Inland wetlands of Northern Iberian Peninsula: management and restoration of mires and wet environments

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

Peaty and wet habitats are types of wetlands found mainly in Northern Europe with its cold and damp climate. Whilst scarce in the Iberian Peninsula, some isolated examples are found in mountain areas. These ecosystems are not well-known or valued by the local population, or wider society, thus contributing to their degradation (and in some cases destruction) through use in ways not compatible with conservation. The project involves a group of inland wetlands in Northern Iberia that are included in the Natura 2000 Network or are important for the connectivity of Natura 2000 sites. They contain habitats of Community interest, some of them priority habitat types, including seven different types of peat habitat, as well as other wet habitats. The sites also contain important populations of key species. For example, there are estimated to be 1 150 examples of the plant Eryngium viviparum within the Parga-Larda-Támoga SCI, 5.7% of the population for the whole of Spain.

OBJECTIVES

The overall intention of the 'TREMEDAL' project is to improve the conservation status and resilience of the peaty and wet habitat types in the project locations. It will conduct restoration actions and look to implement good management measures to reduce the threats that negatively impact on the habitats. The project will increase understanding and awareness of the habitat types by collating and updating information about the presence, distribution and description of the wet and peaty habitats in and around the Atlantic Biogeographic Region of the Iberian Peninsula. It will look to define management guidelines as well as common indicators to monitor the conservation status of the target habitat types. Concrete restoration actions will include taking hydrologic and topographic measures to halt degradation and implementing targeted management actions to reduce threats and causes of habitat destruction. These will include actions to eradicate invasive species, remove harmful infrastructure introduced for livestock management, and change forestry and recreational practices that have a negative impact on the target habitats. The project will also establish a germplasm bank of threatened structural plant species to ensure their long-term survival. Beyond the specific actions on the target sites, the project will seek to increase knowledge about the management and restoration of these types of habitats at local, national and EU levels. It will also aim to inform and raise awareness about the values and environmental benefit provided by inland wetlands in general and peaty and wet environments in particular.

Expected results

Quantified results will include:

Restoration and improved conservation status of: some 85 ha ha of habitats 4020*, 7140 and 7150 at eight locations in Navarra; 6 000 m2 of mires habitat and 5 000 m2 of habitat 7210* at six locations in Jaizkibel SCI; habitat type 3180 in Lago de Arreo SCI - providing also a protection area with natural vegetation to habitat types 7210*, 7230, 1410 and 1510*; habitat types 7130 and 7230 in two peat locations within the Picos de Europa SCIs; 1.3 ha of habitat types 4020*, 6410 and 3110; 1 ha of 7210*and 91E0*; and 2.6 ha of 3110, 6410, 6430 and 91E0* inside the Parga-Larda-Támoga SCI; and habitat type 7140 at Usabelartza in the Río Leizarán SCI;

Increasing by 50% of the population of the target species Eryngium viviparum* (within the Parga-Larda-Támoga SCI); Carex hostiana (in Belate and Arxuri); and Rhynchospora fusca and Spiranthes aestivalis (in Arxuri);

Improved biodiversity in the target habitats;

Creation of a germplasm bank of threatened structural plant species;

Reports and a (GIS) database on the presence, distribution and description of wet and peaty habitats in the Atlantic Biogeographic Region of the Iberian Peninsula;

Increased connectivity and ecologic coherence of the Nature 2000 network, potentially including the extension of some SCIs; and

Increased awareness of these important habitats and their protection in the project area and in other regions.