Project of conservation and improvement of the European pond tortule habitat (Emys Orbicularis)

CALENDAR

START: JENUARY 2020
FINAL: OCTOBER 2021

GOALS

• Improving the quality as a habitat of the Sils canal
• Enable mobility between habitat and spawning areas by removing dispersal barriers.
• Improved connectivity between the drain and mowing meadows through the canals.
• Creation of habitats for newborns of Emys orbicularis in the channels of the meadows of dall
• Habitat improvement of mowed meadow canals.
• Tracking of native turtles to detect recruitment.
• Decreased pressure exerted by exotic chelons.
• Dissemination and environmental education through the installation of billboards.

BUDGET

TOTAL BUDGET OF THE PROJECT: 12.497,05€

FINANCERS:

DIPUTACIÓ DE GIRONA
FUNDACIÓ EMYS

SUMMARY

The Sils canal is a drainage infrastructure that was created to dry out the Sils lakes area. This is an artificial river space that rises below the Santa Maria stream, coming from Caldes, and flows into the Santa Coloma stream. In addition to its function as a drainage channel and to prevent flooding, it also offers an interesting habitat for a wide range of biodiversity, especially for the pond turtle (Emys orbicularis), but also the eel. eel) or otter (Lutra lutra). Unfortunately, the habitat is very degraded, with an almost absolute absence of riparian vegetation, and few natural elements that give it heterogeneity. That is why Fundació Emys is proposing a project to the Diputació de Girona, with the aim of promoting actions to improve the space.

Eight actions have been proposed in this project, whose general objective is to improve the quality of the Sils canal and the adjacent mowing meadows as habitat, in addition to facilitating the connectivity between the first point and the second (zone of habitat and breeding area). To do this, the revegetation of the canal with riparian vegetation will be developed, cement pipes that make it difficult to connect will be removed, the canals of the mowing fields will be reopened, which are currently covered with ruderal vegetation, and s A system of gorges will be set up inside, native chelonians (E. orbicularis and Mauremys leprosa) will be monitored, two exotic turtle capture campaigns will be developed and a poster will be set up as an outreach tool.

With the support and collaboration of: