Background The blue chaffinch is a species endemic to the Canary Islands. It has two distinct subspecies, each restricted to a single island: Fringilla teydea teydea inhabits pine forests on Tenerife and Fringilla teydea polatzeki occupies only certain pine forests on Gran Canaria. The blue chaffinch population on Gran Canaria is currently very restricted. The central core of the island is home to almost the entire population of the subspecies (about 200 individuals), with some also in the pine forest of Tamadaba. Currently, its small population size, predation (especially by feral cats), coupled with the degradation and decline of its habitat, form a set of factors which together threaten the population’s survival. The species is listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive. Objectives The LIFE+PINZON project’s objectives are fourfold. They are to: Create sustainable population centres of blue chaffinch in the pine forests around the summit of Gran Canaria; Improve the viability of the population through release of birds into the wild from the captive breeding centre; Increase the population size of blue chaffinch on the island of Gran Canaria; and Enhance the operation of ecological corridors, established in an earlier project (LIFE07 NAT/E/000759). Expected results: The main expected results are: The release of 120 individuals of Fringilla teydea polatzeki in the central summit from the captive breeding centre and also translocation of animals from the source population, so the population size in those pine forests reaches 160 individuals (plus released animals born in the natural environment) at the end of the project; The production of 20 individuals/year in the captive breeding centre; An increase of the wild blue chaffinch population of Gran Canaria by up to 450 individuals, effectively doubling the size of the population; and A plantation of 80 000 Canarian pines in the ecological corridors in the central summit and Tamadaba. This will allow connectivity between the most suitable pine forests for the species.