1. LIFE PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND INCREASING APPRECIATION OF THREE HIGH MOUNTAIN HABITATS (LIFE03NAT/E/000064)
CONSERVATION ON YEW, SPANISH
JUNIPER AND BLACK PINE FOREST IN THE
VALENCIAN REGION (2004 - 2006)

2. SUMMARY
Actions carried out during the LIFE project The project has been executed by the:
Management and Increasing Appreciation of
Three High Mountain Priority Habitats from 2004 Conselleria de Territorio y Vivienda
to 2006 have contributed to the conservation de la Generalitat Valenciana
of yew, spanish juniper and black pine Servicio de Conservación de la
forests in five SCIs of the Natura 2000 network Biodiversidad
of the Valencian region: Alt Maestrat, C/ Francesc Cubells, 7
Penyagolosa, Puebla de San Miguel, Aitana- 46011 VALÈNCIA
Serrella-Puig Campana and Mariola-Font Roja. phone nº.34 - 961973500
The project has been co-financed by the www.lifemuntanya.com
European Commission and the Generalitat
Valenciana (regional government of Valencia, Project duration: from january 1st to december
Spain) and has undertaken the following actions: 31 2006
Budget: 1.317.000 €
Financed on a 40% basis by the European
· Reinforcement of populations of the Commission and 60% by the Generalitat
main species that characterise the habitats Valenciana
trough the plantation of thousands of seedlings,
the restoration of the best examples of veteran
trees and the eradication of invasive species.
· Encouragement of the involvement of
local society in the conservation of habitats, and
promotion of new sustainable ways to exploit
natural resources through seminars, lectures,
exhibition and dissemination materials.
· Dissemination of the natural values of
high mountain habitats, through the establishment
of ecoeducative paths, the onset of didactic
programmes for schoolchildren and adults and
the design of a webpage:
www.lifemuntanya.com
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3. THE PROBLEM
Yew, Juniper and Black pine forests are three priority habitats which only cover a small surface in the highest
inland mountains of the Valencian region (Spain).
In a good number of the sites where yew trees as well as mountain and Spanish junipers occur, they grow
as isolated adult specimens and produce few fertile propagules with a low germination success. Additionally,
massive dieback of mountain junipers owing to pests or poorly known diseases has also been observed.
These facts jeopardy the long term survival of these rare habitats within our territory.
An additional conservation issue is posed by veteran specimens of the trees that characterise the different
habitats, which require maintenance works so as to stem their decay and guarantee their survival.
Last but not least there are localised invasions by exotic species in the three habitats that have to be
eliminated in order to prevent their future spread.
As to what regards the social component of habitat conservation, mountain villages in the vicinity of project
areas are badly affected by depopulation. Consequently, a dramatic reduction in human activities which
played an important role in habitat conservation has taken place during the last decades, resulting increased
fire hazard and soil erosion.
Finally, the poor knowledge of the natural values of high mountain Valencian habitats by an urban society
increasingly detached from the rural environment poses an additional risk for their conservation. This risk is
compounded by an increase in the pressure of visitors from urban areas to rural environments in quest of
outdoor activities. Thus, there is an urgent need to disseminate the natural values of high mountain environments
among potential visitors so as to make them aware of their natural heritage, its value and its conservation
needs.
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4. HOW TO TACKLE THE PROBLEMS?
There is a need for a deeper scientific understanding of:
- the actual status of yew tree and Spanish juniper forests
- the optimisation of yew tree seed germination
- the underlying causes for the dieback of mountain junipers
- the state of conservation and the number of veteran tree specimens
To improve the conservation status of the three high mountain habitats,
thousands of saplings and seedlings of the species that characterise
their plant communities have been planted. These young plants have
been mostly reared in the nurseries within project areas so as to attain
to goals: on the one hand to acclimatise plants to their future habitats
and on the other to allow local population to identify this activities as
a potential sustainable resource.
Conservation and dissemination of the best examples of veteran
trees of the three habitats, in addition to the intrinsic value of each
specimen, serves as an important means to increase public awareness
on the value of each of these habitats.
The low regeneration rate observed in the three high mountain habitats
might be an outcome of a low rate of visits made by animal dispersers.
Therefore plantation of fruit bearing plant species and installation of
self supplying small watering troughs has been undertaken in order to
attract potential dispersers. Additionally, ecological beehives – from
which honey is not extracted - have been placed at strategic places to
favour pollination and ultimately propagule production.
As a means to ensure conservation of high mountain habitats propagules
of characteristic plant species have been stored in germplasm banks.
The three high mountain habitats offer potential economic resources
to the rural population that have to be exploited in a sustainable way
so as to achieve a twofold goal: their conservation and the reversal of
the depopulation trend that has taken place during the last decade.
Several seminars have been organized so as to focus local entrepreneurs
on opportunities for sustainable activities.
Aware of the fact that in order to preserve the natural environment it
is essential to know it an important effort has been made during the
project to disseminate natural values of yew, Spanish juniper and
black pine forests. To achieve this goal several materials have been
published, among which posters, cards within a holder, calendars, a
web page, didactic units, a cartographic tool for yews, several exhibitions,
television documentaries as well as installation of informative boards
in ecoeducative paths and veteran trees.
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5. THE RESULTS: ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC BENEFITS
· Demographic analysis of yew tree
populations. The 5 SCI where works have been
performed during the project have been thoroughly
sampled. Yew trees have been counted, characterised
and localised by means of gps. 6451 specimens within
the five SCIs have been located, which represents a
seven-fold increase in the number of trees with regard
to previous data for the whole territory of the Valencian
region. The largest increase has corresponded to the
SCI Penyagolosa. In view of these results, a thorough
search of potential habitats for yew in the rest of the
Castellon province is urgently required, in order to
establish in a scientifically sound manner the status of
this vulnerable species in our region.
· The Valencian institute for agronomic research
(IVIA) has established the micropropagation protocol
for yew tree embryos. This technique has allowed to
cut down the dormancy of yew seeds from 2-3 years to
1-3 months. Therefore this technique can be used to
accelerate the production of yew saplings.
· The University of Valencia has undertaken the
genetic characterization of yew tree populations
within the Valencian region. The main outcome of this
study is that there are two distinct genetic areas within
the Valencian region, the Iberic area (Castellon and
north of Valencia province) and the Baetic area (Alicante
and south of Valencia province).
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6. THE RESULTS: ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC BENEFITS
· The Botanical Garden of the University of
Valencia has collected 195 lots of seeds of the most
characteristic plants of high mountain habitats, and they
have been stored in the germplasm bank of the
Generalitat Valenciana and the Botanical Garden.
.
· Up to 21.000 seedlings of 23 species have
been planted to improve the conservation state of
habitats and favour their natural regeneration. The
species that have been planted are preferably those
that produce fruits that are eaten by dispersers.
· Eradication of invasive species such as
Robinia pseudoacacia that threatened to colonise one
of the best yew formations of the Alicante province has
been successfully accomplished. Robinia trees were
felled and their stumps immediately smeared with
glyphosate to prevent resprouting. In the Pegunta ravine,
specimens of the non-native poplar Populus nigra x
Canadensis have been also felled, and its trunks have
been used to make troughs.
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7. THE RESULTS: ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC BENEFITS
· Bee hives have · Phytosanitary
been installed in the Teixera study of Junipers.
d’Agres (Mariola) and Tr o p o s p h e r i c o z o n e
Cañada Jorge ravine concentrations have been
(Puebla de San Miguel) in measured and insects as
order to increase the well as fungi present on
pollination of high badly affected or dead
mountain plant species. specimens of Junipers
studied. The main
conclusion of this study is
that Juniper dieback cannot
be attributed to a single
agent. Therefore the
solution to this serious
conservation issue is not
straightforward and more
research needs to be done.
· Troughs have
also been installed so as
to attract animal species
that play an important role
in dispersing plant species.
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8. THE RESULTS: ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC BENEFITS
· For the study of the evolution of vegetation
and other experimental works 750 metres of fences
to exclude cattles and large wild herbivores have
been installed. Fenced surface amounts to 19.280 m2
in Puebla de San Miguel and Benifato (Aitana).
· Urgent restoration and maintenance
works have been carried out on 15 veteran trees.
· Veteran trees have been inventoried and
informative panels have been set up for didactic use.
Additionally, 8 paths have been fitted with informative
boards describing the flora and the different habitats
encountered along the trail as well as traditions and
lore. The aim of these infrastructures is twofold: on
the one hand to promote knowledge of the natural
environment and on the other to attract visitors to
these areas which ultimately will benefit local hostelry.
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9. THE RESULTS: ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC BENEFITS
· Abundant dissemination material – such
as posters, calendars, cards, brochures - has been
distributed so as to inform local inhabitants and visitors
of the environmental value and the cultural heritage
of high mountain areas. Additionally, 2.500 plants of
each of 6 aromatic plant species - 15.000 in total
- native to the mountain areas dealt with in the project
have been reared locally and complementarily
distributed to visitors and local inhabitants.
· Seminars and conferences on the
NATURA 2000 network, the project itself and the
natural values of the 5 SCIs as well as sustainable
development of agricultural and tourism activities
have been organised.
· Three books offering didactic resources
to school teachers for activities revolving around the
habitats dealt with in the project have been written
and published. School boys have also participated in
a good number of afforestations.
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10. THE RESULTS: ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC BENEFITS
· An exhibition of plant drawings made by a
local artist has been circulated during the project lifetime.
Guided field trips have been also organised in some
villages for the general public but also for university
students.
· The international workshop on the yew
tree and yew forests of the western Mediterranean
was organised in cooperation with a local bank – Caja
de ahorros del Mediterráneo – and the Spanish Ministry
of Environment. The list of participants included
representatives of all Spanish regions where yews grow
as well as Portugal, France and Italy. The conclusions
have been published as a book.
· Two television documentaries have been
produced for the local television (Canal 9 y Punt 2) for
the shows “Europa al dia” and “Medi Ambient”, so as to
disseminate the aims of the project and encourage local
entrepreneurs. Several interviews on the radio dealing
with project have also been made (Radio Els Ports,
Cadena SER-Castellón, Samaruc programme Radio 9).
· The old nursery of Penyagolosa has been
rehabilitated and used during the project for the
acclimatisation of saplings before their introduction in
high mountain habitats. After the project the nursery will
be part of the natural park facilities. Additionally, a new
greenhouse has be installed in the natural park of Font
Roja in Alicante.
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