In four of them, livestock exclusion fences were installed in 2023 to protect them from overgrazing, mainly by cows and mares: Estanyeres de Son (PNAESM), Plan deth Horn (Aran), Planell de Sartari, and Comes de Rubió (PNAP). Several mire habitats in the surroundings of Lake Djouan (GPNP) were also protected with fencing in the spring of 2025.

Between 2023 and 2024, targeted tree fellings were carried out to remove pine populations from wet habitats or to slow their expansion (thinnings and felling of young pines) in Parros (Aran), Locampo (PNAESM) and Pla Muntaner (PNAP).

Finally, grass mowing has been reinstated in two valley-bottom areas where hay meadows, red fescue meadows, and mires intermingle. These areas include part of Planes de Son (Aigüestortes SAC) and the lower section of the Pleta de Molières (Aran). Mowing has been carried out annually and consecutively since 2023.

In all mires, bryophyte samples have been collected for later identification in the laboratory. Plant biodiversity inventories have been updated in all monitoring plots, accompanied by the recording of environmental variables such as groundwater level, pH, electrical conductivity, and others. All data collection campaigns were conducted during June and July.

These data will be essential for comparing them with soil microeukaryote biodiversity and for studying changes in the conservation status of these mires following the improvement actions.

In addition to mires, scientific monitoring has also continued in the high-mountain lakes were the restoration activities are being carried out. The sampling includes physico-chemical parameters (temperature, conductivity, alkalinity, and concentrations of dissolved nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates), biological indicators (phytoplankton, zooplankton, and macroinvertebrates), and the collection of samples for genetic analyses. Likewise, monitoring of bats (mainly through acoustic recordings) and semi-aquatic insectivores has been conducted (in situ surveys and the collection of droppings and other signs).

In recent decades, the peatlands have experienced higher temperatures and prolonged droughts, which may have accelerated the invasion of mountain pines (Pinus uncinata), a species characteristic of European mountains. This invasion severely impacts the health of these delicate ecosystems.

During June and July, significant technical restoration actions were carried out in the mires of Locampo and Parros as part of the project to address this threat.

Interventions in Locampo: A wetland partially forested by Pinus uncinata

The Locampo mire in the Ruda Valley (Val d’Aran) have seen a significant increase in the presence of mountain pines in recent decades. Although these trees have been present in the valley for a long time, their growth has been particularly rapid over the last 30-50 years, altering the balance of the mire.

In response, this past spring, selective clearcutting of pines was carried out on nearly 2 hectares of mires in the Peripheral Zone of the Aigüestortes and Estany de Sant Maurici National Park. The objective was to reduce the density of the pines and restore the ecosystem’s balance. More specifically, all pines from a recently colonized and densely populated area were cut and removed, restoring the open peatland and preserving the herbaceous plants and moss populations.

In the adjacent mire, the approach was to reduce the density of the pine population, preserving only the larger or older trees and removing the young, fast-growing ones or those rooted directly in the wettest parts of the system.

Interventions in Parros: A wetland dominated by springs, seeps, and runoff water

In the lower part of the Parros Valley, near Montgarri, the situation is similar. The mountain pine population has densified, and junipers (Juniperus communis) have invaded the mire, reducing the space available for plants and mosses typical of subalpine wetlands.

Clearcutting in this area also covered nearly 2 hectares of wetland systems. Most of the pines—especially the young or small to medium-sized ones—were removed, and the area occupied by junipers was reduced, thereby improving the conservation status of the alkaline fens.

Collaboration for Conservation

These activities have been carried out in collaboration and coordination with the Aigüestortes and Estany de Sant Maurici National Park and the Conselh Generau d’Aran. This joint effort ensures the success of the interventions and proper monitoring of the conservation status over the coming years, making these actions effective not only in the short term but also in the medium and long term.

The LIFE RESQUE ALPYR project continues to work to protect and restore the subalpine wetlands, ensuring that these ecosystems continue to play their vital role in the environment.

Work at the lakes involves tasks in both the pelagic zone, which is the deepest part of the lake, and the littoral zone. In the deep zone, water transparency is observed, temperature and other physicochemical parameters are measured, and water samples are collected to determine the biomass and composition of primary producers, such as algae and crustaceans.

On the other hand, in the littoral zone, an amphibian census is conducted, and samples are taken to study the abundance and composition of macroinvertebrates, which are abundant organisms in the food web of these environments. Samples are also taken to measure algal coverage on rocks, a measure that allows quantifying the indirect impact of fish on algal communities through the removal of herbivores.

In this new project, to detect semiaquatic mammals that may frequent the lakes, we are using two sampling techniques: track searching and environmental DNA analysis, which allows us to detect traces of genetic material from the species that visit the lakes.

In wetlands ecosystems, the botany specialist team collects samples of both soil water and soil itself. With water samples, pH and conductivity are measured to understand the plant community that can be established there. Soil samples undergo metabarcoding analysis (genetic analysis) to determine which fungal and prokaryotic communities can be found in the soil and to understand its functioning.

One of the project’s objectives is also related to restoration actions. In these actions to assess changes in vegetation, floristic inventories are completed, including all vascular plant species and some bryophytes, with the aim of repeating these inventories after restoration actions and evaluating if the species composition has changed and to what extent.

Furthermore, this summer, selective clearcutting has already been carried out in Pla Muntaner, and exclusion fences have been installed in most of the planned protected areas.

During the visit, the scientific and technical personnel of the project LIFE RESQUE ALPYR showed to the visiting staff of the Parc national du Mercantour and Parco Naturale Alpi Marittime some of the project action sites.

In particular, the first day was devoted to show the eradication techniques used within to remove the minnows from some lakes (Lakes Balena, Balena 3, and Leita) and the second day to those used to remove salmonids (Lake Nero-Miserin).

The final day was dedicated to an exchange of ideas and experiences among the participants, to understand the ecological pressure exerted by fishing activities in national parks and to discuss the conservation strategies adopted by the protected areas to stem the impacts of introduced fish.

En concret, tot el grup es va desplaçar fins l’estany de Muntanyó d’Àrreu al Parc Natural de l’Alt Pirineu per poder conèixer de ben a prop les actuacions de conservació i restauració que s’estan realitzant en aquest paratge. Aquestes accions consisteixen en la eradicació del veró i de la truita, espècies de peixos invasors presents a l’estany.

L’eliminació de les espècies invasores de peixos  es duu a terme mitjançant xarxes, trampes i pesca elèctrica.

Mitjançant aquest conjunt d’accions, es pretén millorar l’estat ecològic de l’estany de Muntanyó d’Àrreu i restaurar la seva biodiversitat. L’eradicació dels peixos invasors permetrà afavorir les espècies autòctones i conservar els valuosos hàbitats aquàtics d’aquest estany.

The aim of this networking week is for the Croatian team to learn about the management and research in the field of conservation and restoration of mires, grasslands and lakes; and to exchange experiences between the two LIFE projects, which share similar objectives.

The first day of the study tour was dedicated to the presentations of the involved projects: LIFE RESQUE ALPYR by Marc Ventura, LIFE DINARA BACK TO LIFE by Tomislav Hudina and STILL WATER REVIVAL by Luka Škunca. This session took place at the University of Barcelona.

From the LIFE RESCUE ALPYR project we would like to thank the participation of all the institutions and people who have made this networking week possible.