ALFAwetlands contains 9 Living Labs in 10 European countries. One of them, comprising 4 sites, is located in Spain and is managed by the University of Barcelona.
Tordera: relict flooded forests in the Mediterranean Basin
Roureda de Tordera is a forested area (35 ha) located in the lowlands of the La Tordera River. The uniqueness of the study site lies in the periods of natural annual flooding over 4-7 months in the Mediterranean region. These conditions provide a refugee for Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) that has there its most southern limit of distribution and co-exist there with narrow-leaved Ash (Fraxinus angustifolia). The flooding is not homogeneous across the area, but follows a gradient from dry to flooded zones due to the orography of the place. Here, University of Barcelona team (UB team) is measuring measure soil, water and tree-stem greenhouse gas emissions (N₂O, CO₂, CH₄) along the flooding gradient to assess the potential emissions of this relict ecosystem in the Mediterranean basin.
Cànoves: riparian forests as natural water filters
Riparian forest floodplains are vital ecosystems that regulate nutrient exchange between terrestrial and aquatic systems, buffer diffuse pollution, and retain emerging contaminants. These interfaces support high biodiversity and play a crucial role in nutrient uptake, particularly nitrogen, in Mediterranean regions where denitrification processes are limited. At our Cànoves site, UB team aims to evaluate the efficiency of riparian zones in retaining and transforming dissolved organic carbon, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), and emerging pollutants. To achieve this, UB team uses a system that supplies water from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) via subsurface flow. Our goal is to demonstrate the complementary role of riparian forests in nutrient transformation. UB team had measured soil and groundwater nutrient concentrations across the riparian area, as well as greenhouse gas emissions (N₂O, CO₂, CH₄) from soil and tree stems.
Two relict peatlands: Rubió and Estanyeres
Rubió and Estanyeres: relict peatlands in the Pyrenees
High-mountain peat bogs in the Pyrenees are relict ecosystems (<1 ha) that originated after the last glaciation. Over millennia, these ecosystems have accumulated organic matter, supporting complex biodiversity, acting as carbon sinks, and providing water resources and habitats. However, they are increasingly vulnerable to climate change and anthropogenic pressures, particularly overgrazing. UB team study sites, Rubió and Estanyeres, are two of these relict peatlands. Since 2016, selective livestock exclusion through partial enclosures has prevented grazing and trampling, allowing peatlands to recover its particular vegetation cover.
As part of the ALFAwetlands project, UB team aims to assess whether grazing exclusion can also reduce the overall soil greenhouse gas emissions in these ecosystems. Heavy livestock trampling exposes large amounts of peat, which can oxidize easily and release significant CO₂ into the atmosphere, thereby reducing the peatland’s capacity as a carbon sink.
Coastal wetlands of Les Madrigueres in El Vendrell
Les Madrigueres: challenges and restoration of coastal wetlands
Coastal wetlands and salt marshes are among the most productive ecosystems and play a crucial role in combating climate change. They sequester greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide in plants and soil while providing essential ecosystem services, such as improving water quality, buffering erosion, and serving as habitats for commercially valuable fish. However, human activities, particularly tourism along the Mediterranean coast, have degraded these habitats, leading to biodiversity loss and reduced ecosystem services.
To address this, restoration efforts are planned for the coastal wetlands of Les Madrigueres in El Vendrell (These efforts focus on conserving and promoting priority habitats, including coastal lagoons, dunes, and marshes. Restoration actions aim to recover lagoons, restore the morphological and functional attributes of marshes and dunes, and protect endangered species such as Charadrius alexandrinus and Aphanius iberus (both listed under the IUCN Directive 92/43/EEC). Additional goals include fostering aquatic plants like Ruppia maritima and Chara hispida, which thrive in challenging conditions such as soil anoxia and high salinity.
Within ALFAwetlands, this is the only living lab site representing a coastal wetland. Here, UB team aims to quantify carbon gas fluxes and identify key factors driving their variability in two newly created coastal lagoons, established in 2017. These lagoons differ significantly in their physicochemical and biological characteristics, primarily due to differences in confinement and seawater exchange during storms. One lagoon is more connected to freshwater and is dominated by Chara, while the other is more influenced by seawater and dominated by phytoplankton.
This post is prepared and photo provided by Silvia Poblador Ibañez from the University of Barcelona, ALFAwetlands partner