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Ecosystem restoration and citizen participation: creation of ponds for amphibians

MITECO

  • An agricultural estate belonging to the Natura 2000 Network has been restored and a land stewardship agreement has been signed to carry out its maintenance and monitoring.
  • 1,650 m2 have been restored with the construction of two ponds and the planting of 60 native trees and shrubs.
  • An area of an 800 m2 municipal space, the Parque de las Aguilillas, has been restored with the construction of two ponds and the planting of 60 native trees and shrubs.
  • A municipal space, the Natural Area of La Retorna, has been restored with the construction of two ponds and the planting of 74 native trees and shrubs, in total 750 m2 of habitat for amphibians has been recovered.

Line of action:

Terrestrial ecosystems

Status:

Finalizado

Execution date:

2018

According to the entity, amphibians are the most endangered group of fauna on the planet, being bioindicators of the quality of ecosystems, and in Spain, they are largely unknown due to their nocturnal and elusive habits. The main objective is the restoration of four amphibian habitats through the creation of eight ponds involving citizens throughout the process. Citizen participation in the four selected scenarios will be key for the project to develop properly and above all for it to be maintained over time once the restoration actions are concluded. The entity aims to ensure that people who enjoy natural spaces are the ones who begin to become aware of the importance of protecting this group of fauna and its habitat. They also explain that social involvement in restoration and conservation projects is the key to their success.

The main objective seeks to restore three habitats for amphibians through the creation of six ponds and citizen involvement.

The specific objectives are as follows:

  • Encourage the participation of the population in all phases of the project.
  • Raise awareness about the problems and importance of amphibians.
  • To increase biodiversity in the areas where the actions are carried out.
  • To publicize and promote land stewardship among the general population.
  • Design of didactic material.
  • Holding information days prior to the project.
  • Restoration of amphibian habitat: creation of ponds.
  • Amphibian habitat restoration: reforestation around ponds.
  • Carrying out volunteer days.
  • Participatory monitoring of the project.
  • Activities to disseminate the results of the project.

Ecoherencia explains that amphibians are the most threatened group of vertebrates on the planet, the objective with the creation of ponds is to recover those habitats that have been disappearing due to the change in land use, fragmentation or excessive ploughing.

More than 200 people have participated in this project in three locations. In Castellar de Santiago, an agricultural estate belonging to the Natura 2000 Network has been restored and a land stewardship agreement has been signed to carry out its maintenance and monitoring. 1650 m2 have been restored with the construction of two ponds and the planting of 60 native trees and shrubs. In Jerez de la Frontera, an area of an 800 m2 municipal space, the Parque de las Aguilillas, has been restored with the construction of two ponds and the planting of 60 native trees and shrubs. In Las Rozas de Madrid, a municipal space, the Natural Area of La Retorna, has been restored with the construction of two ponds and the planting of 74 native trees and shrubs, in total 750 m2 of habitat for amphibians has been recovered. To close the project, a manual and a video have been made so that anyone interested can build a pond for amphibians.

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Ecosystem restoration and citizen participation: creation of ponds for amphibians