Steppe restoration: lessons learned for the conservation of the threatened Dupont’s lark (Chersophilus duponti)

Mediterranean natural steppes have undergone drastic changes in recent decades due to land abandonment, agricultural intensification, and afforestations, leading to severe declines in steppe bird populations. Conservation of these birds requires active habitat restoration, yet little is known about effective manage strategies. The LIFE Ricotí project implemented restoration actions by removing 50 ha of pine afforestations and tree-thinning in 250 ha, mainly holm oaks (Quercus ilex) to conserve Dupont’s lark (Chersophilus duponti), a threatened insectivorous and strict steppe undergoing notable declines. We tested the efficiency of these actions through a BACI design over 4 years, monitoring arthropod biomass—an indicator of habitat quality for insectivorous birds—and Dupont’s lark abundance in both restored and reference areas. While most arthropod groups showed no significant differences, pine removal increased epigeous arthropod biomass, particularly Coleoptera. Holm oak thinning had minimal effects on arthropods. However, Dupont’s lark territories increased from 15 to 27 in restored areas, particularly in the two holm oak thinned areas, while declining from 145 to 91 in reference sites. Our findings demonstrate that targeted restoration can improve steppe habitat suitability and benefit threatened steppe birds without negatively impacting arthropod biomass. This study provides valuable insights for conservation strategies in open landscapes affected by afforestation and land-use change.