Scientific research
The Consortium for the Protection and Management of the Natural areas of Delta del Llobregat promotes the development of follow-up programmes evaluating biodiversity, in collaboration with the scientific world. The Consortium promotes research projects that take the Llobregat delta as a reference point, and gives them support.The wetlands in general and those of the Llobregat delta in particular are affected by human disturbance. The information that we have on their current condition, biodiversity, and main factors that have an effect on their development, is still partial. To obtain objective information on the trends that wetlands experience is a priority and it is fundamental to be able to inform and raise awareness within society.
The scientific research that is carried out in the natural areas of the Llobregat delta, coordinated by the Consortium, is directed to mechanisms that generate and maintain biodiversity in current ecosystems, mostly aquatic. It also looks into the analysis of territorial distribution and the dynamics that biodiversity presents, as well as into the study of factors that threaten it.
Scientists are responsible for gathering information, carrying follow-up activities and biodiversity inventories; they also analyse and evaluate these data. The natural areas of the Llobregat delta are already a reference point to many researchers. The Consortium has the firm will to continue offering these areas as areas of research and search.
Results are translated into criteria applicable to the management of the biodiversity of the Delta, from the point of view of species, communities and ecological processes, and they serve to establish programmes of conservation, recovery and promotion.
This scientific information is transferred to a wide audience, with the aim to spread the natural and social value of the Delta’s wetlands. The results of these researches are spread among visitors through guides, conferences, exhibitions and, if possible, by encouraging the visitor to take part in field activities, testings or censuses.
Programs
Follow-up of fauna
The Consortium carries out a follow-up programme of species or fauna communities with priority needs of management, either because they are in a risky situation or because they are interesting.
The follow-up of vertebrate fauna is one of the most consolidated programmes carried out in the natural areas of the Llobregat delta. Among the fauna, the most typical group is birds, due to the varied environments and the huge productivity of the wetlands, and also because the Delta is a strategic point inside the migratory route of the Western Mediterranean that joins Europe and Africa.
The Spanish Pond Turtle is studied; this reptile is deeply affected by the introduction of other tortoises’ species. The study on bats population has just begun along with the programme for the recovery of the Spanish Toothcarp.
In spite of its significance, the follow-up of invertebrate fauna is still to be consolidated in the natural areas. In 2007 the study of diurnal butterflies was carried out, which had already started in the 90s. On the other hand, the study of dragonflies will be carried out soon.
Follow-up of vegetation
The Consortium carries out a follow-up programme on flora communities; particularly, inventories of flora, which allow to see the evolution of plant communities and provide knowledge to confront some of the most relevant environmental problems derived from human activity, like habitats fragmentation, disturbance changes or biological invasions.
Studies on orchids and fungi, as well as on flora communities of the beaches in El Prat littoral are being carried out. Follow-up activities on Kosteletzkya pentacarpos and Stachys maritime have also been initiated.
Follow-up of habitats
The Consortium is carrying out a programme to see how habitats develop and to continuously evaluate their values by means of follow-up activities on the main bio-indicators groups. The analysis of bio-indicators shows the general conditions of habitats and it is done through cartography, calculating their quantity, naturalness, fragmentation and connectivity.
The condition of coastal lagoons is studied by means of follow-up activities on populations of macrophytes. The dunes with stone pines are studied by observing the development of orchid populations, by making fungi atlas, and by analyzing the structure and composition of the communities vegetation of sand dunes.
Maintenance and conditioning of habitats
As a consequence of human activity, many habitats of the natural areas are being disturbed. It is necessary to keep them in good conditions so that they do not lose biodiversity. This is done by means of cutting, weeding, and getting rid of unwanted exotic invader vegetation, and by carrying out plants maintenance tasks. From time to time, samplings and analysis of the aquatic environment of the Delta are also carried out.
In order to control the immense growth of vegetation in the wetlands – due to the to the great amount of nutrients that reach these natural areas proceeding from agricultural and urban channels - and to recover the flora and fauna which are characteristic of these open areas, as well their landscape value, controlled pasture of sheep or horses in the former marshes and humid meadows of the Llobregat delta is promoted.
Follow-up of landscape and land management
The Llobregat delta is a area submitted to continuous transformation, especially because of the strategic positioning of the Delta in the Metropolitan Area, given its plain morphology and its proximity to Barcelona. The Consortium guarantees that the uses of the territory are compatible with the preservation of natural areas and their landscape values, to the benefit of current society and future generations.
