At the Siruela Communal Farm, shrub islands have been planted with the aim of increasing biodiversity and restoring degraded areas of the pastureland.
A total of 16 shrub islands have been created, distributed as follows:
Around the small livestock pond: 6 islands of 36 m² each, protected with electro-welded mesh, with 180 seedlings per island and 12 species selected according to their ecological function in the pasture system.
Inside the 1.5-hectare enclosure: 10 scrub islands, with 156 plants per island (12 species, 13 specimens of each).
After 2.5 years of monitoring, the average survival rate was 39%, showing that most species have acceptable survival rates. The differences observed reflect the different ecological needs of each species, their adaptation to the soil and climate of the area, as well as the pressure from livestock in unprotected areas.
Among the most successful species are: Cistus monspeliensis (65%), Salvia officinalis (68%), Phillyrea angustifolia (55%) and Teucrium fruticans (51%). On the other hand, the species with the lowest survival rates were Arbutus unedo (11%) and Myrtus communis (15%).
This intervention reinforces the ecological resilience of the pastureland, creating microhabitats that promote biodiversity and contribute to a more balanced and sustainable ecosystem.
