- The Endesa Foundation has selected the projects submitted by the Spanish Ornithological Society SEO/BirdLife and the Foundation for Research in Ethology and Biodiversity (FIEB), focused on the protection and conservation of these two iconic species, both critically endangered.
- Each project will receive a grant of €100,000 for its execution and development.
- This marks the first Call for Biodiversity Project Grants launched by the Endesa Foundation.
- Images of the Mediterranean Cory’s shearwater, the Balearic shearwater and the European mink are available in the Download Area.
Endesa Foundation announces the two winning projects of its first Call for Biodiversity Project Grants, aimed at identifying and supporting initiatives developed by social organisations that actively contribute to the protection and conservation of our country’s iconic species, with a focus on birdlife and terrestrial fauna.
The selected project in the birdlife category was an initiative led by the Spanish Ornithological Society SEO/BirdLife, whose objective is to reduce the impact of light pollution on the Balearic shearwater and the Mediterranean Cory’s shearwater, thereby contributing to the recovery and long-term protection of this endemic species classified as critically endangered. The selection reflects both the relevance of the challenge addressed — the conservation of a species in critical condition — and the scientific backing and credibility of the organisation, a benchmark for bird conservation in Spain.
It is currently estimated that there are only around 3,000 breeding pairs in existence, all located in the Balearic Islands, as the species breeds exclusively in this region. For this reason, the initiative will be carried out across the archipelago. Moreover, this is one of the areas in Spain under the greatest tourist pressure, where light pollution represents one of the main threats to seabirds.
Key actions include updating the light pollution map of the Balearic Islands, reducing mortality through rescue actions, launching pilot lighting-reduction experiences in critical areas, and involving more than 15 local and tourism entities through the “Entity Committed to the Night Sky” seal, promoting effective changes in lighting management.
In the terrestrial fauna category, the winning project was submitted by the Foundation for Research in Ethology and Biodiversity (FIEB), focused on expanding the breeding and recovery capacity of the European mink, considered the most endangered mammal in Europe. Only 142 specimens remain in the wild in Spain, and 70% of all cubs born in the last three years have come from its centre. The initiative was selected for decisively addressing the critical situation of the European mink — of which very few individuals remain on the peninsula — and for the scientific and technical backing of a centre recognised for excellence in recovering highly threatened species.
The project will be implemented by strengthening the national captive breeding programme and applying pioneering assisted reproduction techniques, mainly at the organisation’s facilities in Toledo, with direct impact in various regions of northern Spain where releases take place.
It also includes the construction of new facilities to expand breeding capacity, the application of innovative artificial insemination techniques developed for the first time worldwide for this species, and increasing genetic variability — a key factor in preventing extinction. The project also contemplates pre-release training for captive-born specimens, preparing them for adaptation to the natural environment before their transfer to ecosystems where the autonomous communities subsequently carry out releases to reinforce wild populations.
“With this first call for grants, we are taking a decisive step in supporting projects that generate a direct and measurable impact on the conservation of iconic species of our fauna. From the Biodiversity area of the Endesa Foundation, we work to actively contribute to species protection and ecosystem regeneration, collaborating with organisations working on the ground and providing real solutions to advance towards a just and sustainable energy transition,” states María Malaxechevarría, General Manager of the Endesa Foundation.
The jury deliberation took place on 16 December 2025 and included top-level experts in biodiversity, science, public management and sustainability, including Xavier Pastor Gràcia, biologist specialised in oceanography and founder and former director of Greenpeace Spain; Odile Rodríguez de la Fuente, biologist, author and science communicator; Jordi Sargatal, Secretary for Ecological Transition of the Generalitat of Catalonia; José Luis Viejo Montesinos, Professor of Zoology at the Autonomous University of Madrid; María Jesús Rodríguez de Sancho, Director General of Biodiversity, Forests and Desertification at the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge; Alicia Torrego, Director of the Conama Foundation; María Malaxechevarría, General Manager of the Endesa Foundation; and Jorge Pina Pérez, Director of Sustainability and Environment at Endesa. Each of the two winning projects will receive a grant of €100,000, which must be fully allocated to its development.
A commitment to people, the environment, and biodiversity
The Endesa Foundation drives its social action with the goal of contributing to a just and sustainable energy transition, aimed at improving people's lives and protecting the environment. In this context, biodiversity constitutes one of its five strategic pillars.
Through alliances with specialised organisations and public authorities, the Endesa Foundation promotes projects designed to protect endangered species and conserve ecosystems that are vital for environmental balance. These are initiatives with a real, measurable, and replicable impact, integrating preservation, innovation, scientific knowledge, and social participation.
This Call for Biodiversity Project Grants, whose results are now being announced, represents a milestone within this strategy, as it is the first time the Endesa Foundation has structured a specific financial support line for conservation projects targeting endangered or vulnerable species in Spain.
With the announcement of the winning projects, the Endesa Foundation reinforces its role as an active agent in biodiversity preservation and consolidates its commitment to a truly sustainable development model, which places nature protection as a fundamental cornerstone.
About Endesa Foundation
Endesa Foundation was established in 1998 as an expression of Endesa's social commitment to responding to the needs of the environments in which it operates, thereby working towards social progress.
Its purpose is to contribute to a just and sustainable energy transition, improving people's lives and the surrounding environment. To this end, the Endesa Foundation develops projects that promote quality education aligned with current challenges by fostering STEM vocations and providing training in energy transition; offer training and employment opportunities to the most vulnerable in the green sectors of the economy; promote our country's culture and art; and contribute to a more sustainable world by protecting biodiversity and the ecosystems in which it exists.
More information at: www.fundacionendesa.org