PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
On 4 August, 2012, the Spanish island of La Gomera experienced the most ecologically damaging wildfire to affect the Canary Islands for several decades. The fire spread across more than 3 613 ha, burning over 32% of the total area of the seven Natura 2000 sites directly affected. Nearly 20% of the surface of Garajonay National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – was burned, totalling over 740 ha. The wildfire had an extremely serious impact on the environment, resulting in the destruction of large areas of vegetation. It burned the largest ever area of laurel forest in the archipelago, including vast areas of ancient laurel forests of high ecological value. This ancient forest had already been identified as a priority habitat for conservation under Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive and large sections were protected within Garajonay National Park. The fire also resulted in a great loss of soil quality, caused a serious deterioration of water catchment functions and directly affected many populations of threatened species. Moreover, the fire adversely affected the natural hydrological cycle of the forests, on which the island depends for its water supply.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE+ GARAJONAY VIVE project aimed to develop the means to reduce the risk of wildfires in the Canary Islands and to support the natural regeneration of laurel forest habitats already affected by fire and their dependent species. The project planned to improve the knowledge base on wildfires and laurel forest regeneration. On the basis of this initial research, the project team aimed to draft strategies to prevent and tackle forest fires more effectively and to restore the targeted habitats. During the implementation phase, the team aimed at introducing measures to reduce the incidence of fires and facilitate the extinguishing of fires should they occur. The habitat restoration strategy was planned to cover at least the affected area of the Garajonay National Park. Given the fact that many fires – including the devastating one in 2012 – were caused by (deliberate) human action, the project hoped to engage local communities on the island of Gomera to raise their awareness of the impact and cost of wildfires to society and the natural environment.
RESULTS
The LIFE+ GARAJONAY VIVE achieved its objectives of supporting the natural regeneration of laurel forest habitats and the recovery of populations of threatened species damaged by the fire of 2012 on the Spanish island of La Gomera, in the Canary Islands, as well as reducing the risk of future wildfires.
The project team conducted a series of preparatory actions to improve the knowledge base, to optimise strategies regarding wildfires and laurel forest recovery. To this end, the beneficiaries studied the evolution of vegetation using remote sensing, and the evolution of soil features affected by fire. They also drafted an Ecological Restoration Plan for the area affected by the 2012 fire that was implemented through a series of conservation actions. A set of indicators to assess the conservation actions were established and monitored over the course of the project.
To facilitate the recovery of populations of threatened species, census, monitoring and seed collection work focused on plant species particularly affected by the 2012 wildfire (e.g. Limonium dendroides, Euphorbia lambii, Cistus chinamadnesis subsp. gomerae, Sambuscus palmensis and Woodwardia radicans). To aid their recovery, work also involved reinforcement of populations, control of feral cattle and removal of invasive alien species. To reduce the risk of future wildfires, the beneficiaries undertook actions to improve knowledge about their behaviour, and applied measures derived from the project publication ‘Fire Prevention Plan for the island of La Gomera’ and the various local plans for self-protection against fires. The beneficiaries also increased awareness in La Gomera about the problem of forest fires and their implications for laurel forest ecosystems and surrounding populations, through the design of strategies of social prevention against forest fires.
The project team created an innovative strategy for the effective prevention of fires in rural and forest areas, optimising the interventions and the management of vegetation to reduce combustibility instead of the traditional creation of firebreaks. Experimental tests were carried out to improve management techniques, including improvement in the quality of plants used for plantations, plantation techniques, and the management of scrub to encourage its protective role for regeneration and reforestation. The knowledge and experience gained from these tests enabled the beneficiaries to successfully implement the conservation actions.
The project contributed to the recovery of the Habitats Directive priority for conservation habitat types ‘Macaronesian laurel forests (Laurus, Ocotea)’ (9360*) and ‘Endemic macaronesian heaths’ (4050*). These habitats were severely affected by the fire of 2012; on 10% and 45% of their surfaces, respectively. The restoration actions have been undertaken over 26% (189 ha) of the area (741.7 ha) affected by the 2012 forest fire within the Garajonay National Park. About 6 000 specimens of Morella faya were planted, with an average survival rate of 66%. The National Park complemented these figures up to a total of some 60 000 native plants.
Restoration works will also have a positive effect on the hydrological cycle, favouring the infiltration of rainwater into the ground, which is essential for the availability of water resources for wildlife, and will contribute to reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. The restoration of burnt areas in Garajonay National Park will have a positive impact on socio-economic development on the island of La Gomera, where tourism is the main driver of economic growth based on the rural landscape and outdoor leisure activities.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).
