Methodology and results
Field work
Seven partners of the SEMCLIMED project participated in this stage, dealing with actions on the territory or in situ actions (field work): AHUM (Malta), DGMN (Murcia), JBUV (Valencia), CIEF (Valencia), CEN-LR (Languedoc-Roussillon), CEEP (Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur) and CBNMED (Languedoc-Roussillon et Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur), the latter was coordinator of this stage. Several types of interventions were made: habitat restoration; reintroduction/repopulation (re-planting); habitat and species management; awareness and communication; partner training through design of a demonstration circuit of the field work and actions made during the project.
On the occasion of each programmed action, a descriptive document was published, regarding the interventions taken for each species and/or habitat. Work began with the selection of species and habitats, favouring Nature 2000 sites, as well as highly specified habitats or species of high naturalistic importance. Following this, studies were made on the conservation state of the habitats and the selected species, taking into consideration the feasibility of the actions during the length of the SEMCLIMED project. Moreover, causes of degradation or losses were identified in order to assess the suitability of the action and formulate habitat restoration and management proposals, as well as to define protocols for implantation, control, and possible species management.
Thirty-one species were the subject of in situ conservation, with the goal of obtaining a stable habitat over time, with or without habitat management, and ensure the survival of the populations through a natural increase in the number of specimens without external intervention or induced increase through repopulation. Indicators relating to the results of these actions measured in a short term manner (1 or 2 years) must continue to be assessed for a period greater than 10 years in order to verify the positive outcome of the action.
The added value of this stage was the incredible variety of species used, as is the case for the different implantation techniques: direct seeding or implantation of specimens of different ages, different types of habitats, number of specimens used and implantation methods, in several small areas or in a single large area.
In all these situations, the same interventions were made for the preparation of terrain before implantation: tillage, soil preparation, and implantation of the species for habitat stabilization, if necessary. In the same way, after implantation, protecting the specimens was necessary, carried out through mulching, irrigation, and possible shading. Irrigation was a determining factor in ensuring the maximum level of rooting, likewise for the following controls during key periods based on the phenology of the habitat and the species in consideration.