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1 Especies en Humedales - Conservation of priority species in Mediterranean marshes (Aphanius iberus, Valencia hispanica, Botaurus stellaris, Larus audouinii) LIFE96 NAT/E/ Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data Read more Contact details: Project Manager: Jordi ROMEVA I MANADÉ Tel: Fax: Project description: Background Catalonia boasts two species of fish and two bird species which are threatened by extinction and whose survival depends on the conservation of the wetlands in this region. Both fish species, the samaruc (Valencia hispanica) and the fartet (Aphanius iberus) have important populations in the Catalan wetlands. Outside Catalonia, the samaruc is found only in the Valencia region, while seven out of the thirteen known fartet populations are found in Catalonia. Concerning the two bird species, Catalonia holds the only regularly breeding bittern (Botaurus stellaris) population in Spain whereas the largest breeding population of Audouin's gull worldwide (Larus audouini) nests in the Ebro Delta. The survival of the samaruc, the fartet and the bittern is linked to the conservation of coastal wetlands, which, in the Catalunya region, consist of three wetlands of international importance: the deltas of the Ebro and the Llobregat and the Aiguamolls de l Empordá, all of which are SPAs. The main threat to the conservation of these species is habitat loss, due to water pollution, destruction caused by agricultural, industrial or tourist uses and the introduction of exotic species. As far as the Audouin's gull is concerned, the population is threatened by its extreme localisation and by changes in the fishing sector since breeding success depends on the feeding resources available from fishing activities. Objectives

2 The aim of the project was to guarantee the conservation of these endangered species. Thus, most of the project's measures tackled the root causes by focusing on the restoration of the wetlands. These measures included provision of the infrastructure required (channels, dams, dykes) to recreate periodically flooded zones and areas of wetland vegetation, which would increase the space available for nesting and foraging. Improvement of the water quality, preservation of beaches and reedbed management were other measures planned. Furthermore, specific actions targeting the four species concerned were to be undertaken, such as captive breeding and release into the wild of the two fish species. It was also planned to purchase land in order to establish reserves acting as refuges for the bittern and as management areas for the Audouin's gull. Finally, an awareness campaign on the importance of the species and their habitats was to be launched. Results Thanks to the LIFE-Nature project, the knowledge regarding the conservation status of the four species populations was improved and many actions for habitat restoration were achieved. The main results were: The setting up of reserve areas for all species but the bittern. The restoration of birds habitats: Habitat management and restoration actions were carried out in the three sites of the project. It consisted with: reed management (burning, grazing), habitat improvement for birds species (creation of islets, re-outlining of edges), management of water level (installation of sluices, pumps, channels clearance and re-outlining), setting aside and re-flooding of some areas, setting of green filters (2,2 hectares) to improve the water quality... In the Aiguamolls de l Empordá : the improvement of the water quality was demonstrated during the project. In the Delta del Llobregat : the monitoring carried out on the fauna and flora species showed that the management undertaken was adequate and the works had a direct effect on the improvement of the water quality. The enlargement of the flooded area up to 40 hectares contributed to increasing the number of breeding species. All the herons except the bittern succeeded in breeding. The LIFE project also strongly contributed to the improvement of the habitat in this SPA. In the 3 sites, the habitat management was concentrated in the areas owned by the beneficiary. Since 1998, an agri-environmental scheme was developed in parallel to the project. This programme had special relevance as the lack of public property prevented from implementing some of the measures. Therefore, agreements with landowners or implementation of agri-environmental programmes were crucial for the conservation of the sites. In 1999, the measures implemented through the agri-environmental scheme affected about 22% of the total surface of the SPA of Aiguamolls de l Empordá. In the Ebro s Delta, about 90% of the rice farmers applied for some agri-environmental scheme measures. The project also contributed to the improvement of the captive-breeding programme of the two fish species Valencia toothcarps from the only wild population (Santes Creus) and 20,000 Iberian toothcarps from three wild populations (Salou, Isla de Buda, Alfacada) were produced. Releases in the wild were undertaken to enlarge the distribution area of both species. The center was refurbished with 20 artificial pools and 6 semi-natural pools functioning.

3 Accurate scientific monitoring of the bird and fish species was carried out. Monthly monitoring of the wild fish populations permitted to identify the key issues for their conservation. The beneficiary also collected a great amount of data about the gull colonies and their relationship with the fisheries. In spite of the 23% decrease of the breeding colony in 1999 ( pairs, due to the predation of a fox), the colony seemed to be under a good conservation status. The population trend seemed stable: pairs in 1997 to in Regarding the Botaurus stellaris, results were more worrying. The situation of the species worsened during the project, despite the great amount of actions to improve the habitat of the bittern. In the Delta del Ebro, the species did not breed anymore although it did before the project started and in the Aigüamolls, the breeding populations decreased from 5-6 active males in 1996 to one in the year Environmental issues addressed: Themes Species - Birds Habitats - Coastal Species - Fish Keywords agricultural method endangered species population dynamics protected area freshwater ecosystem survey land purchase restoration measure management contract Target EU Legislation Nature protection and Biodiversity Directive 79/409 - Conservation of wild birds ( ) Directive 92/43 - Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora- Habitats Directiv... Target species Aphanius iberus Botaurus stellaris Larus audouinii Valencia hispanica Target Habitat types Alkaline fens

4 Coastal lagoons Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time Large shallow inlets and bays Annual vegetation of drift lines Salicornia and other annuals colonizing mud and sand Mediterranean salt meadows (Juncetalia maritimi) Mediterranean and thermo-atlantic halophilous scrubs (Sarcocornetea fruticosi) Crucianellion maritimae fixed beach dunes Hard oligo-mesotrophic waters with benthic vegetation of Chara spp Natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition - type vegetation Natura 2000 sites SCI ES Delta de l'ebre SCI ES Aiguamolls de l'alt Empordà SCI ES Delta del Llobregat Beneficiaries: Coordinator Type of organisation Description Partners Generalitat de Catalunya, Sub D.G. de Conservació de la Natura Regional authority The Generalitat de Cataluña is a regional authority of Spain. Its departement in charge of environment and Nature protection is the beneficiary of the project. Regional authorities are, in Spain, responsible for the implementation of nature protection policies and are, among other tasks, in charge of protected areas designation and management. University of Barcelona Administrative data: Project reference LIFE96 NAT/E/ Duration 01-SEP-1996 to 31-AUG Total budget 1,961, EU contribution 980, Project location Cataluña(España)

5 Read more: Title: Project for the environmental improvement of the Cortalet Lagoon (Aiguamols de l Empordá) Author: F. Comín, J. A. Romero Year: 1999 Title: Biology of Valencia hispanica and interactions with other species Author: A.Sostoa, M.J Vargas Year: 1999 Title: Genetic characterisation of Lebias ibera and Valencia hispanica; guidelines for their management Author: C. Pla Year: 1999 Title: Ecology of Lebias ibera and Valencia hispanica Author: A. Sostoa Year: 1997 Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data Read more