Background Listed in the Birds Directive Annexes, little bustard, Tetrax tetrax, has been in decline around Europe. Remaining French populations of this endangered bird are found in west and central France as well as in the sub-steppic grazing ranges on the Mediterranean plains. Here the species continued to experience threats to its long-term survival. Five key sites within these areas were identified where conservation works could help improve the conservation status of little bustards. Objectives This LIFE project’s overall aim focused on preventing the loss of little bustard in five target areas. A captive breeding and release programme was established using eggs from Spain and France. Existing agri-environment measures were reinforced to improve breeding habitats for the birds and project findings were carefully monitored to help improve know-how about success factors associated with the species’ recovery. Stakeholder awareness campaigns also formed an integral part of the conservation plans. Results The project successfully reinforced little bustard populations in the target areas. Nevertheless, the species is still considered to be threatened by the lack of favourable habitats, following continued intensification of farming practices and land use changes. Findings from the captive breeding actions revealed that chicks hatched from Spanish eggs did not migrate during winters and less Spanish eggs were collected than anticipated. This was due to the need to conserve egg stocks in Spain where the birds are also at risk. From 363 French eggs, 202 were used in the project’s captive breeding programme. Two breeding centres were established – one for rearing young chicks and another for breeding adults. Initial problems prevented the project from breeding as many chicks as expected but through a process of ‘learning by doing’ the programme improved its effectiveness. Results saw 282 eggs being laid, 190 chicks being released at three separate sites and 82 birds were retained as breeding stock. Monitoring confirmed that released birds integrated with the wild populations and migrated over the winter. The breeding and release is continuing after the end of the project, financed by the local partners. A variety of other useful knowledge about the species’ ecology, population dynamics and migration was gained by the project. Unknown migration routes and wintering areas were discovered in Iberia and new information about the birds’ habitat requirements has also been used to help inform the development of ongoing conservation measures. Farmers and other stakeholders participated well in the project via increased numbers of agri-environment actions and in some cases emergency agreements were set up with farmers to protect nests in agricultural plots during mowing period. A total of 163 eggs or chicks were protected on-site using these methods. Payments were planned to compensate for the loss of forage, yet many farmers concluded agreements without financial compensation. Contracts were also established with farmers for the retention of cereals and oilseed rape stubbles throughout the period of post-nuptial gathering so as to provide little bustards with quiet feeding areas. Communication tools developed by the project were considered successful and the conservation actions received a favourable support from local hunters and hunting groups as well as local inhabitants. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).