Banco de Datos

LIFE FLUVIAL - Improvement and sustainable management of river corridors of the Iberian Atlantic Region



Reference: LIFE16 NAT/ES/000771 | Acronym: LIFE FLUVIAL

 

1.- Project data:
 
Coordinator: Universidad de Oviedo.
Type of organisation; University.
Partners: Universidad de Oviedo, Instituto Superior de Agronomia / Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal, Empresa Municipal Aguas de La Coruña S.A., Spain, Asociación para el Desarrollo del territorio interregional que se ubica en el entorno del río Eo, Spain, IBADER (Universidad de Santiago de Compostela) Spain, TRAGSA (Empresa de Transformación Agraria S.A.) Spain, Ayuntamiento de Ribadeo, Spain, ASOCIACIÓN DE DESENVOLVEMENTO RURAL MARIÑAS-BETANZOS, Spain.
 
Project reference: LIFE16 NAT/ES/000771
Duration: 01/07/2017 to 31/10/2022
Total Budget: 3,032,223,00 €
EU contribution: 2,272,474,00 €
Project location: Norh West Iberian Peninsula
 
Project Manager: Antonio Manuel FUEYO SILVA
Project Manager USC: Pablo RAMIL REGO

2.- Project description:

Backgroud

Landscape transformation processes – such as, changes in use, presence of invasive alien species, public use activities, intensification of agricultural and livestock activity, loss of traditional and low-intensity land use, climate change – and phytosanitary problems (Alnus glutinosa(alder) diseases) represent major threats to habitats. Within the target area of the LIFE FLUVIAL project, several specific threats to the conservation of the river corridors have been identified. These have led to the deterioration and fragmentation of the river corridor habitats, both in the upper and middle basin and in the sections of the river mouth. Such threats are common to all the Natura 2000 network sites of the project.

Objectives
The overall objective of the LIFE FLUVIAL project is to improve the conservation status of Atlantic river corridors in the Natura 2000 network. The project will develop a transnational strategy of sustainable management of river corridor habitats in several Atlantic river basins of the Iberian Peninsula. The project will facilitate transnational cooperation to mitigate and correct the negative impacts of the threats the habitats are facing. These threats particularly affect the quality and continuity of riparian and alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior, a priority habitat listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive and the main habitat targeted by the project. It will particularly focus on developing transnational strategies to prevent the spread of threats to other EU territories.

Another habitat targeted by the project is the Mediterranean deciduous forest (Galician-Portuguese oak woods with Quercus robur and Quercus pyrenaica), which provides continuity with the riparian and alluvial forests.

Expected results:

  • Implementation of a transnational model for the sustainable management of river corridors that restores their composition, structure and functionality, as well as improves the connectivity and the reduction of fragmentation;
  • Acquisition of 33 plots with a total area of 44 579 m2 for the restoration of the two target forest habitats;
  • Addition of 7.1 ha and improvement of 3.7 ha of alluvial forests in a 14 km stretch of the lower basin of the Eo river;
  • Addition of 4.4 ha of Mediterranean deciduous forest, and the addition of 1.5 ha and improvement of 8.7 ha of alluvial forests in a 56 km stretch of the middle basin of the Eo river;
  • Addition of 0.5 ha and improvement of 0.1 ha of alluvial forests in the vicinity of the Arnao and Villadún wetlands;
  • Restoration of 2.1 ha of alluvial forests at Ria de Betanzos, and the recovery and sustainable management of 8.6 ha of alluvial forest habitat at the SAC Encoro Abegondo- Cecebre Natura 2000 network site;
  • Improvement of conservation status of 9.8 ha of alluvial forests at four sites (Rio Miño- Lugo, Rio Miño-Rábade, Guitiriz and Lagoa do Rei) in the upper basin of the Miño river;
  • Improvement of the conservation status of 9.0 ha of alluvial forests at the fluvial corridor in Rio Estoraos;
  • Control of exotic invasive alien species;
  • Evaluation methodologies and indicators for monitoring the project's impact on the conservation status of habitats on the economy and welfare of the population (especially local) and ecosystem functions;
  • Cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit indicators of the project to demonstrate the economic and social interest of river conservation measures and to promote the replicability of these actions elsewhere;
  • Improvement of training and technical capacity of stakeholders in managing river corridors; and
  • Dissemination strategy including communication plan, awareness raising and training events.
3.- Environmental issues addressed:

Theme
Ecological coherence, Freshwater.

Keywords
Freshwater ecosystem, river, nature conservation, restoration measure, river management.

Target EU Legislation
Directive 2000/60 - Framework for Community action in the field of water policy (23.10.2000).
Directive 92/43 - Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora- Habitats Directive (21.05.1992).
COM(2011) 244 final “Our life insurance, our natural capital: an EU biodiversity strategy to 2020” (03.05.2011).

Target Habitat types
91E0 - "Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae)"
9230 - Galicio-Portuguese oak woods with Quercus robur and Quercus pyrenaica

Web site

Life Fluvial