Consulta Europa Drives Macaronesian Biodiversity Leadership through the BESTLIFE2030 Mission in Madeira

Operating as the Local Focal Point, the organization spearheaded the technical and financial monitoring of key environmental initiatives alongside the IUCN

Operating as the official Local Focal Point for the Macaronesia region under the European Union’s BESTLIFE2030 programme, Consulta Europa has played a central role in the high-level technical monitoring and institutional mission carried out in Madeira during mid-June.

The international delegation from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) featured Lucía Cervilla Bordiú, representing Consulta Europa within the Macaronesia Regional Hub, who spearheaded the strategic evaluation, technical supervision, and local support alongside Lucien Pirot, the programme’s Financial Officer.

On-Site Technical Review: The Milestones of MAC Puffinus

On June 17 and 18, the official monitoring actions focused heavily on the Funchal Ecological Park to assess the milestones reached by the MAC Puffinus BESTLIFE2030 project. Coordinated by the Funchal City Council in a high-level consortium alongside the University of Barcelona (Seabird Ecology Lab) and MARE-ARDITI, the project implements critical monitoring and habitat protection to improve the conservation status of the Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus canariensis).

The institutional review led by Lucía Cervilla Bordiú (Consulta Europa) and the IUCN technical team highlighted the perfect operational alignment and financial execution of the initiative, which spans a 24-month horizon with a budget of €105,152.07 (95% co-funded by BESTLIFE2030). Paula Jardim Duarte, Councillor for the Environment at Funchal City Council, emphasized that the active follow-up and technical assessments conducted by Consulta Europa and IUCN reinforce the institutional prestige and environmental performance of the local municipality and its global partners.

Broadening the Conservation Impact in Macaronesia

The mission also served as an operational launchpad for several local actions funded under the first and second BESTLIFE2030 Call for Proposals, which are boosting the region’s ecological value:

• STOP Predators: Addressing invasive species’ impacts on vulnerable endemic island wildlife.

• MARVEL: Upgrading marine monitoring compliance to preserve Madeira’s rich marine habitats.

• SOS BATS: Protecting the endangered Madeira Pipistrelle bat across the archipelago.

• LAVA-LIFE & Porto Santo Reserve: New projects targeting the protection of subterranean lava tube fauna (such as the critically endangered spider Centromerus sexoculatus) and mapping marine biodiversity inside the UNESCO-designated Porto Santo Biosphere Reserve.

Through this high-level field operation, Consulta Europa continues to solidify its long-standing position as the leading authority and primary reference point for managing, monitoring, and scaling European environmental and sustainability projects across the Macaronesian region. Built upon years of dedicated regional expertise, the organisation remains the essential strategic partner for local entities navigating complex EU ecological funding.