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Kantauriko hondartza bati buruz duzun iritzia jakin nahiko genuke, lagunduko diguzu?
Soilik 5 minutu pasako dituzu!
Eskerrik asko parte-hartzeagatik!
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On 26 May, Life+ARCOS celebrated European Natura 2000 Network day alongside 34 people at the Penarronda-Barayo Special Area of Conservation (ES0000317). Here is a video summary of the day.
At the Barayo Partial Nature Reserve interpretation centre, located in the village of Vigo (Navia), we invited Life+ARCOS members to participate in a chat with members of the Friends of Barayo Association and other associations. The goal of the chat was to inform the neighboring areas of the protected site about the project and what we aim to recover.
After the chat (which turned into a Q&A session with the Life+ARCOS team) we went to the Barayo dune system to hear explanations about dune system vegetation and to observe plants that are native to these areas.
Carlos Ley, from the company Ecología Litoral, demonstrated planting techniques for two structural species that will be introduced into the area: European beachgrass and sand couch-grass.
Unfortunately, the bad weather prevented us from cleaning parts of the dunes that are invaded by Espartina patens.
The day concluded with lunch at the interpretation centre.
Life+ARCOS would like to thank all attendees for participating.
The companies AMICA, AMPROS and SERCA received training and volunteered for the LIFE ARCOS project
We celebrated European Natura 2000 Network day on 18 May 2018 with a new volunteer and training event on invasive flora with the LIFE ARCOS Project from the Directorate-General of Natural Environment of the Regional Ministry of Rural Affairs, Fisheries and Food of the Government of Cantabria.
On this occasion, the Cantabrian companies AMICA, AMPROS and SERCA worked to control the cape weeds that was starting to bloom in the tertiary dunes of the Helgueras beach dune system in Noja (within the Santoña, Victoria and Joyel Marshes Natural Park). After listening to a brief speech from the natural park director, Lourdes González, the three teams from AMICA, AMPROS and SERCA got to work. 30 people worked within plots marked with temporary plastic tape. They collected approximately 300 kg of cape weeds (Arctotheca calendula), and 10 kg of ice plant (Carpobrotus edulis) was also found. The participants learned to distinguish the characteristics of the cape weeds among other well-preserved and blooming dune plant species such as the sea potato, sea beet, Virginia stock, shore bindweed, European searocket, petty spurge, etc.
The work area included dunes closed years ago to regenerate dune vegetation at Helgueras beach.
Although the area was quite clean, volunteers also collected 2 kg of non-biodegradable bags.
The day concluded with a visit from the Mayor of Noja, Miguel Ángel Ruiz, the city councillor of the environment, Javier Martín, and two environmental technicians from the City Hall of Noja, Silvia Ochoa y Ludovico de Vega, who visited the volunteer area.
Finally, the Cantabrian Network for Rural Development collected all the plants and garbage.
Participants received a commemorative LIFE ARCOS ceramic glass made in a Ceramics Workshop at the El Dueso Penitentiary in its NACAR program (Nature and Prison).
The Directorate-General of Natural Environment would like to thank volunteers for their participation. Everyone learned something new about the environment and played their part in restoring vulnerable ecosystems: the dune systems of Cantabria.
Volunteering for the NACAR (Nature and Prison) program in the LIFE ARCOS project
We celebrated European Natura 2000 Network day on 17 May 2018, with a new volunteer event with the Nature and Prison program (NACAR) in coordination with the LIFE ARCOS Project from the Directorate-General of Natural Environment of the Regional Ministry of Rural Affairs, Fisheries and Food of the Government of Cantabria.
The activity started at the tertiary dune of Berria beach’s dune system.
Natural park director, Lourdes González, briefly introduced the LIFE ARCOS project, the NATURA 2000 NETWORK, the importance of dune ecosystems and how they protect themselves from winter storms, the distribution of dune species in areas and how they are affected by invasive exotic species. The LIFE ARCOS sign at Berria beached was used to answer attendees’ questions.
The team got to work after listening to an explanation on how to recognize the cape weeds and how to extract it. The invasive exotic species was everywhere around the boardwalk parallel to the beach. Volunteers focused on this area.
They collected around 130 kg of cape weeds (Arctotheca calendula) and 1 kg of non-biodegradable garbage. The participants learned to distinguish the characteristics of the cape weeds among other well-preserved and blooming dune plant species such as the sea potato, sea beet, Virginia stock, sea daffodil, bindweed, houseleeks, petty spurge, etc.
During break and in the work area, we explained why the dunes were closed by the LIFE ARCOS project. José Luís Tejerina from Demarcation of Coasts in Cantabria visited the site and assessed the work being done.
Finally, the Cantabrian Network for Rural Development collected all the plants and garbage.
The participants received a commemorative LIFE ARCOS t-shirt.
The Directorate-General of Natural Environment thanked NACAR for participating to conserve and restore the dunes of Cantabria’s beaches.
Saturday, 26 May is almost here! We can’t wait to see you at the Barayo Natural Reserve (Navia, Valdés, in western Asturias) to learn about the dune that Life+ARCOS is working to restore and about the restoration techniques we use in these types of habitats.
If you haven’t registered yet, click here. Registration is open until tomorrow, 24 May.
Our presentation about the Barayo Reserve Interpretation Centre’s work is open to the public. We’ll talk a bit about the importance of the Natura 2000 Network, the conservation goals that inspired us to work in Barayo and items of public concern. We’ll also set aside some time to talk with those in attendance and to take family photos to commemorate our common goal of improving the natural conditions of this protected area.
The timetable is as follows:
Chat and debate (10:30 AM -12:00 PM)
Restoration and eradication of invasive species workshop (12:00 PM – 3:00 PM)
To access the beach, the Friends of Barayo Association set up a bridge to the work area on the left side of the river. Thank you so much!
The most important part: You can still register today and tomorrow by clicking here.
The entities that work with the European LIFE + ARCOS project to restore dune systems have organized a series of activities to celebrate European Natura 2000 Network Day on 21 May.
The -Directorate-General of Natural Environment of the Government of Cantabria has organized two activities to commemorate European Natura 2000 Network Day: on 17 May—in collaboration with the NACAR (Nature and Prison) Programme—project personnel, inmates and civil servants from the El Dueso Penitentiary will participate in an invasive species activity on the Cape weed at Berria beach (Santoña). And, on 18 May, disadvantaged and disabled groups will also work to extract Cape weeds and ice plant at Helgueras beach (Noja).
The University of Oviedo—with collaboration from the company Ecología Litoral, S.L. and the Friends of Barayo Association—has organized a volunteer day on 26 May on Barayo beach (city councils of Navia and Valdés), completed with a workshop on extracting the invasive plant and planting dune species. At 10:30 AM they will talk about the project objectives at the Barayo Partial Nature Reserve Interpretation Centre (village of Vigo, Navia). The workshop starts at 12:00 PM on the beach. Registration is still open on the project’s website www.arcoslife.eu.
The LIFE+ ARCOS project has been active for four and a half years (2014–2018) and is financed by the LIFE financial instrument of the European Union for a total of €945,428. Its work includes improving the conservation status of 10 dune ecosystems on the Cantabrian coast throughout the regions of Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country (Barayo, Verdicio, Vega, Liencres, Somo, Berria-Helgueras, La Arena, Laga, Santiago and Zarautz). The entities participating in this development project are: The University of Oviedo (beneficiary coordinator), Aranzadi Science Society, Government of Cantabria (Directorate-General of Natural Environment), Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, Ecología Litoral S.L. and the Directorate-General for the Sustainability of the Coast and the Sea (Spanish Ministry of the Environment, Agriculture, Fisheries and Food); this directorate provides plants—free of charge—for restoration efforts via the dune garden centre of Loredo (Cantabria) while the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa provides plants for this area via the nursery centre of Arizmendi.
Participate in our celebration of European Natura 2000 Network Day, the largest network of protected areas in the world.
Register to volunteer on 26 May 2018. Together, we’ll learn about the Cantabrian dune system restoration work carried out by the Life+ARCOS project.
Within the protected area of the Barayo Partial Nature Reserve (Navia and Valdés, Asturias), we’ll talk and learn about dune restoration work.
We are very happy that members of the Friends of Barayo Association are going to participate in this activity. They have many members and are very familiar with this area. If you are a member of the group, please tell us on the form below.
To participate in this day and stay informed about the timetable, fill out this registration form.
Register now! (limited space available)
Contact: arcoslife@uniovi.es
A new NACAR (Nature and Prison) programme volunteer event took place on 19 April 2018, in coordination with the LIFE ARCOS project from the Directorate-General of Natural Environment of the Regional Ministry of the Rural Affairs, Fisheries and Food of the Government of Cantabria. The goal of the event was to remove invasive flora.
Collaboration between the NACAR programme and the European LIFE ARCOS programme has brought about various activities, mainly in the dune systems of the Natural Park Marshes of Santoña, Victoria and Joyel (which are also protected as a Special Area of Conservation), SAC Santoña, Victoria and Joyel Marshes (Special Protection Area for Birds), SPAB Santoña, Victoria and Joyel Marshes, Ajo Estuary, and Marshes of Santoña (Wetlands of International Importance).
This time, we worked on the Helgueras beach (Noja) dunes with the participation of inmates and civil servants from the El Dueso Penitentiary. We also had the support of the Cantabrian Network for Rural Development team (and two foreign students interns) and technical personnel of the Directorate-General of Natural Environment of the Government of Cantabria. The Council of Noja provided logistical support.
The day started with a brief introduction at Berria beach (Santoña), where we explained the importance of dune systems. From there, we made our way towards Noja. On the way, we walked through the El Brusco hill. From different viewpoints, we explained the positive impact the LIFE ARCOS dune restoration project has had on Berria beach over the last few years (some of which was with the NACAR project). Likewise, when passing through the Cantabrian oak-tree forest, we talked about some of its characteristics and referenced the positive effect El Dueso Penitentiary inmates’ work has had there.
Once we passed El Brusco and reached Helgueras (Noja) beach, we started the main activity of the day: extracting ice plant (Carpobrotus edulis). After a few hours of meticulous work—keeping in mind the importance of extracting every single remain of the extracted plants to prevent their return—we eradicated approximately 1,100 kg of ice plant. The Council of Noja team helped us load and dispose of the ice plant at the Cantabrian Network for Rural Development collection point.
We also collected various bags full of non-biodegradable garbage and planted sea daffodil (Pancratium maritimum) seeds to control the resurgence of ice plant collected. We expect this effort to reinforce the natural colonization of dune species in the area, which should be rich in Honckenya peploides community species, but is increasingly scarce on the Cantabrian coast.
We hope that this programme continues to grow and move forward. We would like to thank the Directorate-General of Natural Environment and everyone who worked on this opportunity to continue working and learning together.
Work team at Helgueras beach (Noja)
Our work to weed the Barayo dune system brush is coming to an end. After chopping down all the non-native trees to restore the area’s conditions, reconditioning work was needed in order to plant species native to the dunes.
We couldn’t wait any longer to tell you about European Natura 2000 Network Day! We could not wait any longer to tell you about this day, because are preparing something really interesting to share with you all.
On 21 May, Europe celebrates the creation of Natura 2000 Network (the largest network of protected areas in the world) Day and the Habitats Directive publication, which legally protects species and habitats in this network.
Like every year, the LIFE+ARCOS project will form part of the activities that celebrate this special nature conservation day.
On 19 and 20 May, we’re hosting various communication sessions and volunteer activities within different Asturian (Barayo beach, between Navia and Valdés), Cantabrian and Basque dune systems.
Please keep an eye on our website and social media profiles: we’ll post more information about how you can join our efforts at various points on the Cantabrian coast.