Carricerín Nava-Campos - Conservation of the aquatic warbler in the ZEPA 'La Nava-Campos'

The Nava-Campos SPA, situated in the province of Palencia, in north Spain, is one of the main southerly sites used by the aquatic warbler. The project main objectives include: 1. Enlargement and improvement of the status of the aquatic warbler at the la Nava site. 2. Increase the scientific knowledge of the aquatic warbler and its habitat at La Nava. 3. Increase public awareness of the aquatic warbler and its problems. The project works included the flooding of the grasslands and the planting of 22,000 specimens in order to both establish boundaries and increase available habitat for the species. The Fuentes de Nava waste pipeline was buried to prevent spillage of effluent into La Nava lagoon, thus improving the water quality; the flooding system improved. Additionally different techniques for the vegetation management were implemented e.g. botanical monitoring, ringing campaigns, radio tracking etc. Moreover a meeting of experts in helophytic vegetation management was organised and an international seminar on the conservation strategy for the species was held. A DVD on the aquatic warbler and the project was produced, various dissemination material was produced e.g. leaflets, T-shirts, exhibition panels, a manual on the results of the vegetation management and scientific monitoring was published, a visitor path was constructed to satisfy visitor demand without disturbing fauna.