LIFE AIAKO HARRIA - Conservation and
restoration of "Aiako Harria" LIC (ES2120016)
LIFE05 NAT/E/000067
Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data R e a d m o r e Contact details:
Project Manager: Inma Lizaso
Tel: +34 943 482144
Fax: +34 943 431154
Email: [email protected]
Project description:
Background
The SCI ‘Aiako Harria’ is located at the foot of the Pyrenees Mountains, in the
west corner of Gipuzkoa province (Basque Country). This 6 913 ha area is
characterised by a succession of deep valleys and high slopes. While most of its
surface is now covered by pine, there are still remarkable areas of native forest,
such as the Añarbe oak-beech forests, the Endara oak forest and the Oieleku
beech forest. The area is also home to other ecosystems with high biodiversity,
such as silica rock formations and those linked to small rivers. The wildlife is
typical of the Euro-Siberian area, with more than 147 species of vertebrates,
including wild boar and roe deer in forest areas, griffon vulture on rocky slopes
and salmon in the rivers. However, pressure on land for recreational uses is
increasing; in particular, picnic areas have been created, with direct road access. Objectives
The overall objective of the project was to conserve and restore habitats and
species of Community interest in an area which is predominantly forested. The
project would focus on the protection, restoration and expansion of two natural
habitats of Community interest in the Aiako Harria Special Protection Area (SPA):
the Atlantic acidophilus beech forests and the Galaico-Portuguese oak woods.
These measures would have a positive impact on populations of coleopterons
(beetles) such as Rosalia longicorn (Rosalia alpine) and stag beetle (L u c a n u s
(beetles) such as Rosalia longicorn (Rosalia alpine) and stag beetle (L u c a n u s
cervus), and would allow the establishment of others, including the hermit beetle
(O s m o d e r m a e r e m i t e) and the great Capricorn beetle (Cerambyx cerdo), all of
which are of Community interest (and, as such, listed in Annex II of the Habitats
Directive). Measures would also be taken to restore fluvial habitats and species,
particularly the Alpine snowbell (Soldanella villosa), given the importance of
Aiako Harria for the global conservation of this species. Results
The project completed most of the foreseen actions by its end date. It
contributed to the restoration and improvement of the conservation status of the
target Community habitats and species populations. The actions linked to the
improvement of the Pyrenean Desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) were not
undertaken, however. After a thorough analysis of the constraints and collateral
effects on the habitat alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior
, the cost-effectiveness of the actions was not sufficiently clear. A major achievement of the project was the launch of several innovative lines of
research (such as entomofauna monitoring). Such research initiatives are
expected to yield useful information for implementing sustainable forestry
management. Prior to the project, information on techniques to improve the
conservation status of the forest ecosystem was lacking in Spain. The project
introduced some pioneering techniques that can carried out in other similar
areas.
Specific results of the project include: Drawing up of a restoration plan for the replacement of 287.7 ha of
land (19% more than initially expected) covered with exotic conifer
masses with habitats of Community interest in the communal forestry
areas ‘Añarbe’, ‘Usoko-Epelerreka’ and ‘Kausua’. Purchase of 54.2 ha (8% more than foreseen) of private land to restore
habitats Atlantic acidophilous beech forests and Galicio-Portuguese
oak woods with Quercus pyrenaica.ha
Study of the conservation status of Galemys pyrenaicus h a b i t a t
(Pyrenean Desman) and minimum flow critic for species in the stream
Tornola (basin of the river Oiartzun). Study of the physical habitat and retention capacity of the riverbeds
flowing into the Añarbe reservoir. This study was undertaken with the
objective of determining the simplest riverbeds in terms of structure
and functionality where wood introduction was conducted. Designing of a technical project to increase the structural complexity
and the retention capacity of organic matter and sediments in the
riverbeds flowing into the Añarbe reservoir. Determination of the habitat cartography in EUNIS format in the
context of the SCI. Study on the diversity of forest invertebrate species of Community
interest in the context of the SCI, emphasising threatened coleopterons
species typical of forest environments and dependent on the
availability of dead or decrepit wood, included in the Annexes II and IV
of the Directive 92/43/CEE.
Several key improvements were also made to the following habitats: Acidophilus
beech forest (habitat 9120): Increase of the area by 236 ha, starting from grown up exotic conifer
plantations (38% more than the existing habitat surface in 2005) and
protection of indigenous understorey in 22.5 ha of fully grown exotic
broadleaved plantations. Improvement of the conservation status of 32 ha by means of increasing the
structural complexity of the habitat. Natural regeneration started in 20 ha of
the Oianleku acidophilous beech. Restoration of an additional 64 ha of this habitat after the project end.
Galicia-Portuguese oak wood (habitat 9230): Increase of the area by 12 ha (more than 50% of the mapped area in 2006). Improvement of the conservation status of 3.3 ha by means of the creation
of a firebreak band. Rivers and riparian habitat (91E0*): Increase of the structural complexity of the riparian habitat along 700 m of
four different streams. Increase of the fish biomass, invertebrate density
and dead leaves and sediments retention. Contribution to the improvement
of the water resources of the Añarbe reservoir.
Increase of the knowledge on the habitat, its ecology, dynamic, and
measures for better management.
Finally, the conservation of the 1 ha area, where the Killarney fern (T r i c h o m a n e s
speciosum) can be found, and a strip of 20 m in each side of the riverbeds of the
upstream tributaries of the stream ‘Karrika’ for the protection of the Hairy
snowbell (Soldanella villosa) was ensured.
A wide dissemination campaign of the project’s result was carried out. As well,
bi-monthly news bulletins, an interactive CD and booklet for schoolchildren and
teachers and a travelling exhibition, the project organised an ‘International
Workshop on Conservation, Restoration and Management of forest and fluvial
SCIs’.
Even the external companies involved in the project helped to publicise the
project, which has led to a shift in attitude in favour of forest conservation and
restoration within the SCI Aiako Harria among the general public and private
landowners. As a result, the pollarding tradition is gradually being restored in
order to maximise biodiversity.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report
and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section). Top
Environmental issues addressed:
Themes
Species - Invertebrates
Keywords
forest ecosystem‚ protected area‚ nature conservation‚ land purchase‚ mountainous area Target EU Legislation
Nature protection and Biodiversity
Directive 79/409 - Conservation of wild birds (02.04.1979)
Directive 92/43 - Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and
flora- Habitats Directiv ...
Target species
Cerambyx cerdo Galemys pyrenaicus Lucanus cervus Osmoderma eremita Rosalia alpina Soldanella villosa Trichomanes speciosum Target Habitat types
9120 - Atlantic acidophilous beech forests with Ilex and sometimes also
Taxus in the shrublayer (Quercion robori-petraeae or Ilici-Fagenion)
9230 - Galicio-Portuguese oak woods with Quercus robur and Quercus
pyrenaica
Natura 2000 sites
SCI
ES2120016
Aiako Harria
Top
Beneficiaries:
Coordinator
Type of organisation
Description
Direción General de Montes y Medio
Natural.Departamento para el Desarrollo del
Medio Rural
Regional authority
The Mountains and Natural Environment
General Directorate is the public authority in
charge of forestry, fisheries and nature
conservation in the province of Gipuzkoa
(Basque Country). The Directorate also manages
the natural parks of Aiako Harria, Pagoeta,
Partners
Aralar and the protected biotope of Inurritza
and the Leitzaran river. All these sites have
been proposed as Special Protection Areas
(SPAs) by the Basque Government. Ayuntamiento de Irún, Spain Basoa Fundazioa,
Spain Naturgintza Fundazioa, Spain Top
Administrative data:
Project reference
Duration
Total budget
EU contribution
Project location
LIFE05 NAT/E/000067
01-OCT-2005 to 31-MAR -2010
2,260,318.00 €
1,130,159.00 €
País Vasco(España)
Top
Read more:
Brochure
Publication: After-LIFE
Conservation Plan
Publication: Case study
Publication: Layman report
Publication: Layman report
Publication: Research findings
Publication: Research findings
Publication: Research findings
Title: "LIFE AIAKO HARRIA : vivir el bosque :
bazo bizia" (1.497 KB) Editor: Diputación Foral
de Gipuzkoa No of pages: 12 Title: After-LIFE Conservation Plan Year: 2009
No of pages: 11 Title: "Vertebrados indicadores del estado de
conservación del hayedo de Oianleku" (2.815
KB) Author: González-Esteban J., Villate I.
Year: 2007 Editor: DESMA Estudios Ambientales
No of pages: 37 Title: Layman report Year: 2009 No of pages: 18 Title: Layman report Year: 2009 No of pages: 18 Title: "Briófitos del hayedo de Oileku :
seguimiento de comunidades epifíticas y
lignícolas. Actualizaciones" (3.325 KB)
Author: Infante Sanchez M., Heras Pérez P.
Year: 2008 Editor: Dirección de Montes y Medio
Natural/Diputación For No of pages: 77 Title: "Informe del seguimiento del proyecto
destinado a aumentar la complejidad de los
cauces vertientes al embalse de añarbe" (2.202
KB) Author: Díez J., Elosegi A. Year: 2009 No of
pages: 48 Title: "Proyecto de estudio de los líquenes y
Publication: Research findings
Publication: Research findings
Publication: Research findings
Publication: Research findings
Publication: Technical report
Slides Presentation
Title: "Proyecto de estudio de los líquenes y
hongos liquenícolas de Oieleku" (251 KB)
Author: Etayo Salazar, Javier No of pages: 46 Title: "Detección de las especies de
invertebrados de interés comunitario,
determinación del estado de sus poblaciones y
medidas para su conservación, en el L.I.C. Aiako
Harria : campaña 2006" (688 KB) Author: Pagola
Carte, Santiago Year: 2007 Editor: Asociación
Gipuzkoana de Entomología Title: "Inventario y seguimiento de la
entomofauna del hayedo de Oieleku (Oiartzun,
Parque Natural de Aiako Harria) – Campaña
2008" (8.388 KB) Author: Pagola Carte, Santiago
Year: 2008 Editor: Asociación Gipuzkoana de
Entomología No of pages: 106 Title: "Análisis de los resultados logrados en los
tratamientos realizados en 2005 en el hayedo
Oieleku (Parque Natural de Aiako Harria)"
(3.366 KB) Author: Estibaliz Arbelaitz Ubegun
Year: 2005 Editor: Aranzadi Institutua No of
pages: 26 Title: Project's final report Year: 2010 No of
pages: 59 Title: "Plan de mejoramiento del estado de
conservación del hayedo Oieleku (PNAH)"
(1.294 KB) Author: Uriarte Arandia, Lorena
Editor: Aranzadi Institutua No of pages: 38 Top
Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data R e a d m o r e
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