Lago Bañolas - Recuperation of the aquatic environment of Porqueres and the lake of Banyoles

The main project objective was the recuperation of and an increase in the area of the wetlands and lakeside woods of Lake Banyoles, the second largest lake in the Iberian Peninsula. The project facilitated the purchase by local town councils and the private foundation, Territori i Paisatge, of a total of 37 ha of land, some 27 ha more than had originally been envisaged. In total, four semi-permanent lagoons have been created in these areas, all of which have been recovering well. The new lagoons have already shown evidence of colonisation by different bird types, amphibians, dragonflies, fish and otter. Other restoration activities included the naturalisation of brooks, restoration of ditches, clearance of the area, pruning and plantations. The project also engaged in a range of public-use-oriented actions, including the conditioning of paths, signposting, refurbishment of recreational areas, and the construction of gangways and viewpoints. An awareness campaign was also undertaken. This involved the use of attractive materials (webpage, DVD, etc) and received widespread coverage in specialised media. A symposium was also organised to disseminate project results and to exchange experience between nature conservation managers working on temporary ponds in Spain and abroad.