x
Copied to clipboard!
LIFE Project Cover Photo

Improvement and sustainable management of river corridors of the Iberian Atlantic Region

Reference: LIFE16 NAT/ES/000771 | Acronym: LIFE FLUVIAL

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

Landscape transformation processes – such as, changes in use, presence of invasive alien species, public use activities, intensification of agricultural and livestock activity, loss of traditional and low-intensity land use, climate change – and phytosanitary problems (Alnus glutinosa(alder) diseases) represent major threats to habitats. Within the target area of the LIFE FLUVIAL project, several specific threats to the conservation of the river corridors have been identified. These have led to the deterioration and fragmentation of the river corridor habitats, both in the upper and middle basin and in the sections of the river mouth. Such threats are common to all the Natura 2000 network sites of the project.


OBJECTIVES

The overall objective of the LIFE FLUVIAL project is to improve the conservation status of Atlantic river corridors in the Natura 2000 network. The project will develop a transnational strategy of sustainable management of river corridor habitats in several Atlantic river basins of the Iberian Peninsula. The project will facilitate transnational cooperation to mitigate and correct the negative impacts of the threats the habitats are facing. These threats particularly affect the quality and continuity of riparian and alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior, a priority habitat listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive and the main habitat targeted by the project. It will particularly focus on developing transnational strategies to prevent the spread of threats to other EU territories.

Another habitat targeted by the project is the Mediterranean deciduous forest (Galician-Portuguese oak woods with Quercus robur and Quercus pyrenaica), which provides continuity with the riparian and alluvial forests.

Expected results:

  • Implementation of a transnational model for the sustainable management of river corridors that restores their composition, structure and functionality, as well as improves the connectivity and the reduction of fragmentation;
  • Acquisition of 33 plots with a total area of 44 579 m2 for the restoration of the two target forest habitats;
  • Addition of 7.1 ha and improvement of 3.7 ha of alluvial forests in a 14 km stretch of the lower basin of the Eo river;
  • Addition of 4.4 ha of Mediterranean deciduous forest, and the addition of 1.5 ha and improvement of 8.7 ha of alluvial forests in a 56 km stretch of the middle basin of the Eo river;
  • Addition of 0.5 ha and improvement of 0.1 ha of alluvial forests in the vicinity of the Arnao and Villadún wetlands;
  • Restoration of 2.1 ha of alluvial forests at Ria de Betanzos, and the recovery and sustainable management of 8.6 ha of alluvial forest habitat at the SAC Encoro Abegondo- Cecebre Natura 2000 network site;
  • Improvement of conservation status of 9.8 ha of alluvial forests at four sites (Rio Miño- Lugo, Rio Miño-Rábade, Guitiriz and Lagoa do Rei) in the upper basin of the Miño river;
  • Improvement of the conservation status of 9.0 ha of alluvial forests at the fluvial corridor in Rio Estoraos;
  • Control of exotic invasive alien species;
  • Evaluation methodologies and indicators for monitoring the project's impact on the conservation status of habitats on the economy and welfare of the population (especially local) and ecosystem functions;
  • Cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit indicators of the project to demonstrate the economic and social interest of river conservation measures and to promote the replicability of these actions elsewhere;
  • Improvement of training and technical capacity of stakeholders in managing river corridors; and
  • Dissemination strategy including communication plan, awareness raising and training events.

  • ADMINISTRATIVE DATA


    Reference: LIFE16 NAT/ES/000771
    Acronym: LIFE FLUVIAL
    Start Date: 01/09/2017
    End Date: 31/12/2022
    Total Eligible Budget: 3,032,223 €
    EU Contribution: 2,272,474 €

    CONTACT DETAILS


    Coordinating Beneficiary: Universidad de Oviedo
    Legal Status: PAT
    Address: San Francisco 3, 33003, Oviedo,
    Contact Person: Antonio Manuel Fueyo Silva
    Email: Send Email
    Website: Visit Website


    LIFE Project Map

    ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ADDRESSED

    THEMES

    • Ecological coherence
    • Freshwater

    KEYWORDS

    • river
    • nature conservation
    • restoration measure
    • river management
    • freshwater ecosystem

    TARGET EU LEGISLATION

    • Directive 2000/60 - Framework for Community action in the field of water policy (23.10.2000)
    • Directive 92/43 - Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora- Habitats Directive (21.05.1992)
    • COM(2011) 244 final “Our life insurance, our natural capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to 2020” (03.05.2011)

    TARGET HABITAT TYPES

    • 91E0 - "Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae)"
    • 9230 - Galicio-Portuguese oak woods with Quercus robur and Quercus pyrenaica

    SPECIES

    • None or non applicable

    NATURA 2000 SITES

    Type Code Name
    SPA ES0000085 Ribadeo
    SCI ES1110004 Encoro de Abegondo - Cecebre
    SCI ES1110007 Betanzos - Mandeo
    SCI ES1120002 Río Eo
    SPA ES1200016 Ría del Eo
    SCI ES1200023 Río Eo (Asturias)
    SCI PTCON0020 Rio Lima

    BENEFICIARIES

    Name Type
    Universidad de Oviedo Coordinator
    Instituto Superior de Agronomia / Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal Participant
    Empresa Municipal Aguas de La Coruña S.A., Spain Participant
    Asociación para el Desarrollo del territorio interregional que se ubica en el entorno del río Eo, Spain Participant
    Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Spain Participant
    Empresa de Transformación Agraria S.A., Spain Participant
    Ayuntamiento de Ribadeo, Spain Participant
    ASOCIACIÓN DE DESENVOLVEMENTO RURAL MARIÑAS-BETANZOS, Spain Participant