The final documents for the project ‘Safe Roads for Wildlife and People’ are now available
The SAFEROAD project, ‘Safe Roads for Wildlife and People’, funded by the Conference of European Directors of Roads (CEDR) within the framework of its ‘Roads and Wildlife’ research programme, has been developed by a consortium comprised of Alterra, the Swedish University of Agricultural Science, MINUARTIA, the Institute for Natural Resources Conservation of the University of […]
Presentation on biodiversity at the international seminar ‘The road in the landscape’
The seminar ‘The road in the landscape’ was held on 9–10 May in Barcelona, and was organized by the Landscape Observatory of Catalonia and the Government of Catalonia’s Secretariat for Infrastructure and Mobility of the Ministry of Territory and Sustainability. The conference focused on exploring the relationship between landscape and roads, viewed from different perspectives, […]
2nd Seminar of the LIFE LINES project on measures to reduce the impact of roads in Portugal
The LIFE LINES project ‘Linear Infrastructure Networks with Ecological Solutions’ aims to test, evaluate, and disseminate practices and measures aimed at mitigating the negative effects of transport infrastructure on wildlife and biodiversity and, at the same time, promote the implementation of green infrastructure based on the creation of connectivity corridors to improve the conservation of […]
Carme Rosell, director of Minuartia, receives the ‘Bioemprenedors’ award from the College of Biologists
On April 25, ‘Day of the Biologist’, the College of Biologists of Catalonia celebrated and paid tribute to professionals in the field of biology. Awards were given to recognize careers of great professional value that contribute to increasing the prestige of biologists’ work in different fields. This year’s edition was inaugurated by Ramon Jordana, dean […]
Analysis of public use of natural areas of La Garrotxa, Catalonia
The Natural Park of the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone and the Consorci de l’Alta Garrotxa, with the technical assistance of MINUARTIA, are preparing an analysis of public use of the area. The project integrates an analysis of supply and demand, as well as an assessment of how tourism in La Garrotxa contributes to socioeconomic development. Recommendations […]
Amendment of the Special protection plan for the Conreria-Sant Mateu-Céllecs area
In April 2013, the expansion of the Conreria-Sant Mateu-Céllecs PEIN area in the Serralada Litoral was approved, to increase the protected area from 4,706 to 7,408 ha. The Barcelona Provincial Council (Diputació de Barcelona) has promoted the amendment of the Special Protection Plan so that it can be applied to the new extended areas. The […]
New initiatives to improve ecological connectivity between Collserola and Turó de Montcada
BARCELONA REGIONAL has recently promoted an initiative to improve the connectivity of the Collserola Park with the Turó de Moncada, specifically in the Tapioles torrent valley and the Turó de Quatre Pins, a place of strategic interest for the Park’s connectivity. Collserola has experienced progressive loss of ecological connections with natural spaces in its surroundings, […]
The elaboration of wildlife risk management programs at 14 Greek airports has been completed
Fraport Greece, which operates 14 airports in Greece, including those in Thessaloniki, Corfu, Santorini and Mikonos, has drawn up strategies to improve air safety by reducing the risk of collision with birds and other animals in airport areas. The European Aviation Safety Agency requires the application of a Wildlife Risk Management Programme at all airports. […]
Actions to strengthen the Green Infrastructure at Punta de la Móra
Punta de la Mora, located near Tarragona and included in the Natura 2000 network, is an emblematic space for its natural interest and its cultural and historical heritage. A study promoted by the Catalan Department of Territory and Sustainability has defined actions to improve its ecological connectivity with other natural protected areas nearby and facilitate […]
The new wildlife overpass on the A2 motorway improves ecological connectivity
During 2016, a defragmentation action was carried out on the A2 motorway, which consisted of constructing a new structure to enhance ecological connectivity. The structure is an overpass designed exclusively to improve ecological connectivity in a strategic point of Girona province. One of the singularities of this defragmentation action, which compensates for the expansion of […]
Participation in the ‘International Conference on Ecology and Transportation’ in Utah
The biennial ‘International Conference on Ecology and Transportation’ (ICOET) was held on 14-18 May in Salt Lake City (Utah, USA). Carme Rosell, director of MINUARTIA, was invited to participate in the opening session. She encouraged cooperation between professionals in the transport sector, and the conservation of biodiversity to help in ‘harmonizing transportation and nature’; the […]
The Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park promotes the patronage of companies to restore habitats
The Natural Park supports the improvement of natural heritage and landscape through patronage agreements with local companies. In this context, with technical advice from MINUARTIA, the Park promotes patronage to restore ponds and wetlands that benefit the conservation of aquatic organisms and offer reproduction points for frogs and toads. The dossier “Jumps of Joy” describes […]
BSP-Parc de l’Alba becomes a member of the European platform Business & Biodiversity
The Parc de l’Alba includes the Barcelona Synchrotron Park (BSP) business area and houses companies and leading European research infrastructure, such as the Alba synchrotron, as well as residential and green areas that are managed to prioritise biodiversity conservation and reinforce green infrastructure. Actions that are carried out, including the conservation of the green corridor, […]
LIFE Clinomics tackles adaptation to climate change in Montseny
The aim of the three-year LIFE project that began in June 2016 is to tackle the challenges and opportunities of local economies and societies to increase their resilience to climate change. The specific objective is to work with agriculture and livestock, forestry activities, tourism, and fishing in three areas: the Montseny Biosphere Reserve, the Alt […]
Technical prescriptions for wildlife passages on roads: updated and translated into English
The document Prescripciones técnicas para el diseño de pasos de fauna y vallados perimetrales, which was published in 2006, was updated in 2015 and has now been released in English. It is the first volume in the series ‘Documents for the mitigation of habitat fragmentation caused by transport infrastructure’. The new edition is an update […]
Participation in an international conference on ecology and transport
Experts from Minuartia attended the International Conference on Ecology and Transportation that is organised every two years by INFRA ECO NETWORK EUROPE, and was held in Lyon, France in 2016. Ferran Navàs, Carme Rosell and Marina Torrellas gave various papers and presented a poster on different projects related to wildlife passages, factors that affect the […]
The Port of Barcelona completes the process of creating alternative roosts for cormorants
Three artificial roosts for cormorants established by the Port of Barcelona are now fully operational in the Llobregat Delta and its surroundings. In total, they provide places for around 600 individuals to rest overnight. Cormorants are large, gregarious birds that spend the winter in Catalonia. This is the culmination of a project started in 2006 […]
Promotion of biodiversity conservation in water cycle facilities
SUEZ Water Spain has implemented a strategy to promote biodiversity conservation in facilities operated by the group. As a first step, the company published the Guía operativa de Conservación de la Biodiversidad en el ciclo integral del agua(Operating Handbook for Biodiversity Conservation in the Integrated Water Cycle) to help to incorporate actions that promote species and […]
Video on the behaviour of wild boar within Montseny Natural Park’s Nature Reserve
Between 2012 and 2015, wild boars’ use of the Montseny Nature Reserve was monitored using camera trapping. In this area, hunting is only permitted for management purposes. The project was carried out in collaboration with the Park’s guards and technicians, and with groups of local hunters. Over 30,000 images of the species were recorded, which […]
Good participation in the Second International Forum on Ecological Restoration
The International Forum held in Madrid and organized by the company Creando Redes was a place to exchange views and experiences on ecological restoration among the various stakeholders involved in this area. This Edition focused on subjects related to the green economy, public-private collaboration, habitat banking, and prioritization in restoration, among others. MINUARTIA participated as […]
Barcelona seminar on how to integrate nature into the city
The discussion took place at the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB), as part of the course “Biophilic cities. Regenerating the city through renaturing”, organized by the Consorci de la Universitat Internacional Menéndez Pelayo Barcelona (CUIMPB) – Centre Ernest Lluch. MINUARTIA took part in the course with a presentation by Carme Rosell on the […]
Wildlife management at the Scholars’ Meetings of the Serralada Litoral and Montnegre-Corredor natural parks
The meetings, which are organized by Barcelona Provincial Council and held in these Parks every four years, took place on 19 and 20 November in Tiana. Roser Campeny and Ferran Navàs, from Minuartia, presented three studies that can be applied to the management of amphibians, reptiles and wild boar. Two of the studies that were […]
Monitoring of wildlife measures for the high speed railway between Barcelona and the French border
In an open tender, ADIF awarded MINUARTIA a contract to monitor the effectiveness of preventive and corrective measures for wildlife in the section of the high speed railway from Barcelona to the French border. The three-year contract includes studies on wildlife passages, the impact of the railway on birds, and the efficacy of fences and […]
Maintenance of roads and biodiversity at the ICOET conference in America
The International Conference on Ecology and Transportation (ICOET) was held in Raleigh (North Carolina, United States) from 20 to 24 September, and brought together experts from around the world. Carme Rosell, from MINUARTIA, gave a presentation entitled Enhancing Wildlife Conservation in Road Corridors by Applying Best Maintenance Practices, which summarized the results of an analysis […]
A new edition of the yearly report ‘Environment in Catalonia’ is published
The report is published by the Catalan Government’s Department of Territory and Sustainability, and presents data from 2013. As in previous editions, it provides information on the state of various environment topics in Catalonia. However, there are some differences from previous editions. Figures are given greater importance, and new contents have been added to the […]
The first ‘Handbook of Road Ecology’ has been published, bringing together the knowledge of authors from around the world
The drafting of the Handbook involved a hundred authors from 25 countries. Among them are researchers from Universities and research centres, as well as recognized experts on the topic from around the world. This mixed team can transfer scientific knowledge to concepts that apply to the planning, implementation, and management of transport infrastructures. The chapter ‘Wildlife […]
The SAFEROAD project presents a video on amphibians and roads
Frogs, toads, salamanders and newts are Amphibians, a group of animals that is declining worldwide. Road collisions are one of the main causes of their mortality. The video examines the effectiveness of measures applied to reduce this mortality on roads. It was developed as part of the SAFEROAD project. The consultancy ALTERRA is the project leader, […]
Technical seminar on the conservation of European mink, a critically endangered species
The seminar was held in La Rioja, as part of the LIFE LUTREOLA SPAIN project. Several factors that affect the conservation of this critically endangered little mustelidae were analysed. Topics covered in the seminar included restoration of river habitats, the impact of hydraulic infrastructures, and reduction of road casualties. Members of the MINUARTIA team contributed […]
La Agencia Europea de Seguridad Alimentaria convoca expertos para debatir el control de las poblaciones de jabalí
En el seminario que tuvo lugar el 14 y 15 de abril en la sede de la entidad, en Parma, participó Carme Rosell, directora de Minuartia e integrante del grupo de investigación sobre biología de vertebrados de la Universidad de Barcelona, junto con expertos de unos veinte países. La mayor parte de participantes procedían de […]
Barcelona-El Prat Airport organises a Workshop on wildlife management
Cooperation between stakeholders to prevent bird strikes was the main goal of the first Workshop on wildlife management, organised by Barcelona-El Prat Airport. Experts in risk management met with managers of airport departments, air navigation, airlines, wildlife and natural sites, as well as representatives of municipalities and farmers. Barcelona-El Prat Airport is leading the implementation […]
