Hunting as a driver of biodiversity: Findings from the study at La Flamenca
The relationship between sustainable hunting and biodiversity is one of the key topics in modern land management. Recent scientific research conducted by IREC and ADEMAC shows that, far from harming the environment, responsible game management actively supports the conservation of habitats and key species. In estates such as La Flamenca, managed by Corsini Hunts, this model translates into healthier wildlife populations, more balanced ecosystems and better-preserved landscapes.
A pioneering study: commercial hunting estates as conservation islands
The report "Winter situation of the vertebrate community in hunting grounds dedicated to commercial red-legged partridge shooting", carried out across 20 estates in central and southern Spain, provides robust evidence for what rural experience has long suggested:
- Commercial hunting estates act as genuine conservation islands, where active management and traditional land use directly contribute to biodiversity.
La Flamenca, one of the estates analysed in the study, confirmed the conservation value of this sustainable management approach.
Richer and better-preserved habitats
Estates dedicated to commercial hunting maintain low-intensity traditional agricultural practices, conserve fallows, hedgerows and Mediterranean scrubland, and ensure additional food and water at key moments of the year.
According to the study, these actions generate clear ecological benefits:
Greater abundance of prey species, particularly rabbits, with populations up to 7.6 times higher.
Higher diversity of birdlife, with 61 species recorded versus 52 in control areas.
Increased presence of specialist raptors, including the Spanish imperial eagle, golden eagle and Bonelli’s eagle.
More balanced ecosystems, with the presence of threatened species such as the Iberian lynx.
In La Flamenca, the combination of traditional practices and active game management results in exceptional biological richness.
Raptors and the Iberian lynx: indicators of ecosystem health
The study highlights the essential role of hunting estates in supporting large Mediterranean predators. In commercial hunting grounds:
- The presence of the Spanish imperial eagle is 10 times higher than in non-managed estates.
- Golden eagle sightings are 7 times more frequent.
- The Iberian lynx was detected only in estates with intensive game management, where prey availability, habitat stability and low human pressure create optimal conditions.
The consistent presence of these flagship species demonstrates that responsible management in estates like La Flamenca directly contributes to the conservation of endangered predators.
Feeders and water points: infrastructure that sustains life
Supplementary feeders and water points installed for red-legged partridges serve a far greater ecological role than their primary purpose. The study reveals that they:
Increase the abundance of rabbits, a keystone species in Mediterranean trophic chains.
Are used by more than 34 non-target species, including passerines, pigeons, small mammals and carnivores.
Act as refuges for biodiversity during periods of scarcity or drought.
Across Corsini Hunts estates, these resources are managed sustainably to maximise their environmental benefits.
Commercial estates: private conservation and rural economic lifelines
The report also emphasises the socio-economic value of commercial hunting activity:
It generates stable employment in rural areas.
It enables the conservation of large private estates without public funding.
It keeps territories active that might otherwise face abandonment or agricultural intensification.
In estates like La Flamenca, big huntig, conservation and rural development coexist in balance, strengthening both the environment and the social fabric of the region.
Conclusion: responsible game management protects, conserves and enriches biodiversity
The findings of this study reinforce what field experience has long demonstrated:
well-managed partridge hunting is an effective conservation tool.
Through sustainable practices, regulated supplementary feeding, habitat protection and selective control, estates like La Flamenca have become landscapes of high ecological value.
Their contribution is essential for the future of emblematic species such as the Spanish imperial eagle, the Iberian lynx and the red-legged partridge, while ensuring the stability of Mediterranean ecosystems.
