Line of action:

Terrestrial ecosystems

Status:

Finalizado

Execution date:

2020

Total budget:

€62,101.79

Amount of aid from the Biodiversity Foundation:

€43,471.25

Global Nature Foundation

The aquatic warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) is the most endangered species of passerine bird in continental Europe and is considered a species of community interest.

During the past twentieth century, the population size and distribution area of this species have suffered a dramatic reduction of 95%, as a result of a drastic destruction of its habitat. The disappearance of wetlands, to which they are linked throughout their life cycle, is the main cause of their poor state of conservation.

Therefore, the wetlands of the Iberian Peninsula are a key element for their conservation , with priority being given to carrying out habitat management and management actions and awareness-raising, study and dissemination actions.

The main objective is to stop the decline in migratory populations of aquatic warbler.

Its specific goals include:

• Obtain existing information related to the field of study.
• Increase the area of habitat available in the areas of migratory passage.
• Improved knowledge of the species and its habitat.
• Strengthen the relevant state and regional legal frameworks in their conservation.
• To disseminate the problems of the species.

• Improvement of the available habitat through the elimination of marsh vegetation by means of mechanical mowing with an amphibious tractor and its subsequent removal to favour the heterogeneity of the landscape.
• Planting of marsh species that help diversify the migratory habitat in different lagoons and marshes.
• Indicators of plant structure and diversity: carrying out a botanical study of the habitat used by this species during its migration and evaluating the areas occupied by the different types of habitats and seeing how they evolve throughout the execution of the project.
• Censuses are carried out in all the wetlands of the project, through scientific bird ringing campaigns .
• Bibliographic review of scientific articles published in the last five years.
• Storage of the data generated in a GIS that will be used for project monitoring and decision-making.
• Preparation of technical guidelines for the conservation of the aquatic warbler through the analysis of all available information on the species and the subsequent development of an international meeting of experts.
• Development of a communication and dissemination strategy that includes relations with the media, a website and social networks…
• Development of an outreach programme, including talks, workshops, field visits and visits to the project exhibition for adults and schoolchildren.

• 7,389 specimens have been planted in a space of 1.75 hectares: 7,100 specimens in the Valencian Community and 289 shrubs in Castilla-La Mancha.
• 17 ringing campaigns have been carried out in which a total of 117 different specimens of aquatic warbler have been captured.
• A botanical study of the habitat used by the aquatic warbler during its migration has been developed, which includes indicators of plant structure and diversity.
• The different habitats and their evolution throughout the project have been evaluated.
• Eight cartography viewers have been made, which collect all the information and data collected in the project visually.
• Outreach work has been carried out, such as a travelling exhibition, talks and workshops.
• A draft of technical guidelines for the conservation of the species has been drafted and the inclusion of the species in the category of vulnerable has been formally requested.