LIFE Fluvial: Results after three years of alluvial forest restoration in the Eo River (NW of Iberian Peninsula)

Abstract

Alien and invasive plants are one of the mayor threats
for the alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus
excelsior (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae)
(priority habitat 91E0*) of NW of the Iberian Peninsula
river corridors. A correct management is required to
improve the actual conservation status of this riparian
habitat. The aim of LIFE Fluvial project is to increase the
quality of this habitat in several Atlantic river corridors,
included in the Natura 2000 Network sites from Spain
and Portugal. To achieve this objective the project
LIFE Fluvial proposes a sustainable management of
habitat 91E0* by restoring its composition, structure
and functionality, improving connectivity and reducing
fragmentation. During these first three years of LIFE
Fluvial project; we have conducted different actions
oriented to improve the riparian habitat (51.1 ha),
such as a detailed study of the vegetation of each
action area, the detection of fragmented areas, the
plantation of native tree species and the control of
alien and invasive plants. Across the 28 ha of action
areas in the Eo River, we detected around 50 alien
species growing in natural, semi-natural or degraded
habitat conditions. In this work, we explain the
methods used for the detection and control of alien
plant species that grow in the Eo river corridor and our
preliminary results. No herbicides were used for the
control of alien species, but only manual or mechanical
methods. We also conducted experiments about
alternative methods for the control of alien species.