PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The Montseny brook newt (Calotriton arnoldi) is an endemic amphibian present only in the Montseny area and classified as “critically endangered” in the IUCN Red List. The population of this amphibian is estimated to be fewer than 1 500 adults. Moreover, its distribution area is small and fragmented, covering less than 8 km2. The newt species adapted to mountain streams and required a pristine habitat as adversely affected by climate change and human activities.
Although some populations disappeared in the 20th Century, probably due to the lack of a stable water flow, most are seemingly stable nowadays. Nevertheless, some populations have an “unfavourable” conservation status, mainly caused by melanocytosis (pigmented skin tumours), which could indicate adverse micro-environmental changes.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the Life Tritó Montseny project was to improve the conservation status of the Montseny brook newt and its riparian habitat. Specific objectives were to:
- Ensure the conservation of the genetic pool of the species and expand its geographic distribution area;
- Increase the hydrological quality and water flow quantity of streams in its range of distribution;
- Eliminate or minimise current threats in the riparian habitat where the species is found;
- Establish suitable legal protection at national and European level and to develop a management plan for the species;
- Monitor regularly its conservation status and increase scientific and technical knowledge on its conservation and management; and
- Involve and engage stakeholders in the conservation of riparian habitats, their biodiversity and, specifically, the Montseny brook newt.
RESULTS
The project’s aim was to promote around fifty actions to ensure the conservation of C. arnoldi and its natural habitat with five strategic lines:
- Protection: to establish proper legal coverage and define long-term strategic planning.
- Conservation: to ensure its genetic conservation and expand its geographic distribution
- Habitat management: to eliminate or minimize threats that exist in the riparian habitat.
- Research: to increase scientific and technical knowledge with regard to C. arnoldi conservation status and its habitat management.
- Education & Divulgation: to Involve and engage stakeholders and local residents in the conservation of Montseny brook newt’s riparian habitats.
The LIFE Trito Montseny project has been highly successful, achieving the majority of its objectives. In brief, the outcomes can be summarised as follows:
1. Protection
- The distribution area of the newt takes up 3,039 ha, of which 63% corresponds to private properties. It has been possible to apply protection measures to 23% of the surface area of private estates through:
- The involvement of forest owners, with the signing of three land stewardship agreements (65 ha) to apply good environmental practices and protect the riparian habitat;
- The purchase of two estates (90 ha) of high ecological value for the protection of the Montseny newt;
- The establishment of supervised management areas (65 ha) along river courses and whose purpose is to preserve the riparian habitat.
- Implementation of biosecurity measures to prevent the introduction and spread of infectious diseases throughout the Montseny Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve.
- Elaboration of protocols to apply good environmental practices when visiting, working or managing the riparian forest.
- The involvement of local people and institutions within the territory in the project.
- Elaboration of the Montseny Newt Recovery plan, which must be approved by the Generalitat de Catalunya.
2. Conservation
- Expansion and modernisation of the three breeding centres: Torreferrussa, Pont de Suert and Barcelona Zoo.
- Addition of two new breeding centres: Chester Zoo and the Calafell Centre for Environmental Research and Education (CREAC).
- Expansion of personnel specialised in the management of captive breeding facilities. Elaboration of a Breeding protocol for the Montseny newt to standardise its management.
- An increase in the capacity of the five breeding centres, which can currently have up to 1,723 specimens for their potential release.
- Maintaining a viable genetic reserve, as recommended by the IUCN for critically endangered species.
- Addition of the Montseny newt in the European Endangered Species Program (EEP), once it became open to international participation in the captive breeding programme.
- Development of an agreed strategy, with technicians and scientists, for the release and creation of new newt populations in Montseny.
- Elaboration and implementation of the Program for the creation of new populations.
- Selection of optimal streams to accommodate new populations of captive-bred newts, with the involvement of a multidisciplinary team of experts.
- Sanitary control and marking of all animals before being released.
- Creation and reinforcement of five new towns with Montseny newt.
- Release of more than 2,000 specimens of Montseny newt into optimal streams and annual monitoring of their evolution.
3. Habitat Management
- Elimination of 7 water catchments from streams.
- Installation of 1 water distribution box at the stream’s bypass point, with the aim of ensuring there is an ecological flow.
- Adaptation of 4 water accumulation tanks with self-closing systems.
- Development of rainwater collection and storage systems in 3 farms.
- Conversion of sprinkler irrigation to drip irrigation in a nursery.
- Installation of a lagoon system for wastewater treatment.
- Reduction of erosion and sediment contribution to streams with the construction of more than 1,000 m of palisades by implementing bioengineering techniques.
- Elimination of 9 exotic tree plantations in order to increase water contribution to the streams.
- Restoration of streams’ tree cover with native species such as alder, ash or hazelnut
- Work to remove the river trout introduced into the streams where the newt lives.
- Removal of drainage pipes to restore the original channel from streams and ecological connectivity.
- Elimination of 11 extraction tracks to restore the natural watercourse.
- Construction of 4 types of bridges (5 made of filter stone, 3 made of vaulted stone, 6 platform bridges and 1 wood one).
4. Research
- Study of the newt’s diet by using the DNA in newt faeces.
- New estimate of the newt’s distribution area by using environmental DNA techniques.
- Study of the newt’s preferences and adaptation to temperature changes.
- Analysis of fertility and development of animals in captivity.
- Evaluation of the effect of emerging diseases.
- Study of a newt population, demography and mobility of adults.
- Spatial modelling to find suitable areas for reintroduction.
- Geological study of streams.
- Study of human impact on the newt’s habitat throughout history.
- Creation of 3 scientific committees with regard to the newt’s biology, breeding centres, new populations and the hydrological dynamics of the Montseny massif.
- Hydrological monitoring network: installation of 9 stations to measure water flow and integration of 5 meteorological stations.
- Analysis of the chemical composition of water in 30 streams in Montseny.
- Monitoring of newt populations in nature, with more than 70 field campaigns and almost 700 observations.
- Control of emerging diseases, with analysis of 426 samples from newts and other amphibians.
- Integration of all the information in a Geographic Information System for it to be used.
5. Education & Divulgation
- Creation of a new educational facility at the Barcelona Zoo, which has received almost 500,000 visitors since its inception. 13,800 schoolchildren have participated in the educational activities related to the Montseny newt.
- The exhibition ‘My name is Calotriton and I only live in Montseny’ has been displayed in 42 municipalities and has been visited by over 21,000 people since the beginning of the project.
- The programme "El Montseny a l'escola" has disseminated the Montseny newt to 2800 schoolchildren.
- Dissemination of the project in 54 workshops that have reached a total of 5,446 attendees.
- Creation and updating of the project website. Digital dissemination on social networks.
- Production of 8 small videos to disseminate the project’s actions, which have received very good feedback and almost 30,000 views
- Publication of the handbook “Infectious diseases in amphibians: Handbook of best practices in educational discovery activities”.
- Organisation of workshops and elaboration of various dissemination materials: the informative leaflet, a photographic exhibition, information panels, videos of the Montseny newt and a children's story, among others.
- Organisation of workshops to make gypsum newts, where 613 people have taken part.
- Exchange of experiences with 10 international projects that shared similar objectives.
- Publication of various articles of an informative, technical and scientific nature.
