Partners

Centre de Ciència i Tecnologia Forestal de Catalunya (Coordinator)

The mission of the Centre de Ciència i Tecnologia Forestal de Catalunya (CTFC) is to help modernise and improve the competitiveness of the forestry industry, as well as rural development and the sustainable management of the environment through research, training and the transfer of technology and knowledge to society. Within this mission, its work is aimed at resolving problems related to ecosystem management and the interaction of natural resources with society in order to improve the wealth and well-being of people and the sustainability of the natural environment in the face of global change. This approach focuses on returning the results of its work to society. The activities carried out by the Centre are divided into three programmes: Landscape dynamics and biodiversity, Multifunctional forestry management and Governance and bioeconomics of the rural environment, with their respective lines of research, training and transfer.

www.ctfc.cat/en

Centre d’Estudis dels Rius Mediterranis

The Centre d’Estudis dels Rius Mediterranis (CERM) is the environmental area of the Ter Museum whose aim is to study, promote and preserve the cultural and natural heritage of the River Ter and, by extension, other Mediterranean rivers.

CERM’s main responsibilities are to safeguard and restore the ecology of fluvial systems (by reaching agreements with owners and councils), raising awareness and educating citizens about the environment (by training thousands of young people every year, ranging from infants to university students) and carrying out research into Mediterranean rivers, especially assessing their ecological status (riverbank vegetation, aquatic macroinvertebrates, fish, etc.) and providing solutions to improve the connectivity of rivers for fish.

The Centre works and collaborates with universities and other institutions, primarily for the whole of Catalonia although it is also involved in some international projects.

http://mon.uvic.cat/cerm

Granollers Council

Granollers Council is a local organisation with a long history in implementing environmental policies and carrying out projects to preserve the natural environment.

In the past 20 years, Granollers has devoted particular attention to the ecological and social recovery of the River Congost, a vital part of the municipality and major green infrastructure on the Vallès plain. A large number of projects have been carried out to recondition the River Congost, aiming to make the river as natural as possible and take advantage of the banks to create a large river park that combines social activities with actions to encourage biodiversity.

This continual work has resulted in advanced management of the River Congost as it passes through Granollers. On the one hand, the river has become freed up and semi-natural on the outskirts of the town, between Pla de Palou and the natural area of Can Cabanyes, while the more urban section of the river, in the centre of the town, now has a naturalised low flow channel and a high flow channel of great scenic value, with optimised maintenance to ensure this functions as a river corridor.

The most important actions carried out to restore the River Congost have been as follows:
– Improving connectivity in the Palou section by reducing and naturalising the containment wall to some extent
– The creation of habitats to recover the fauna and flora of the riverbank at Can Cabanyes
– Encouraging appropriate riverbank flora without altering the hydrological risks.
– Using bioengineering techniques to correct profiles and improve the ecological status of the areas next to the river
– Eliminating invasive species in the river and adjoining areas

www.granollers.cat

Agència Catalana de l’Aigua

The Agència Catalana de l’Aigua (ACA), which reports to the Ministry of Territory and Sustainability of the government of Catalonia, was created from a merger between the Sanitation Board and the Water Board as a public corporation responsible for planning and managing the complete water cycle in Catalonia.

The ACA carries out its functions with an integrating approach to aquatic ecosystems, taking into account their equilibrium and based on the principles of effectiveness, efficiency and economy of costs. Its main areas of responsibility are as follows:

• Fulfilling the Framework Directive for Water (Directiva Marc de l’Aigua or DMA).
• Protecting the natural aquatic environment and authorising activities affecting this resource.
• Planning and organising the water supply and sanitation regarding Catalonia’s internal basins.
• Building and operating treatment plants.
• Drawing up flood risk studies.
• Carrying out inspections and their follow-up.
• Producing laws and decrees related to water.

http://aca.gencat.cat

MN Consultors

MN CONSULTORS EN CIÈNCIES DE LA CONSERVACIÓ is an independent company set up in 1998 to promote the conservation of Mediterranean ecosystems and their biological diversity.

Working principally in the field of biology and civil engineering, its work concentrates on supplying knowledge and providing specialist research services, as well as technical, scientific and legal advice for authorities, government agencies and private companies.

Its main specialist fields include river ecology, applied zoology and the conservation of natural flora and habitats, as well as the restoration of ecosystems through civil engineering.

In recent years it has firmly established its reputation as the team working on the Iberian Peninsula with the greatest specialisation in the interconnection of hydrogeomorphological and hydrobiological sciences, as well as in resolving particularly complex restoration challenges related to geomorphological problems and morphodynamics. It is the team that has designed the largest number of fluvial restoration projects in the Mediterranean basins on the Iberian Peninsula in recent years.

www.mnconsultors.com

Fundació Catalunya-la Pedrera

The Fundació Catalunya-La Pedera is a non-profit organisation and one of its main aims is to preserve the natural heritage and countryside and to raise people’s awareness of the need to protect the environment.

In this respect, the Foundation operates in three key areas:

1. Acquiring land representing well-conserved natural areas and the subsequent management of this land in collaboration with conservationist organisations, other non-governmental organisations and public administrations.
2. Collaborating in nature conservation projects carried out by other national institutions.
3. The ongoing education of children, young people and also adults to encourage environmental values in our society.

The Foundation currently helps to protect 4.5% of Catalonia and owns 26 areas of land. As a result, the Foundation is involved in sustainably managing a total of 144,096 hectares made up of property owned by the Foundation (acquired for conservationist purposes) as well as other public and/or private properties where the Foundation has entered into an agreement with the owners to look after the estate.

fundaciocatalunya-lapedrera.com