In their fourth consecutive project, Torraspapel and the Spanish NGO Acciónatura(previously Fundació Natura) worked together for the environment, giving life to this paper tree.
Torraspapel wants to continue demonstrating, on a daily basis and through its own initiatives, its clear vocation to be an environmentally-conscious industry. Consolidating this commitment, Torraspapel is responding to the trust society has placed in it, with other forest restoration project.
For the fourth consecutive time, with the support and collaboration of the NGO Acciónatura, demonstrated our commitment to advancing sustainable development. In January 2007, we gave life to 2,800 trees near Cazalegas (Toledo, Spain). With the planting of these 2,800 trees we contributed to the improvement of the riverside habitats of the River Alberche, a tributary of the Tagus, recovering and consolidating the indigenous flora and fauna.
In our pledge to play a prominent role in protecting the environment and in order to show our gratitude for our customers' long-standing collaboration, these trees were planted in their name.
Situation
Similar to many rivers in Spain, in recent decades the banks of the Cazalegas reservoir has suffered environmental degradation as a result of intense agricultural activity, increased waste disposal and dumping, and reduced water quality. For this reason the Acciónaturais working to recover the riverside woodlands in the area.
The zone
The River Alberche, a tributary of the Tagus, is retained by the Cazalegas reservoir in the province of Toledo (Spain) some 100 km from Madrid and 20 km from Talavera de la Reina. The dam keeps the water level relatively constant, which has permitted the development in certain areas of marsh vegetation of great ecological interest. But there are some areas and plots which were formerly used by the 'Confederación Hidrográfica del Tajo' as a forest nursery and for plantations of black poplar and eucalyptus. The poplars were felled or the eucalyptus were eliminated from some of these plots, creating the opportunity to recover the natural vegetation potential of these areas, improving the longitudinal connectivity of the river, which was partially cut off by the reservoir.
Actuación Objetivos y beneficios
Se incorporaron nuevos criterios de Sostenibilidad en el manejo de estos terrenos incluyendo la restauración y conservación de la biodiversidad entre sus prioridades:
- Mejorar los hábitats de las riberas del embalse de Cazalegas, diversificando la vegetación de ribera y consolidando los pinares y encinares en la zona de la "Isla" de alto interés.
- Mejorar el hábitat para especies que se refugian o nidifican en las orillas como el aguilucho lagunero, gran variedad de aves acuáticas: garzas, limícolas, cormoranes, y otras especies típicas como el conejo, la liebre, palomas, tórtolas, zorzales y patos. También abundan los jabalís y zorros cerca del río. En cuanto a la pesca, las especies más frecuentes en esa zona del Alberche son las bogas, carpas y algún lucio si nos acercamos al pantano.
En los alrededores del embalse, se pueden ver bosques de encinas, robles, alcornoques, enebros, olivos, y en las zonas llanas de los ríos se intentó recuperar la vegetación de ribera, para dar cabida a un mayor número de especies y mejorar el espacio de uso público de los viveros.
Actions Aims and benefits
New sustainability criteria were being incorporated into the handling of these terrains, including the restoration and conservation of biodiversity among its priorities:
- To improve the riverside habitats of the Cazalegas reservoir, diversifying the riverside vegetation and consolidating the pine and holm oak woods of great interest in the "La Isla" area.
- To improve the habitat for species that nest or take refuge on the banks, like the marsh harrier and a large variety of water birds: herons, cormorants, various shorebirds and other typical species like rabbits, hares, pigeons, doves, thrushes and ducks. There are also many wild boar and foxes close to the river. The most frequent fish species in this zone of the Alberche are bogue, carp and a number of pike close to the reservoir.
In the surroundings of the reservoir there are woods of oak, holm oak and cork oak, junipers and olive trees, and in the flat riverside areas work was done to recover the riverside vegetation in order to accommodate a greater number of species and improve the use of public space by the nurseries.
Results
Summary:
- Total surface area: 2.1 hectares
- Total surface area planted: 2.4 hectares
- Total trees and shrubbery planted: 2,800 (ashes, willows, poplars, alders and "tarays" (Tamarix gallica).
Initial conclusions
The replanting has been successfully carried out and a good reactivation of the plants was observed. Maintenance work is planned to guarantee the plants' survival as well as, in December 2007, a final analysis of the reforestation.
One of the main goals achieved by the project has been the involvement of local government, ensuring the continuity of the project and committing resources for future phases that will cover important aspects such as education, integration with the rest of the area, recovery of river fauna and eliminating possible negative impact factors in the zone.
For further technical details, please visit the Acciónatura website: www.accionatura.org.