PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The delta of the Adra river, in south-eastern Spain, contains a series of lagoons known locally as 'las Albuferas'. They make a wetland of great value, hosting a significant population of white-headed ducks (Oxyura leucocephala), one of the most endangered aquatic birds in Europe, and of Aphanius iberus, a fish endemic to the Mediterranean littoral which has found one of its last refuges here. The abundant plantlife of the site adds to its ecological value, which has induced the competent authorities to include it on the list of proposals for the Natura 2000 network. The principal threat stems from the fact that the Albuferas are completely surrounded by land where intensive cultivation of crops in greenhouses takes place. This type of agriculture is highly polluting on account of the infiltration of fertilisers and pesticides in the aquatic environment and the accumulation of organic waste and other assorted residues in the terrestrial areas. The proliferation of rodents is another important threat to the conservation of fauna and flora at the site.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE project sought to improve the conservation status of the Albuferas by halting the current process of degradation. To achieve this, a series of measures was planned such as : - increasing the flooded area at the expense of the intensive cropping land; - restoring the water quality and the overall environment around the site, by bringing the polluting agents under control and by regenerating the vegetation cover; - a programme to monitor and control rodent populations. The project also intended to carry out an awareness-raising campaign aimed at all the socio-economic sectors involved in the management of the Albuferas.
RESULTS
Interesting results were achieved by the project, regarding the habitat improvement work and the monitoring of the wildlife. The involvement of the stakeholders in the project has to be stressed, thanks to the agreements signed by the beneficiary (with the farmer association, the municipality of Adra and the University of Granada) for the future management of the area. Besides, well-planned awareness-raising activities were carried out targeting directly the farmers to enhance the use of alternative farming practices. However, the project suffered some delays mainly related to the acquisition of two hectares that should have been restored afterwards to connect the two main lagoons. This delay was mainly due to difficulties in negotiating with landowners. As a consequence, some of the actions (land purchase and restoration of the land acquired) that were scheduled were not implemented during the execution term but after the project deadline.
Preparatory studies: Following a work done before the project on the feasibility of alternative farming methods, a study about the economic benefits of the alternative farming methods in the surroundings of the Albuferas de Adra was done. This study showed that the profit that could be obtained from the most common products grown in the area (for instance melon, watermelon, courgette and pepper) could be higher following the ecological farming system than the conventional farming system. According to the beneficiary, the intensive farming system and the existing infrastructures have not been improved for years. This meant that there was an opportunity to promote changes in the traditional way of farming, resulting in a minor impact on the environment. The results obtained were presented to local farmers during two meetings, one at the beginning and one at the end of the project (October 1999 and January 2002).
A study on the eutrophization of the lagoons also demonstrated that actions planned in the project are fully in accordance to what is required for the long-term conservation of the area.
Restoration work: 3,7 km of the irrigation channel was restored and 1,7 km of the channel that connects the river Adra with the lagoons were improved. To allow the future use of the channel, an agreement with the farmers (Irrigation association) was signed in 2002. During the first phase, the status of the channel that brings the water from the river Adra to the lagoons, was surveyed according to the set tasks. Results showed that the poor state of this infrastructure led to high wastes of water. Restoration works carried out by the project improved the water quality of the lagoon by the inflow of fresh water from the river.
Management of agricultural wastes: A 13 meters-length dust cart was bought along with the device to remove wastes as well as 10 containers. An agreement between the beneficiary and the Adra Town Council was signed for the removal of agricultural wastes. The average production of wastes was 2.100 tonnes (vegetal waste) and 35 tonnes (plastic) per year.
Rodent control:A project for the maintenance and recovery of the vegetation cover and rodent control in the Albuferas de Adra was drafted and carried out in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Every year one third of the vegetation occurring in the border of the lagoons (mainly reed bed) was cut and burnt to regenerate the habitat and to keep the best ecological conditions (14,2 hectares). The rat control was implemented in three phases. In 1999, the incidence of rodents on the breeding bird populations was assessed. In 2000, first trapping attempts were undertaken in the Albufera Nueva leaving the other lagoon (Albufera Honda) as a control area (22 days, 80 traps, 138 rats trapped - most of them being Rattus rattus). In 2001 the campaign to control the rodent was implemented in the whole protected site (170 traps were used and 148 rats were trapped).
These actions led to the increase of the environmental quality in the lagoons' surrounding and the waste pollution decrease.
