It has completed a project to enhance urban green infrastructure through stewardship agreements in order to promote the adaptation of cities to climate change.

The Xarxa de Custòdia del Territori (XCT) has completed the project “Green infrastructure and urban stewardship: contributing to the adaptation of cities to climate change” which has had the support of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition through its 2017 call for grants. The aim has been to promote urban green infrastructure through stewardship agreements in order to promote the adaptation of cities to climate change.

This project has been put into practice by establishing a pilot test of urban stewardship on a forest estate, of approximately one hectare, with a semi-permanent lagoon at the bottom and a significant presence of exotic flora, located in Sot del Pantà de la Foixarda, in Barcelona.

Once the plot was selected, a detailed analysis of the property was carried out, based on a visit and previous studies on the space, its flora and fauna. The main problems and threats to the farm were also determined, as well as the objectives of the stewardship project and the main lines for its management: planning, habitat conservation, species conservation, regulation of public use, resources and monitoring and evaluation. All this data was included in a Management Plan for future use in subsequent projects.

For the management of the space, activities were carried out to clear the access road; cleaning of waste, present in the wooded area and at the water’s edge; promotion of open habitats generating clearings in areas invaded by exotic lianoid plants; and the construction and placement of refuge structures for fauna (birds, bats, hedgehogs, reptiles and arthropods) and the release of nocturnal birds of prey. In addition, with the aim of publicizing the project and complementing the actions, a volunteer day was held on the farm.

In order to improve the dissemination of information and procedures of the project, the conference “Opportunities of urban stewardship for the adaptation of cities to climate change” took place in Palma. During the day, they reflected on how green spaces in cities can adapt to climate change and the role that land stewardship can play in this adaptation. At this event, the pilot test of urban stewardship in the Sot del Pantà de la Foixarda was announced. Before the end of the day, a participatory dynamic was carried out to collectively identify the challenges and priority actions for the management of green infrastructure in the city of Palma.