In June 2024, specifically on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd, the last campaign was carried out to monitor the fauna that makes use of the restored areas within the framework of the LIFE RIBERMINE project. As in previous years, this monitoring has been carried out by the Tormes-EB Foundation (https://fundaciontormes-eb.org/).
During this latest campaign, now in the After LIFE period, samples were taken of different faunal groups: birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles and vulnerable arthropods, and it was found that the fauna has “colonised” the restored area. For this purpose, different observation and recording techniques have been used, such as the line transect method, listening stations, observation areas for signs (small areas of land, related to passage points, feeding areas, drinking troughs, etc., where surveys are carried out in order to determine the species present through the identification of tracks and other traces) and photo-trapping. All of these are non-invasive survey techniques, in order to avoid stressful situations for the different species.
Thus, analysing these latest data and putting them in context with the results of previous campaigns, an increase in the number of species detected has been observed, from 59 in 2020 to 75 in 2024. In addition, for example, it has been found that the Shannon abundance index, taking the group of birds as a bioindicator, in the initial phase of the project, was 2.01. In the transition stage, during the execution work, the earthworks and machinery caused these values to decrease and remain low until the area was stabilised, and once the execution work was completed, this index increased to 2.27 as a result of an increase in the variety of rock, steppe and forest genera.
It is hoped to be able to continue with this monitoring in subsequent years to confirm that the restored areas behave and offer the fauna the same resources as the natural environment, recovering the connection that was lost during the mining activity.
Taking advantage of this latest sampling, the Tormes Foundation has produced a video summary of the species detected. This spectacular video is now available on the LIFE RIBERMINE project website. Don’t miss it!
