed encouraging results, the strategy on the central-eastern route, where the decline was less severe, was limited to reducing hunting pressure without suspending it entirely. This resulted in a continued downward trend, which in 2023 reached its historic low of 0.56 million pairs , a 15% decrease from 2021. These data confirm that the temporary hunting moratorium has been a highly effective measure on the western route, helping the species recover.
Climate challenges and future prospects
Field observations in Spain, a key country for turtle dove conservation, indicate that the moratorium has coincided with adverse weather conditions, such as droughts and heat waves , which reduced reproductive success over the past two years. However, the hunting ban has increased individual survival , laying the groundwork for population recovery. This progress allows us to consider the possibility of sustainable hunting in the future, based on scientific knowledge and within the framework of adaptive game management .
A model for the management of threatened game species
The case of the European turtle dove has marked a milestone in the adaptive management of game species in Europe, being the first system of its kind applied to a terrestrial bird on a large scale. This model of cooperation between science and conservation policies has set a precedent, and the European Commission has decided to extend this approach to manage other species with unfavorable conservation status. Collaboration between science and public policies represents a concrete example of the potential of informed decisions, demonstrating that species protection can be compatible with hunting activities.
The recovery of the European turtle dove is not only good news for European biodiversity, but also an inspiring example of sustainable wildlife management and a testament to the benefits of cooperation between science and conservation.
Would you like to learn more about conservation projects that hunters have collaborated on? We recommend this blog: Iberian Lynx, a breakthrough in conservation.
