PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The latest report issued by the European Commission under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive for the period 2007-2012 determines that the conservation status of the priority habitat type, alluvial forest with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (91E0*), is ‘unfavourable-inadequate’ both for the Mediterranean biogeographical region and for Spain. Moreover, Article 17 assessment evaluations of the structure and function and of the future prospects for the habitat in Spain are both also considered as ‘unfavourable-inadequate’. As 48.2% of the distribution area of this habitat type and 56.3% of its distribution range in the Mediterranean region is located in Spain, the country bears a great responsibility for its conservation. Despite the efforts made in connection to the implementation of the Habitats Directive and the Natura 2000 network, the current situation reflects the need to strengthen conservation efforts of this habitat and revise strategies at different scales.
OBJECTIVES
LIFE Alnus aimed to better understand the causes of decline in Mediterranean alder forests at different ecological levels, as well as to design alternative conservation strategies that are transferable and replicable throughout the Mediterranean basin, to improve their conservation status at regional level. New approaches were tested in three pilot basins in Catalonia, with the aim of reversing the unfavourable conservation status of the target priority habitat type.
Objectives for directly improving the conservation status of alluvial forest were:
- Setting up a legally-protected corridor to interconnect Natura 2000 network sites;
- Enhancing connectivity and restoring habitat network structure (river continuum) and its function into and between Nature 2000 network;
- Increasing the area of alluvial forest, by restoring the habitat along water courses and recovering its presence in alluvial lowland valleys;
- Restoring the habitat where it is fragmented in large floodplains; and
- Improving the conservation status, structure and associated biodiversity of pre-existing alluvial forest.
Objectives for replication and transferability were:
- Improving river and riparian governance through a coordinated implementation of the Habitats Directive, Water Framework Directive, and Floods Directive;
- Generating knowledge to support sustainable forest management for alluvial forest;
- Testing different solutions for ecological restoration that address obstacles to habitat conservation arising from climate change and changing river dynamics; and
- Exchanging technical experiences and disseminating the need to change current habitat conservation strategy to establish river basins and their networks as functional units of river ecosystems.
Social and environmental objectives were:
- Promoting restored river continuum as green infrastructure;
- Disseminating environmental, functional, cultural and experiential values of alluvial forests among the general public; and
- Produce new criteria for ecological habitat management agreed upon with the stakeholders.
RESULTS
The project tested an alternative conservation strategy for habitat 91E0* in three large pilot basins (Besòs, Ter and Segre) at the regional level (Catalonia) for the first time. It laid the groundwork for the long-term conservation, restoration, and governance of alder forests and other related riparian forests, by means of Conservation Plans for the river basins concerned. These plans address conservation and restoration problems and proposals at the basin level, using ecogeographic indicators and systematic planning models.
In order to reach this objective, effective coordination among the competent authorities (the Department of Climate Action, Food, and Rural Agenda of the Catalan Government -DACC-, the Catalan Water Agency -ACA-, and the Ebro Hydrographic Confederation -CHE-) was initiated to ensure proper integration of the Habitats Directive, the Water Framework Directive, and the Floods Directive. Additionally, the integration of the habitat restoration and conservation plans into the legal management plans was achieved through the protection of alder and other riparian forests in the Management Plan of the hydrographic demarcation of Catalonia, approved by DECREE 91/2023, of May 16, published in the Official Gazette of the Government of Spain.
The project also achieved many of its specific objectives, particularly those related to directly improving the conservation status of riparian habitat and generating knowledge and experience. A working group was formed between the partners of Life ALNUS and the Environmental Planning Service of the Catalan Government for the expansion of the Natural 2000 network. The working group prepared a proposal for the expansion of the Natura 2000 network for habitat 91E0*, as well as the designation of a new SCI, which was agreed upon and delivered to the environmental administration for its initial approval. A participatory process was carried out with stakeholders from the three river basins.
The proposal incorporated 911 hectares of riparian areas with habitat 91E0* presence with 385 hectares expanding the existing Natura 2000 network and the remaining 526 hectares as newly designated. While the Catalan Government initiated the declaration process and is working on its approval, this however remains incomplete at project closure.
In terms of technical implementation, activities to improve habitat continuity and ecological quality were implemented across 35 hectares in the Besòs river basin, and the preparation of the technical documentation and pre-agreements with the owners for the restoration of 121 hectares in the Ter basin were executed by the ACA with its own budget. In each river basin (Besòs, Segre and Ter), pilot projects to demonstrate hydromorphological and flow restoration were carried out. These pilot projects aimed to be innovative and serve as learning experiences for future projects in Catalan basins and across the entire Mediterranean region of Europe.
The pilot projects were as follows: 1) Elimination and relocation of barriers and habitat restoration in the urban stretch of the Congost River (Besòs basin) in the Granollers conurbation, covering 72 hectares; 2) Restoration of the hydromorphological sediment dynamics and removal of barriers on two river islands in the middle Ter River (covering 19.2 hectares); and 3) Hydromorphological and riparian restoration in the alluvial plain of the Segre River (covering 4.5 hectares); 4) Flow restoration in two hydroelectric power plants on the Ter River. Additionally, guidelines and recommendations have been developed in collaboration with various groups, including hikers, fishermen and naturalists, to make the use of riparian forests more environmentally friendly. Fishing spots have been organised in cooperation with local fishing associations.
In terms of governance actions, the project organized 5 thematic debate classrooms (agroforestry activities, municipality governance, recreational uses, environmental flows related to hydropower plants). Ten-item lists of recommendations were agreed upon and disseminated among stakeholders and administrations.
Dissemination efforts led to substantial local and regional visibility. The project produced a technical handbook for the conservation and restoration of riparian areas. This handbook compiles a wealth of technical recommendations, experiences, and results gathered over the project's duration.
