SURF Nature booklet on forest biodiversity

Interregional focus onriparian forests restorationOperational Programme OP South West European Space (2007-2013)CommunicationImportant efforts have been devoted to communication activities in the project. Preliminaryresults of the project have been announced in international and regional conferences andworkshops addressed to specialized target groups: Congress on “Land Stewardship”, Congress on“Environmental Indicators on the Recovery of Rivers” etc. It is a common practice of the projectteam to organize partners meetings together with workshops on specific topics open to localstakeholders and the scientific community: Workshop on the restoration of river banks (Flix),Workshop on invasive plant species (Faro) and Workshop on biodiversity indicators (Mérida).Background informationPartners and actors involvedConnectivity with key EUpolicies and regulationsPriority 2: Improvement of sustainability for the protection and conservation of the environmentand natural surroundings of the SUDOE space. The main objective is to define and implementcommon methodologies and strategies to recover and improve the ecological status of riparianforests in the Mediterranean rivers.Total cost: 1.798.182,64ERDF Funds: 1.348.636,98The project aims to define and implement (through pilot interventions) strategies andmethodologies of joint protection and conservation of riparian forests in the SUDOE area, takinginto account, inter alia, natural features and biodiversity, the preservation of priority habitatsand Heritage of the Natura 2000 network, the importance of rivers as ecological corridors, theircontribution to the natural water cycle, the need for rich river and its economic valueThe partners are: Instituto Superior de Agronomia. Universidade Técnica de Lisboa; Águasdo Algarve, SA; Administraçao da Regiao Hidrogràfica do Algarve; Biodiversity and AnimalConservation lab. Centre Tecnològic Forestal de Catalunya.Permanent dialogue with property owners, fishermen and other social actors has been necessaryto perform the duties of the project and obtain their support. Land stewardship agreementshave been accorded and implemented. Private owners have taken advantage of the habitatand landscape improvement works and in some cases they got wood from the clearing works.Dialogue with fishermen has been crucial to intervene in their fishing lots and areas respectingtheir interests and needs. Ongoing communication with local stakeholders has been carried outto explain the purpose of the project and to avoid conflicts of interest./ It is in accordance with<strong>Nature</strong> 2000 management rules and regional developmentThe activities developed in the project are completely coherent and complementary with otherplans and projects, mainly the Water Framework Directive. It is focused on the achievement of agood ecological status of waters and river banks in 2015 according to the established in the WaterFramework Directive.It is in accordance too with <strong>Nature</strong> 2000 management rules and regional development plans thatspecifically exclude some types of development and foster nature conservation practices in theproject areas.Win-win situationsFurther informationPhotos:Jordi Camprodon and David GuixéThe project brings forward potential benefits related to eco tourism/recreation since it willincrease the attractiveness of riparian areas for tourists. The projects promotes that localcommunities get more engaged and become closer to the river, understanding its value, thefunctions and services that provides and its uniqueness. The project provides direct income andformation hiring personnel with social exclusion problems to work in the squads adding thus asocial dimension to the project.http://www.ricover.euKey factors for successThe already organized workshops and partner meetings have been used to present early successesof the project to boost conviction and motivation of the partners and actors involved. Activitiesare carried out from the beginning of the project to motivate the squad members about theobjectives of their work and to transmit the value of what they are doing. One of the key factorsfor success of the project has been the double approach used to both carry on habitat restorationactivities and monitor the impact of these activities through the application of bioindicators.Photos:Jordi Camprodon and David Guixé26 27