PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
This project was financed in installments and a second project was launched in 1995. With each installment the duration, the content and the budget of the projects were commonly amended. The starting date, objectives and results remain the same for both.
The Valencia Region has a great diversity of plant species. It is home to 355 endemic plant species, 59 of which are found exclusively in this region, 12 plant species are included in Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive, and 150 species considered rare or threatened. A large part of this flora appears in micro-populations distributed in a fragmentary way throughout the whole of the region. These areas of high botanic value also include nearly 33 habitats listed in Annexe I of the Habitats Directive, 15 of which are priority habitats.
The main threats to this interesting flora are urban development and agrarian changes, especially on the coastal fringe and in the wetlands.
The Microreserves project was included in the UNESCO-MAB Programme in 1991 because of its scientific importance.
OBJECTIVES
The project aimed to protect small plant communities of endemic and threatened flora through the implementation of a network of botanical reserves (1-20 hectares), named microreserves, and by direct management of land of prime botanical interest for the setting up of larger reserves.
The protection of sites of prime botanical interest involved three kinds of measures: legislative, educational and species management. The achievement of legal protection status (microreserves) at a regional level is noteworthy. The educational activities included awareness-raising and information dissemination via the production of leaflets, books and videos, and educational exhibitions, as well as participation in scientific meetings and seminars.
Species conservation involved in situ management actions in the most signifcant areas via land purchase and the establishment of management plans for some areas, as well as the implementation of recovery actions. The ex situ measures included the creation of a seed bank, propagation ‘in vitro’ and cultivation in greenhouses, along with research studies applied to the management of threatened species.
RESULTS
This project was successfully concluded and achieved very satisfactory results. Several institutions from the region have participated in the project, including the university, the agrarian institute, the botanical garden, several town councils and a bank, among others.
One of the most interesting aspects of this project was its innovative approach to the conservation of natural areas, which resulted in a new protection status for habitats and species: microreserves. The project has dealt simultaneously with regulation, scientific and conservation measures, achieving a successful protection scheme for small plant populations that are not sufficiently protected under common nature protection areas and recovery plans. This effective methodology has been widely disseminated and adopted worldwide, through its adoption by Planta Europa (a wild plant conservation association) which evaluated the possible creation of a pan-European microreserves network. It can therefore be said that this project has created a new model for flora conservation.
Actions concerned the conservation of 49 habitats of the Directive (15 priority), hosting eight species listed under the directive and about 100 endangered species in the Valencia Region. This project has set the basis for flora conservation in Valencia and has set up the first flora microreserves network in Europe. As a result, the protection and management of sites of prime botanical interest has been assured. It has also contributed to the increase of knowledge of the status of priority species listed in the Habitats Directive in the Valencia Region.
Main project results:
Drawing up and approval of specific regulation for the setting up and management of the microreserves. As a result of the project 156 microreserves for the conservation of the flora have been set up (about 688 ha). Some of the requirements set out in the Decree 218/1994 for the declared microreserves are: assignment of land to nature conservation, prohibition of any activity that could have a negative impact on the flora species (for example, the transit of vehicles); permission from the regional government before selling or changing the use of the land; mention of the support of LIFE. Therefore, a strict protection status for the sites has been assured.
Implementation of a model for the conservation of the microreserves. Personnel and means required are now available thanks to the support of the LIFE project.
Studies, censuses, inventories (including cartography) and genetic analysis have been used for the drafting of the recovery programmes of the plant species. These have revealed that the list of plants of the Habitats Directive is not very complete, as several endangered plants are not included, while other species included in the Habitats Directive have healthy populations. The results of research are being directly applied to the management of the species/habitats.
Acquisition of land of high natural value: 31.2 ha have been purchased; 58 hectares (12 microreserves) are being managed through agreements with private owners, and 630 hectares are being managed through long-lasting agreements with private foundations.
Combination of ex situ measures (in vitro production of threatened species) and in situ measures (installation of infrastructures and signposting, reintroduction and recovery of certain areas) have contributed to the improved conservation status of the endangered flora species. One of the most important results is the reintroduction of Cistus heterophyllus subsp. carthaginensis; the most threatened Iberian species. In order to avoid extinction of the most endangered taxa, a seed bank has been set up. Therefore, the project has improved the conservation status for all species targeted.
A total of 88 microreserves (488 hectares, 71% of the project surface) are already officially proposed as SCI. Further 32 sites were included in a new list to be transmitted by February 2001, which would increase the project area included in pSCI by up to 80%.
Deliverable products have been produced and distributed: informative leaflets about the microreserves, the project and the Habitats Directive; a video on ‘Micro-reserves in the Valencia Region’ (2 500 copies in English and Spanish); a collection of botanical posters (25 different posters); a book on the endemic and threatened species of Valencia flora (1 500 copies); a CD-Rom about endangered flora (1 000 Units); four books (one guide of macrophites, revision of Limonium taxa, Valencia medicinal flora and an updated edition of the book on endemic and threatened species of flora); a website of the project.
The relevance of this project to the international scientific community has been significant and its dissemination has been noteworthy. Furthermore, there have been several contacts and information exchanges with other flora LIFE projects in Andalucía and Corsica.
From a local point of view, the project contributed to the raising of awareness among the population on the importance of some plants that were previously considered weeds. The establishment of agreements with landowners where microreserves were created was done with a high level of acceptance by local owners. An owners’ association was even set up to implement and manage the flora microreserves among landowners and town councils in the area of Requena-Utiel.
The aims of the project were continued through a follow-up project (LIFE99/NAT/E/6417), that set out to implement conservation measures for priority habitats and plant species in the pSCIs of Valencia. Other projects focussing on the creation of microreserve networks funded under EAGGF were also set up.