PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Small inland freshwater bodies are rapidly disappearing in the Valencia region. This habitat loss is attributed to widespread abandonment of traditional land management practices and impacts threaten the conservation status of rare flora and fauna species. Eight different amphibians are currently found in the freshwater bodies in Valencia and priority habitats include Mediterranean temporary ponds and petrifying springs with tufa formations. Previous work to catalogue these species and habitats in Valencia has identified the need for restoration, protection and management of the region’s freshwater habitats.
OBJECTIVES
The project’s main objective focused on improving the conservation status of important amphibians including the Spanish painted frog (Discoglossus jeannea), a priority species for the European Union, as well as three other rare species: the midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans); the natterjack toad (Bufo calamita); and the Western spadefoot (Pelobates cultripes), a toad which is only found on the Iberian peninsula and in southern France.
Conservation works concentrated on habitat restoration within a network of small freshwater pools, where hydophitic and helophylic plants were propagated to increase habitat-specific vegetation. Other goals aimed to control erosion, restore hydrological features and minimise habitat threats from invasive species at the project sites.
RESULTS
Habitat restoration works were carried out at 96 locations within 25 SCIs, and this exceeded the original project target of 55 ponds. Outcomes were effective and resulted in almost immediate colonisation of the ponds by amphibians, especially Pleurodeles waltl, Pelodytes punctatus, Alytes obstetricans and Bufo calamita.
Some 14 landowners received support to restore and conserve ponds located on their properties and these habitat sites are expected to be included in a Fauna Reserve Network that the regional government is developing. During the project lifetime, 16 of these Fauna Reserves were declared, although some of them were not directly linked to the amphibian conservation, and 10 more were in the process of being designated.
In addition to practical conservation actions, the project also involved a large amount of research via limnological, vegetation and amphibian studies. This scientific work helped to significantly increase knowledge about pond biodiversity and ecology. The project’s results were also used to update a GIS inventory of 153 ponds that Valencia’s government acknowledge as being important for amphibian conservation.
Data contained in the inventory is being used to elaborate an Action Plan for aquatic habitats and this will draw on methodological guidance, produced by the project, for restoring ponds in Mediterranean ecosystems. The methodological guidance covers all of the habitat restoration techniques applied during the project and offers good demonstration value for amphibian conservation work in other Mediterranean areas.
Awareness raising outcomes were also good and project staff organised more than 200 activities, including hosting ‘The 3rd European Pond Conservation Network Workshop’, which attracted 130 attendees from 25 countries.
Despite the project’s overall positive results, challenges were encountered which prevented the completion of Recovery Plans for the Spanish Painted Frog, the Western Spadefoot and the Spanish Ribbed Newt. Similarly, the elaboration and approval of the Action Plan for aquatic habitats in Valencia could not be completed during the project timeframe.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).Habitat restoration works were carried out at 96 locations within 25 SCIs, and this exceeded the original project target of 55 ponds. Outcomes were effective and resulted in almost immediate colonisation of the ponds by amphibians, especially Pleurodeles waltl, Pelodytes punctatus, Alytes obstetricans and Bufo calamita.Some 14 landowners received support to restore and conserve ponds located on their properties and these habitat sites are expected to be included in a Fauna Reserve Network that the regional government is developing. During the project lifetime, 16 of these Fauna Reserves were declared, although some of them were not directly linked to the amphibian conservation, and 10 more were in the process of being designated.
In addition to practical conservation actions, the project also involved a large amount of research via limnological, vegetation and amphibian studies. This scientific work helped to significantly increase knowledge about pond biodiversity and ecology. The project’s results were also used to update a GIS inventory of 153 ponds that Valencia’s government acknowledge as being important for amphibian conservation.
Data contained in the inventory is being used to elaborate an Action Plan for aquatic habitats and this will draw on methodological guidance, produced by the project, for restoring ponds in Mediterranean ecosystems. The methodological guidance covers all of the habitat restoration techniques applied during the project and offers good demonstration value for amphibian conservation work in other Mediterranean areas.
Awareness raising outcomes were also good and project staff organised more than 200 activities, including hosting ‘The 3rd European Pond Conservation Network Workshop’, which attracted 130 attendees from 25 countries.
Despite the project’s overall positive results, challenges were encountered which prevented the completion of Recovery Plans for the Spanish Painted Frog, the Western Spadefoot and the Spanish Ribbed Newt. Similarly, the elaboration and approval of the Action Plan for aquatic habitats in Valencia could not be completed during the project timeframe.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).