PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The project targets the Natura 2000 site of El Hito wetland, which is subject to agri-environmental schemes provided for the conservation of steppe and wetland birds, such as cranes (Grus grus), through compensation from income loss and adoption of new production methods compatible with the protection of the environment. Methods focused on the conservation of steppe birds include the use of untreated seeds, late harvest, protection of nests, and specific crop rotations. The measures require the creation of application units of 996 ha approximately, but the farm area of this site is 636 ha. Until the next agri-environmental measure for the site is implemented in 2023 with the new CAP, this project will apply compensation measures and study the real costs for future measures and commitments, laying the ground for a long-term collaboration with local farmers, through land stewardship agreements and marketing of products based on biodiversity criteria. Compensatory measures will not overlap with measures financed through the Rural Development Programme.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE EL HITO project aimed to halt the decrease, restore and increase the area of EU Habitats Directive priority habitats, such as Coastal lagoons (1150*), Limonietalia salt flats (1510*) and Temporary Mediterranean wetlands and ponds (3170*) in Central Spain, as well as protect priority species designated by the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. The project also aimed to recover habitats for birds included in Annex I of the Birds Directive.
Specific objectives were to:
- Restore endangered flora and buffer zones around the wetland and the surrounding steppe salt flats;
- Close trails that impact the wetland, and drains to ensure temporary flooding, and eliminate elements that break up the natural flood cycle;
- Remove debris and infrastructures (e.g. fences, power lines) that impact the lagoon
- Create buffer zones to halt sediments filling this shallow wetland, and avoid diffuse pollution coming from surrounding farmlands;
- Establish land stewardship agreements and agri-environmental programmes that allow the implementation of sustainable management plans in the long term;
- Improve national and regional strategic plans for wetlands and the National and Regional Catalogues of Threatened Species;
- Raise awareness among the local populations about the problems affecting the wetland and the benefits of recovering the habitat through traditional management;
- Inform a broader audience about the coastal wetland, and promote tourism and sustainable farm products.
- The project contributed to the implementation of the EU Habitats Directive, Birds Directive, Pollinators Initiative, 2030 Biodiversity Strategy, Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and EU Action Plans for little bustard, great bustard and lesser kestrel. It was also in line with the Castilla-La Mancha Natural Environment Conservation Plan and State Law 22/2015 on Natural Heritage and Biodiversity, and Regional Catalogue of Threatened Species.
RESULTS
Achieved results:
- Purchase of over 387 ha of land to conserve priority wetland and salt flats, including 74 ha of farmlands to reconvert into priority habitats;
- Demolition and removal of old warehouses and other buildings in key areas;
- Removal of 11.84 km of fences that divide the wetland, and 10,800 m3 of rubble and accumulated waste in the lagoon and buffer zones;
- Cleaning and renaturation of almost 2 km of small drainage canals, removal of over 3 km of illegal paths;
- The restoration and increase in habitats targeted in the Habitats Directive to ensure the habitat 1510* expansion (Salt Mediterranean steppes, Limonietalia, with Lygeum spartum), with almost 74 hectares, and the improvement of habitat 3170* (Mediterranean temporary ponds) by 5.50 hectares;
- Harvest of seeds, production, and plantation of more than 260,000 seedlings of Lygeum spartum, Elymus curvifolius, Limonium species, and more;
- Implementation of 26 land stewardship agreements over 304 ha of farmland, reduction of conflicts caused by cranes (Grus grus), and sustainable farming to favour lesser kestrel (Falco naumanni), little bustard (Tetrax tetrax), and great bustard (Otis tarda);
- Beaconing of 10,100 m of power lines around the lagoon to avoid collisions of bird species;
- Construction of two hides for bird watching, mainly cranes, to attract eco-tourism;
- Updated vegetation mapping regarding the evolution of 7 targeted habitats. On-site and laboratory monitoring/surveillance: 213 plant species described, with 10 flora species that are strictly protected, and the species Limonium soboliferum that was rediscovered into the project area in 2024 and the discovery of a new subspecies Festuca salzmannii subs peris-gisbertii;
- Entomological studies as best key indicators for these habitats, and a bird censuses. El Hito Lagoon hosts suitable sites for an endemic grasshopper, Roeseliana oporina, and a new species of coleoptera was also discovered during the entomologic studies, Pimelia quixotiana;
- Defined ecosystem services indicators;
- Awareness-raising programme for 63 schools, a mobile exhibition reaching 60,000 people, and dissemination of information via audio-visual material, with 544 media articles and 70 radio and TV reports, including national TV (RTVE);
- Networking through participation at conferences, working groups on wetland habitats, and through the participation in the approved strategic plan on wetlands conservation 2023;
- Publication of 5 scientific articles on Botanic, Entomology and Birds at the end of the project, and 3 scientific articles more in pre-print;
- Increased knowledge about these very scarce habitats and flora and fauna species, exchanged with working groups in Spain and the rest of Europe; and
- Climate mitigation: the transformation of 74 ha of agricultural land into perennial natural habitat has avoided an estimated emissions of 173 tCO₂e/year, which result from eliminating fertilizer use, tillage, and fossil fuel inputs on these plots.
