PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Coastal dunes with juniper species (Juniperus spp.) are an extremely vulnerable habitat (2250*), occupying a limited ecological space that is very attractive to some economic sectors, especially tourism, forestry and agriculture. Coastal dunes with Juniperus navicularis, sometimes commonly referred to as Portuguese prickly juniper or sea sands juniper, are particularly important for conservation purposes, since they are only found in the south-west Iberian Peninsula, with more than 95% of the distribution area located in Portuguese territory. Despite their importance and protection status, dune junipers are classed as having unfavourable-inadequate conservation status in Portugal – and in the Mediterranean as a whole – with a decreasing trend. Efforts made so far in the Iberian Peninsula, in terms of planning and protection, have been insufficient to halt the degradation of this habitat. It is therefore urgent to restore these juniper forests.
OBJECTIVES
Zimbral for LIFE aims to improve the conservation status of coastal dunes with Juniperus spp. in Portugal, reversing the current trend of habitat degradation. The project will address the main factors preventing an improvement in the habitat’s ecological condition. These include a scarcity of knowledge about the basic ecological and technical aspects as well as the lack of a national conservation plan, which would allow specific objectives and priorities for action at national level to be defined. Zimbral for LIFE has two different scales of action: local and national. Demonstration activities will take place at local level at 6 sites spread across 3 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) – Comporta, Costa Sudoeste and Ria Formosa/Castro Marim. At national level, covering all SACs in mainland Portugal where the habitat is found, the project targets knowledge improvement as well as communication and dissemination work to develop a national action plan for this priority habitat (2250*).
The specific objectives are to:
- Reverse the current trend of habitat degradation and improve its quality in terms of structure and function;
- Increase the habitat‘s area of occurrence;
- Reduce the habitat’s main threats by increasing its resilience to invasive alien species, fire and climate change;
- Test and evaluate habitat management practices;
- Fill knowledge gaps that constrain habitat restoration on a large scale: on typical species, distribution and conservation status, and tested monitoring protocols;
- Increase the capacity to act of the territory‘s management bodies;
- Improve societal motivation and cooperation to preserve and monitor the habitat;
- Ensure knowledge dissemination and transfer;
- Replicate project interventions; and
- Foster upscaling and sustainability through dissemination work and development of an action plan for the habitat.
RESULTS
Expected results:
- Recovery of 200 ha of coastal dunes with Juniperus spp.;
- Improvement of 100 ha of habitat structure and function;
- 90 000 native plants produced and planted
- 400 individuals of juniperus spp. grown and planted;
- Creation of 350 ha of buffer areas;
- Detailed cartography produced, management methodologies tested and protocols for plant production published;
- 8 000 participants in dissemination activities;
- Creation of 5 direct jobs and involvement of 30 landowners; and
- Drafting of a national conservation plan.
