Objectives

Conservation of the European mink

The project aims at maintaining or increasing the European mink population in one of the species last stronghold areas, the Charente river basin, by developing new survey and management techniques.

More specifically, the project goals are:

• Reducing the European mink’s causes of mortality (road casualties, trapping, competition with the American mink, an alien species)
• Increasing the surface area of favorable habitats, improving ecological corridors and stabilising areas of major interest for the European mink conservation
• Improving our knowledge about the sensitive breeding season and identifying stronghold areas in order to manage habitats in the most efficient way
• Promoting the European mink as a high profile flagship species to highlight the importance of water quality and riparian habitats for biodiversity. Strengthening local stakeholders’ involvement for the issues related to the European mink and ensuring all operations affecting watercourses take account of them