The Association of Naturalists of the Southeast (ANSE) has completed the project framed within the LIFE program to improve the original habitat of the Segura River.

The Association of Naturalists of the Southeast (ANSE) was a beneficiary in the LIFE 2018 Call for Grants with the LIFE+ RIPISILVANATURA project. Its purpose has been to recover and protect the riparian forest, a habitat of Community Interest, as well as its main associated habitats, in the most degraded area of this habitat in the entire Segura River, which after the largest reservoir in the entire basin, the Cenajo, generates a considerable impact on the last stretch of the habitat in the river. It is an area of maximum impact and progressive deterioration, corresponding to the Vega Alta of the Segura river in Murcia, in the sections of the river located in the municipalities of Moratalla, Calasparra and Cieza.

To achieve this objective, invasive alien species were combated, since they had colonized the original niche of the habitat. The loss or alteration of primitive habitat is an advantage for opportunistic and invasive species, both fauna and flora, allowing their establishment and proliferation, which entails an obvious loss of the rich biodiversity that was traditionally linked to the riparian forest of willows and poplars. Once the removal of the species was carried out, the recovery and conservation of the riparian forest began.

The processes of elimination of invasive species were carried out with previously evaluated methods, and in turn awareness sessions were given to the local population regarding the problems of this type of species, through the dissemination of activities, edition of informative material and direct involvement through volunteering.

Thanks to the work carried out, it has been possible to verify the eradication of exotic pond turtles in this section of the river, as well as to evaluate the most effective capture methods for their eradication. The communication and awareness campaign associated with the project focused on the responsibility of buyers and sellers of pets, emphasizing the risks derived from the commercialization of exotic species.