The Asociación de Naturalistas del Sureste (ANSE) is developing the LIFE RIPISILVANATURA project.

The Association of Naturalists of the Southeast (ANSE)with the help of the Biodiversity Foundation, has developed the LIFE RIPISILVANATURA project “Strengthening associated biodiversity of habitat 92A0 and control of Invasive Alien Species in the Segura River”. to control the expansion of invasive exotic species present on the banks of the Segura River and to favor the colonization of the riparian forest by native species.

The purpose of this project was to provide a solution to the serious danger that the riparian forest (Ripisilva) faces due to the threat of invasive species that are progressively occupying its space. For this reason, the Confederación Hidrográfica del Segura leads the LIFE project ‘Ripisilvanatura’, which aims to recover and protect the riparian forest of the middle course of the Segura river basin, in the section that includes the municipalities of Moratalla, Calasparra and Cieza, by controlling invasive alien species (those that are outside their natural distribution and negatively affect the native ecosystem), mainly in the habitat cataloged as ‘priority’ of willow and poplar gallery forests.

The project has contributed to the control and monitoring of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in the study area, mainly freshwater turtles, as well as the replacement of allochthonous vegetation with autochthonous vegetation on the banks of the segura river. During the project, different tests have been carried out for the eradication of the reed (Arundo donax) and exotic turtles (Trachemys scripta), transferring the captured turtles to the Wildlife Recovery Center for their management. The implementation of the different actions has been developed through the participation of volunteers involved in the project, who have contributed to the planting, removal of IAS from the river, installation of bat boxes and riparian bird banding days. The immediate occupation by riparian vegetation returns the river to its natural forest and, among its multiple benefits, it does not propagate fire and shelters numerous native species. This project has succeeded in raising awareness among the sectors involved in the sale of animals through training talks on the impact generated by IAS in rivers so that they can transmit the message to the owners of these animals.