Fragas do Mandeo

 
The third edition of the Monte da Espenuca work camp began this morning. Ten volunteers coming from different parts of Spain, accompanied by two instructors and the camp director, will be working for our natural heritage until August 27^th.

The main task they will undertake will be the elimination of an invasive exotic species of South-American origin, the small-leaf spiderwort (Tradescantia fluminensis), by the As Bouzas stream. This tributary flows into the River Mandeo just at the foot of the Chelo Visitors Centre (Coirós). Besides displacing the native vegetation, the presence of this invasive plant on its banks implies the risk of the winter river swellings sweeping along parts of the plant that could take root within the protected natural area, where its eradication is almost achieved along the stretch we safeguard along the River Mandeo.

In this way, the work camp will give continuity to the activity initiated by the volunteers of the previous edition. Volunteers of Fragas do Mandeo kept checking the areas of action during the winter and the spring to avoid the small-leaf spiderwort to recolonize them.

This morning we have had the opportunity of explaining to them the habitat restoration activities we have performed, what our objectives are and how we use land stewardship to preserve the biodiversity of our area.

Fragas do Mandeo promotes, gives advice and collaborates with this work camp. It has been applied for by the Coirós Council and organized by the Directorate General for Youth, Participation and Volunteering of the Xunta de Galicia. The management is assumed by Ribeirán Proxectos Naturais, counting on Jesús Díaz as Director.

 
Today thirteen volunteers returned to the O Catorce amphibian reserve to continue the work started on July 22.

On one hand, the elimination of the tall flatsedge (Cyperus eragrostis) was still pending in the pool at the entrance and surroundings.

On the other, the eucalyptus foliage had to be removed. Late last month, a couple of professionals hired by Fragas do Mandeo used climbing techniques to cut down the eucalyptus trees that were growing on the wall of the quarry. The volunteers have had the opportunity of seeing its new look today, before starting to fill up to five garden trailers with the eucalyptus foliage.

The work does not end here: a couple of volunteers are cutting and uprooting eucalyptus shoots on the two hectares wood within the reserve. Their objective is to finish them off before the summer ends.

 
In July 2016 we started to do land stewardship on three plots of municipal ownership in the Pedra Partida hill (Coirós), to create the O Catorce Amphibian Reserve. During the first one hundred days we achieved a radical change of the area, significantly improving the habitat. At the beginning of this month we started the work of this year’s campaign: we cleared the excessive scrub at several points and a specialized company removed the asbestos roofing from the abandoned buildings of the old quarry.

During this Sunday’s volunteering day we will go on with the task of eliminating two invasive exotic species of American origin: the horseweed (Conyza canadensis) and the tall flatsedge (Cyperus eragrostis), that we had already started at this time last year. They are small plants, easy to uproot, but numerous, so a lot of hands are needed. We will also eliminate some eucalyptus that resprouted.

Again, the meeting point will be the Outpatient Clinic of Betanzos, where we can share cars. You don’t need to take any tools, but it could be useful to take kneepads. Remember to wear appropriate clothes and protect your head from the sun. And don’t forget something to eat and drink for the mid-morning break.

If you want to be involved in the conservation of the best spot for amphibian reproduction in Coirós, do register for this environmental volunteering day by sending us in advance your data (complete name, ID, date of birth and mobile number). Thus, you will be informed on last minute changes, you will be covered by an accident insurance policy and you will facilitate organization. In section Contact you will find the necessary information.

Meeting point: Outpatient Clinic of Betanzos.
Date: July 22^nd, 2018.
Time: We will be leaving at 9.30 a.m., coming back at 2 p.m.

 
Good weather is forecast for next week, so we will take the opportunity to get to the Alameda Beach (Miño) on Sunday the 8^th with the aim of eliminating invasive exotic species and removing litter.

Within the diverse activities of the Litoral campaign, we have been eradicating numerous exotic species on this beach since 2011: ice plant (Carpobrotus edulis), Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana), golden buttons (Cotula coronopifolia), Canadian horseweed (Conyza canadensis), annual saltmarsh aster (Aster squamatus), tall flatsedge (Cyperus eragrostis), calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica), montbretia (Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora), mousehole tree (Myoporum laetum) and Canadian poplar (Populus x canadensis).

During the first six months of this year we visited it several times, verifying the complete eradication of some of those species and eliminating a few Pampas Grass and montbretia that reappeared. As always, we also removed some litter. Thus, this Sunday’s work will focus on uprooting the species that grew recently: horseweed, annual saltmarsh aster and some montbretia.

If you feel like participating, please send us your data in advance (complete name, ID, birth date and mobile number). In this way, we will be able to inform you on last minute changes, you will be covered by an accident insurance policy and you will facilitate organization. In section Contact you will find the necessary information.

Meeting point: Outpatient Clinic of Betanzos, where we can share cars.
Date: July 8^th, 2018.
Time: We will be leaving at 9.30 a.m., coming back at 2.00 p.m.

Post data: Target achieved. Even though we were competing with a wonderful beach day and several festivities in the area, seven people participated in the volunteering day. They walked the whole beach, filling 4 sacks with litter and other 5 with vegetal remains of invasive exotic species. These are modest figures with respect to previous years. However, they are the result, on the one hand, of the work advanced during the first months of this year, and on the other, of our perseverance in eliminating invasive species since we started the sponsorship. The less litter and invasive species we remove, the closer we are of achieving a clean beach and a well preserved native flora.

 
Today we went to the notary of Mr. Óscar Manuel López Doval in Betanzos to sign two deeds of sale formalizing the purchase of several plots from two owners. With these acquisitions we increase by 8,546 m² the area in which we are doing land stewardship.

It’s been some time since we look for plots to purchase, because we need to have surplus cash to undertake the works at O Catorce amphibian reserve. But this does not prevent us from taking the opportunity if we receive an offer.

The plots purchased today are in the whereabouts of Caresma (Coirós). All of them have a well preserved native wood. Some eucalyptus trees grow in one of them, so we will have to eliminate them. All in all, they are well located: some of them are by the banks of the River Mandeo, others in the vicinity. They are near some of our plots; even one of them is adjacent to a plot we have purchased some years ago.

As in previous occasions, the purchase was possible thanks to the generosity of our modest donors, since we do not receive grants from public entities nor have important patronages. We will go back to the acquisition pace as soon as possible, so that we can increase the area aimed at the preservation or our natural heritage in perpetuity.

You can help us! The next time we buy a plot, you will share our pleasure, realizing that thanks to you a future is guaranteed for an area of woodland.

 
This afternoon we have been in Aranga explaining what land stewardship is and how Fragas do Mandeo puts it into practice.

A course of leisure time instructor is being held in the community place of Muniferral since March 1^st, organized by the Reserve of the Biosphere of As Mariñas of A Coruña and the River Mandeo area. After 200 theoretical hours and 150 practical hours, the students will get an official qualification.

As on similar occasions, we took the opportunity to inform them about the main environmental problems in our area and the lines of action of Fragas do Mandeo to preserve our natural heritage, insisting on the importance of dedicating part of our leisure time to nature conservation. Finally, we encouraged them to promote this commitment throughout their future careers by means of activities organized at councils, clubs and associations.

 
This morning we got to the Faculty of Biology of the University of A Coruña to take part in a debate named The terrible consequences of the introduction of invasive species .

Doctors Alejandro Martínez Abraín and Sergio Rodríguez Roiloa, of the area of Ecology of the University, and Andrés Pereira, Chair of the Grupo Naturalista Hábitat shared the round table with us.

Invasive exotic species are considered one of the main causes of biodiversity loss on a global level. This problem affects our area too, getting worse with the progressive appearance of new species and with the uncontrolled expansion of those already present.

It was a pity that in the debate too much time was spent on questioning the real existence of such a problem, despite the fact that it has been widely acknowledged by the scientific community. Therefore we had no time to explain our work on eradication and the method used in each case. Anyway, we were able to encourage the students to consider it in all its seriousness and we invited them to participate directly in volunteering days to eliminate them.

 
The enrolment period for the III Work Camp Monte da Espenuca is already open.

Between August 16^th and 27^th, the volunteers will continue with the same line of work as on the two previous editions, performing activities for nature conservation in the surroundings of A Espenuca. On this occasion we will focus on the elimination of invasive exotic species at the spot of Chelo.

The aim of the 13 participants, accompanied by 3 instructors, will be to continue with the elimination of the small-leaf spiderwort (Tradescantia fluminensis) along the As Bouzas spring, a small tributary which flows into the River Mandeo by the Chelo footbridge.

The volunteers of the last edition did a great job by eliminating small-leaf spiderwort and hydrangea. Afterwards, Fragas do Mandeo kept checking their reappearance and planted 80 laurels in the area previously occupied by hydrangea. It is now time to continue upstream to avoid floods sweeping along propagules of small-leaf spiderwort that could take root at places where it had already been eliminated.

But it was not all work, since the program includes cultural and touristic activities which allow the volunteers to know this region, to visit natural areas and nearby towns full of monuments, and to go to some cultural events or traditional festivities.

As in previous editions, volunteers from different regions, aged between 18 and 30, will be coming (although this year it won’t be international). Therefore, the work camp is a meeting point for young people from different origins, who can spend time together and get involved in the local society within an environment that promotes the values of social harmony, tolerance and team work.

This work camp is promoted by Fragas do Mandeo, applied for by the Coirós Council and organized by the Directorate General for Youth, Participation and Volunteering of the Xunta de Galicia. The management will be assumed by Ribeirán Proxectos Naturais, counting on Jesús Díaz as Director.

For additional information and registration, please consult the card of Monte da Espenuca 2018 work camp.

 
Coming to an end the long rainy season, we are taking advantage of the good weather to get to A Espenuca next Sunday, the 22^nd.

In November we started the winter maintenance works in the plot we are recovering at the foot of the chapel, within the campaign A Espenuca native wood. During this fifth and last volunteering day we will plant native trees (although many are growing spontaneously, they are insufficient in some areas), we will place tutors (we will make them by cutting sticks in an adjacent plot) and we will clear some remaining gorse (to avoid them hindering the growth of the trees). We will also see how the wood awakes with the arrival of spring, with the first leaves sprouting from the trees.

If you would like to join in, please send us your data in advance (complete name, ID, date of birth and mobile number). Thus, we will be able to inform you on last minute changes, you will be covered by an accident insurance policy and you will facilitate organization. In section Contact you will find the necessary information.

Meeting point: Outpatient Clinic of Betanzos, where we can share cars.
Date: April 22^nd, 2018.
Time: We will be leaving at 9.30 a.m., coming back at 2 p.m.

 
Next week the Life Fluvial project is to be presented at the Chelo Visitors Centre. The Association for Rural Development Mariñas-Betanzos, organizer of the event, has invited us to give a short talk on land stewardship as a tool to manage the natural heritage.

The aim of this project is to improve the state of conservation of river corridors of the Iberian Atlantic region, focused in the riparian woods of alder and ash (priority habitat 91E0). It will intervene within eight natural areas of the Natura Network, two of them in our area, four in Lugo, one in Asturias and another one in Portugal. Funding comes mainly from the European Union and there are eight partners of the project from both countries.

Although Fragas do Mandeo does not form part of this project, given the impact it can have on the preservation of local biodiversity, we will offer all our experience related to land stewardship as a tool for conservation.

Place: Visitors Centre of Chelo (Coirós).
Date: March 22^nd, 2018.
Hour: From 11.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.
Program: For further information, please download the leaflet on the event.