In 1997, the ECWP created a protected area designated as a “non hunting zone” in order to protect a
known reservoir of houbara bustards in a 1,000 km² study area. In February 2002, based on information
from the ecological programme, the ECWP put an additional 14,000 km² of critical houbara breeding
habitat in protection. In parallel, four main release areas, with field facilities, have been organized (See
figure 1).