PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The Estanys de Sils, in Catalonia, is a wetland proposed as a Site of Community Interest, the remain of an ancient lagoon and mainly remarkable for its variety of habitats: a mosaic of meadows, ponds and streamside woods, surrounded by Mediterranean forests and grassland. These habitats host a rich fauna: over two hundred bird species plus an important colony of European pond terrapins (Emys orbicularis) in particular. The principal factors threatening its conservation are infiltration of untreated waste water, habitat destruction as a result of land use changes and the periodic lowering of water levels carried out to facilitate the maintenance of drainage ditches. Other problems such as hunting, the impact of infrastructure, the introduction of noxious exotic species and a very fragmented property ownership situation, come on top and render site management even more complex.
OBJECTIVES
This LIFE project sought to revive wetland dynamics and improve the conservation status of its habitats. To achieve this, it was planned to:
RESULTS
Due to some delays that occurred in land acquisition, the project scope was reduced and some recovery measures planned could not be achieved. The main results of the project are therefore the purchase of 31 hectares of land, the habitat recovery carried out on 18 hectares and a good involvement of all the stakeholders. Besides, it should be noticed that the actions included in the project fit perfectly with the Management Plan officially approved in 1998 by the regional government in parallel to the project.
Land purchase: The project started with the inventory of all the lands available for purchase and the identification of priority plots. At the end of the project, more than 31 hectares were purchased, both by the Sils Town Council and its partner, the Fundación Natura. However, only one agreement with a landowner was concluded within the project deadline and two others were about to be put into practice. The beneficiary identified about 21 private estates (totalling 55 hectares) in which similar actions could be carried out.
Management plans: A strategic management model was prepared and agreed with the different stakeholders. This document has three main objectives: the conservation of the natural environment, the promotion and control of the public use, and to involve the site management into the socio-economic context of the village. It also includes practical guidelines for the future management of the site. Moreover, it should be noted that all the project actions and the guidelines included in the strategic model completely fit with the management plan of the pSCI (“Plan Especial de Protección del Medio Natural”, 2/12/1998), officially approved during the LIFE-Nature project. This plan defined four types of areas in the pSCI according to their conservation objectives: 1) protection of fresh water habitats, 2) protection area with agrarian and forestry activities (temporary flooded), 3) surrounding agrarian and forestry area, and 4) forestry areas other than riparian. According to these documents and apart from the habitat recovery, the first issues to be faced are the declaration of a protection figure (fauna refuge) and the zoning of hunting activities in the whole pSCI. Both matters are crucial for the future management of the area once the wetland is recovered.
Habitat management : A pilot experiment was carried out in the area bought by the Fundación Natura (17 hectares) and through agreement with a landowner on 1,7 hectares. Different management practices were carried out in the meadows (mowing, removal of Phragmites spp.) in collaboration with the local workshop-school ("Escuela Taller del Consell Comarcal de la Selva") to recover the habitats of Community importance: Plantation of 500 plants for the recovery of the habitats and the setting up of vegetal barriers; Removal of pines and removal of vegetal wastes (including roots of former poplar trees plantation; Removal of exotic vegetation (Phytolacca americana and Arundo donax); Cleaning up of 3 illegal dumping areas.
The result was a mosaic of different habitat types as they were before the intensification of the tree cultivation. The participation of the local workshop-school is noteworthy. This school is partially supported by the European Social Fund and about 8 people are being trained to become specialists in habitat recovery and management. The restoration work for the lagoon (about 13 hectares) that was initially planned for September 2000, was about to start at the end of the project.
Awareness-raising: The main remarkable achievement is that the beneficiary and his partner kept the local population informed of the project objectives. As a result of that the attitude of the local inhabitants towards the project became more positive.
