What is the origin of the Stewardship Network?
Nature Stewardship is used world-wide as a tool for the conservation and management of nature and biodiversity, promoting the idea that nature and biodiversity conservation are compatible with human activity, and can be instigated through the involvement of people who work and know the conserved landscape. It is a strategy which involves land owners and land users in its conservation, through the support and intervention of a large set of citizens and civil society groups.
At the core of Nature Stewardship is the principle of co-responsibility in the management of natural resources: values such as “caring for”, “respecting”, “sharing”, “involvement” and “compromise” make Nature Stewardship an innovative and useful strategy to assist the conservation and management of land through the participation of interested stakeholders. Its implementation comes about though the establishment of voluntary agreements between the land users/owners and the custody entities, with a view to maintain and restore natural values.
What is the goal of the Stewardship Network?
The Stewardship Network for the conservation of the Iberian Imperial Eagle in Portugal aims to promote and reinforce the compatibility and harmony between development of socioeconomic and cultural activities and the conservation of the Iberian Imperial Eagle. This initiative will contribute towards changing the behaviours of some stakeholders, making them active in the conservation of the species and its habitat, changing their opinion on the eagle being “harmful” to their activities and increasing their environmental responsibility.
Who can join the Stewardship Network?
Anyone or any groups interested in collaborating in the conservation of the Iberian Imperial Eagle may join the Stewardship Network, with the participation of individuals and entities whose socioeconomic activity takes place in the intervention area of the project – the SPAs with the main areas of occurrence of the species - being of particular importance, in order to potentiate the compatibilization of their activities with the conservation of the species and its habitat.
All the collaborators in the Stewardship Network will be very important for the development of the proposed compromises, making them promoters of the conservation of the Iberian Imperial Eagle and recognising it as an added value to the application and propagation of proactive attitudes in favour of nature.
How can I join the Stewardship Network?
By filling-in the membership form.
What can I do as a member of the Stewardship Network?
The members of the Stewardship Network may organize events, carry out volunteering actions, raise funds, distribute promotional materials, adopt favourable measures to the conservation of the species, promote the Iberian Imperial Eagle through social media channels, or any other activity that contributes to raising awareness to the species and conserving the species and its habitat.
Is joining the Stewarship Network mandatory?
No. Joining the Stewardship Network for the conservation of the Iberian Imperial Eagle in Portugal is strictly voluntary.
Do I have to pay to join the Stewardship Network?
No. Joining the Stewardship Network is free.
How is joining the Stewardship Network formalized?
Through a Stewardship Agreement or Membership Letter, drafted and signed, establishing the basis of action for the contribution of the future member of the Stewardship Network.
Can I join the Stewardship Network without signing a Stewardship Agreement or Membership Letter?
Joining the Stewardship Network is formalized through the signature of a Stewardship Agreement or Membership Letter, stipulating the compromises and services of both parties. In addition, this document is proof of the veracity of adhesion of each member, and its signature is therefore essential.
How long is does membership of the Stewardship Network last?
Membership in the Stewardship Network for the conservation of the Iberian Imperial Eagle in Portugal is uninterrupted and lifelong since the date of signature of the Stewardship Agreement or Membership Letter, but may be terminated by any of the parties at any time.
What are the commitments of the Stewardship Network?
Each member establishes its commitments with the Stewardship Network. These may include:
• Collaborating in raising environmental awareness and disseminating good practices related to the conservation of the Iberian Imperial Eagle and nature in general;
• Distributing dissemination materials voluntarily;
• Including the conservation of the Iberian Imperial Eagle in the management model of their activities and/or properties, in order to make them compatible with the preservation of the species;
• Promoting the adoption of these behaviours to third parties;
• Supporting the implementation of the LIFE Imperial project as well as other projects that aim to protect this species and its habitat;
• Keeping their contact information such as address, email and phone updated;
For companies and organizations:
• Providing their logo and contacts for dissemination in the LIFE Imperial Project’s website;
• Receiving and exhibiting the dissemination materials of the project;
What does the Stewardship Network make available to its members?
• A way to bring people together who want to actively contribute to the conservation of the species;
• Information and technical input in the definition of management models compatible with the conservation of the Iberian Imperial Eagle;
• Reward/acknowledgment of agents with custodian values for the environmental services provided, particularly in area under the greatest socio-environmental risk;
• Use of the digital “stamp” which will allow online divulgation of adherence to the Stewardship Network;
• Forum for exchanging experiences, ideas and searching for solutions to common problems;
• Awareness-raising activities for key groups or the public;
• Dissemination materials produced in the framework of the Stewardship Network and projects such as the LIFE Imperial project, for showcasing or giving away.
