As part of the actions to improve the environment of the pastureland, 10 shrub islands have been created on the Valcorchero estate with the aim of increasing biodiversity and restoring woody vegetation in areas completely devoid of vegetation cover.
These islands, each measuring 36 m², were enclosed by a protective fence and planted in January 2023 with a total of 180 seedlings per island, representing 16 different species selected for their ecosystem value in the context of the pastureland system. Since their planting, regular maintenance and replacement of lost plants have been carried out.
Two years later, monitoring data indicate an average survival rate of 30% for all species, with varying results depending on the species:
- ? Ulex europaeus: 52%
- ? Cistus spp. (three species): 37-48%
- ? Salvia spp. (two species): 43%
- ? In contrast, species such as Genista hirsuta, Arbutus unedo and Myrtus communis show low survival rates (7-14%).
Despite the challenges, persistent green areas are already visible on these islands, even where the surrounding natural grass has disappeared due to the effects of the summer drought. This demonstrates the stabilising and resilient role of these species in the landscape.
? Looking ahead, monitoring of wildlife associated with these shrub islands — pollinators, birds, reptiles and amphibians — will continue to assess their positive impact on the overall biodiversity of the farm.
This action is a concrete example of how ecological planning and adaptive management can improve the environmental functionality of Mediterranean agroforestry systems, increasing their resilience to climate change and contributing to biodiversity conservation.
More measures taken at the Valcorchero farm here.
