C.7. Modification of the habitat and population fortification of Eryngium viviparum in the SCI Parga-Ladra-Támoga

The wetlands with presence of the priority species *Erynigum viviparum have suffered serious degradation over the course of the years owed to the changes in the use of the land directed to more intense and non-sustainable harvestings. Some of the wetlands have come to disappear.

It has all ostensibly reduced the population level of the species. Of the few population nuclei that currently survive, the SCI Parga-Ladra-Támoga is on the most important as it is home to the highest number of effectives a world level (Banyares et al (2004), DuPont (1962), Romero et al (2004), Rodriguez-Oubinya et al (1997).

For the modification of the habitat and the population fortification of Erynigum viviparum the following actions are proposed:

a) Population growth in the site Laguna de Cospeito:

The configuration of the terrain will be modified to form a system of small ponds in clay sediment areas where there is a tendency of temporary ponding.  This will favor the temporal prolongation of the superficial water sheet from autumn to the beginning of summer, similar to the  the configuration of the summer period of a xeric environment. In parallel, the eradication of a series of Eucalyptus spp. roots (some 30 roots), a species that is extending around the area of action and persists in the boundaries of the plot, will proceed.

The chosen areas for the construction of the system of small ponds are housed in zones close to population nuclei of Erynigum viviparum. Their location, will determine a rapid colonization of these new habitats on behalf of the rest of the characteristic species through seeds and saplings from the peat land itself, in this way favoring the appearance of new population nuclei of hydrophyte species of interest and the development of amphibious communities like the those of community interest present in the SCI Parga-Ladra-Támoga: Discoglossus galganoi (Anexos II y IV), Hyla arborea (Anexo IV), Rana perezi (Anexo V) and Alytes obstetricans (Anexo IV).

b) Population fgrowth on the Isle of San Roque:

the proposed action for this enclave is similar to that proposed for the Laguna de Cospeito. In the surroundings of the lagoon environment linked to hygrophilous environments, existing on the Isle of San Roque, small cuvettes are excavated to form a system of small, shallow ponds in areas with seasonal ponding tendencies to prolong the maintenance of the superficial water sheet.

c) Eradication of the exotic and invasive species (Eucaluptus spp.):

All the roots of the species present in the enclave of the Cospeito Lagoon will be eliminated by means of manual cutting, removing the roots from the site in a mechanical step, employing in all case light machinery. It noteworthy to mention that in no moment will chemical control methods be employed.

The action developed on publicly owned land, dedicated to the conservation of the components of biodiversity and pertaining to the Board of Galicia, with in the Cospeito Lagoon and the Isle of Saint Roque in the SCI Parga-Ladra-Támoga. The total surface over which the action will be effected is 2.4 ha, distributing itself in 1.2 ha in the first enclave and 1.1 ha in the second.

Significantly the populations of Erynigum viviparum present in the Cospeito Lagoon are the only ones located in publicly owned land, for which they play a decisive role in the demonstration of the best practices for the conservation of the species, both on a national and international level.

On the other hand, Erynigum viviparum is a species that reproduces well asexually, given its viviparous character, for which the best effort in the population growth will be centered in the production of individuals through in vitro techniques. Also, population fortification experiences will be executed through field seeds (action C.10).

Taking advantage of its capacity to colonize new territories, this action proposes also to strengthen the populations of Narcissus pseduonarcissus subsp. noibilis, through incrementing the surface suitable for its development.

Narcissus pseduonarcissus subsp. noibilis is a bulbous species and the reproductive material that can be most easily harvested, managed, conserved and posteriorly reproduced is its seed. In action 10 the harvesting of seeds that can be used posteriorly in the population fortification of this species is planned.

This action is designed so that the object species can recolonize and develop in the old harvesting fields, in such a way that human intervention can be reduced to a minimum (including planting tasks).