2019 ANNUAL REPORT Emys Foundation Emys Foundation is a non-profit organisation dedicated to conserving nature, especially wetlands and the european pond terrapin (Emys orbicularis). The organisation works from an integrative perspective, where the challenge is to involve the owners, managers and users of the territory in the sustainable management and long term conservation of the values of the natural heritage. It does all this through volunteering, land stewardship, research, conservation, and environmental education and outreach. We work holistically in wetlands, open spaces, agriculture and forestry in order to conserve nature and promote management that improves biodiversity. We carry out population monitoring of species of interest to determine their conservation status and the state of their habitat. We apply this knowledge in the natural spaces we are responsible for, where, together with property owners and managers, we promote management in favor of biodiversity. Finally, we encourage the adoption of this practice and knowledge in wider society, through environmental education and information dissemination, so that citizens may become aware of the value of nature ​​and the individual responsibility we have in conserving it. Research and conservation CONSERVATION STATUS OF THE EUROPEAN POND TERRAPIN In 2019, the sampling effort has been increased in order to detect new habitats for the european pond terrapin, and also because we have sampled an area that we haven’t studied before: the natural area of the Lake of Sils. This year, we have found about twenty different species over two campaigns, one in the spring and the other in the fall. Because of this effort, we have seen a significant increase in the number of terrapins caught this year. A total of 340 european pond terrapins have been caught, including 8 hatchlings born this year. Of these 340, 309 were adults (148 females and 161 males) and only 19 juveniles, which together with the hatchlings represent 8% of the total number of terrapins counted. This ow youth rate warns of a generally ageing population, although evidence of recruitment is good news for the maintenance of the population. Of all the turtles caught, 166 were marked for the first time (equivalent to 50%), a fairly stable rate in recent years which illustrates the large population size of this species in the plana de La Selva. Many of the new catches were made in the Sils area, where we had not sampled before. A total of 126 specimens were counted in this area, thus standing out as one of the main settlement of the specie. With the inclusion of Sils in the european pond terrapin monitoring program, together with the settlements of Caldes de Malavella and Riudarenes, we obtain a more exhaustive control of the metapopulation of the species in the Plana de la Selva. The knowledge obtained from this monitoring allows us to preserve key habitats for the species in the territory, as well as maintain corridors that ensure connectivity between different settlements. 350 Annual number300 of catches since 1987, showing recaptured specimens in orange (previously marked)250 and new catches in yellow (turtles not counted until the date of capture)200 150 100 50 350 0 300 2000 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1996 1997 1998 1999 250 200 Recaptures Noves captures 150 100 50 0 2000 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1996 1997 1998 1999 Recaptures Noves captures Juvenils Neonats Distribution of sex and age among the 6% 2% caught specimens Mascles 48% Femelles 44% Juvenils Neonats 6% 2% Mascles 48% Femelles 44% MANAGEMENT ACTIONS AND PROJECTS OF CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT NATURAL CORRIDOR CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH PROJECT FOR THE CONNECTIVITY OF THE EUROPEAN POND TERRAPIN IN THE PLANA DE LA SELVA This project has allowed us to carry out management of some farms in land stewardship where we can find ponds with european pond terrapin, monitor turtles and amphibians, and carry out educational activities and raise awareness about the value of wetlands and its biodiversity. RECOVERY PROJECT OF THE PONDS OF MAS VERN With this project, two ponds on the Mas Vern (in Riudarenes) have been cleaned and recovered, where historically there were european pond terrapin settlements, and which were in a very poor state of conservation. RIERA DE CALDES RESTORATION PROJECT This project has led to the creation of a new pond for Emys hatchlings near the Santa Maria stream, where there is a very important settlement of european pond terrapin. Actions have also been taken to recover a meadow and riparian vegetation, removing two dense cores of American cane and a small nucleus of acacias, and planting native trees in their place. START OF THE RIBERSIDE VEGETATION RESTORATION PROJECT IN THE SILS CANAL This project has been launched, which seeks to recover the riparian vegetation by the Sils canal through controlling the American cane and replanting shrubs, trees using Cocoons, and the incorporation of bioengineering techniques. STUDY OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OF LES PLANES D’HOSTOLES Within the program of the Planes d’Hostoles IBI’s appropriation we have carried out a diagnosis of the natural environment. This has allowed us to identify the natural spaces of greater interest in the municipality, and to develop an action plan for its conservation for years to come. STUDY OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OF SANT HILARI In Sant Hilari we have also carried out a diagnosis of the natural environment, with the corresponding action program, also within the municipal IBI’s appropriation for the conservation of the natural environment. OTHER CONSULTANCY ACTIVITIES Two projects for the restoration and conservation of the natural environment have been created for the Diputació de Girona, one for the regulation of the attendance of people in the gorgues of Sant Privat d’en Bas, and another for the maintenance of the Estany de Sils’ lagoon. LAND STEWARDSHIP AGRICULTURAL STEWARDSHIP In 2019, we have been giving continuous advice to producers in land stewardship within the framework of el Rebost de Can Moragues Pantry project (Carasso Foundation), which began in 2017. We currently have Maria Riera (vegetable garden, Palafolls), Julià Masó (vegetable garden and extensive, Sant Hilari Sacalm), Pere Armengol (extensive, Riudarenes), Ecopollastre (chicken, Riudarenes) and Albert Horta (hazelnut, Brunyola), and also two or three more producers are planned to join soon. This year, about five visits per producer in land stewardship have been made, where producers have received help to regenerate soil and solve problems with pests. Several High Natural Value actions have been implemented on the producers’ farms, such as giving away 90 aromatic plants and a nest of solitary bees for four of these producers, thanks to the participation of the ha-bee-tat project, run by the Abejas Silvestres association. A recent addition to the land stewarship producers with whom we have agreements is: Albert Horta, hazelnut producer from Brunyola. Albert owns several acres of black hazelnut and has turned organic one of his acres with our help. Right now we have started a plan to regenerate the soil and add shrubby vegetation to promote biological pest control and prevent soil erosion. WETLANDS STEWARDSHIP Wetlands stewardship has allowed the recovery of two very important ponds for the european pond terrapin population, and the creation of a new pond to promote breeding areas near the town of Caldes de Malavella. In addition, various actions have been carried out to maintain the space, as well as the annual censuses of european pond terrapin and amphibians. EDUCATION DATA ON ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES The organisation has an environmental education activities offer aimed at schools, from kindergarten to high school. The offer consists of 10 diverse activities. For the 2019/20 courses, we have incorporated new activities on interesting subjects that often are overlooked, such as: The sources of Salitja through a basket; The world to farmers; The Forgotten Grains and The Sun, a source for recharging batteries. Apart from these, we also offer some customized activities for those schools or groups that ask us to do so. In 2019, 1,312 students aged between 3 and 14 took part in the workshops, with a total of 52 workshops. Some of the centers that have participated in our activities have been able to enjoy the financial support of the Mar al Cims project of the Diputació de Girona. DATA ON ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES The Emys Foundation carries out various activities to publicise its work and the main problems that affect the biodiversity of the spaces it guards. These actions have directly reached a total of 1,435 people. • Volunteers, Scouts, Recreation Groups and citizens in general at Fundació Emys (378 participants) • Volunteers and outreach days within the environmental education project “Promotion of environmental education and awareness in favor of the preservation of wetlands with turtles of Catalonia” (375 participants) • Activities “El Rebost de Can Moragues, a door to new agriculture” (224 attendees) • Nature Conservation Work Camp in La Plana de la Selva (23 participants, 4 monitors) • “Lake of Sils” International Labor Camp (24 participants, 3 monitors) • Summer environmental house “Journey to the center of the Earth” (114 attendees) • Winter and Easter environmental