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Springscare
Springs are among the most sensitive indicators of global climate change and hold significant cultural importance for many communities, making them an essential part of our heritage. They play a vital role in the health and longevity of our society and our planet. These habitats are also crucial indicators for assessing the health of groundwater. The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) establishes a clear link between the state and sustainability objectives of groundwater and the maintenance of dependent terrestrial ecosystems, which are often associated with specific springs and water sources.
Very little research has focused on spring ecosystems or the species that depend on them. This lack of attention has led to their degradation, resulting in habitat loss that constitutes a global environmental crisis and a loss of cultural heritage.
This project was initiated in 2021 to carry out preservation activities for springs in La Vall d’en Bas (La Garrotxa), which are located in the headwaters of the Fluvià River, using citizen science tools.
The first reconnaissance visits to the springs took place in September 2021, and seven springs were selected:
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Springs in the municipality of Sant Privat: Cal Monjo/Can Cuc; del Roc; Tortonell
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Springs in the municipality of Joanetes: Can Gelada and Can Piqué (Can Benet)
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Springs in the municipality of Hostalets d’en Bas: Les Fogoses, La Clapera
These springs, aside from their fragility due to climate change, face issues related to human activity: they are located in areas subjected to overuse (rivers and pools that become heavily frequented swimming spots in the summer). Therefore, it is essential to raise awareness and empower the community through knowledge, develop monitoring and conservation efforts, and foster collective awareness and management with local residents and entities.
Main objectives:
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Increase local scientific knowledge about the existing spring ecosystem to enhance their value and disseminate the importance of these habitats, which have the highest biodiversity rates in mountain areas of the Mediterranean region.
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Cultivate and promote scientific learning among the population, as well as their critical perspective, through processes of questioning the current situation and the causes that have led to it.
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Understand the condition and needs of the selected springs and their ecosystems through in-situ data collection, monitoring, and analysis.
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Promote local leadership in spring conservation to recognize and ensure the social, cultural, environmental, and economic value they hold.
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Make the local community sensitive to the problems, difficulties, or deficiencies present in their immediate environment.
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Create collaboration links between the population, landowners, and local entities.
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Know, collect, and preserve the cultural and historical heritage related to the selected springs.
Activities:
Some activities are aimed at people who want to become spring custodians, to create a network of individuals who learn to care for the selected springs and monitor them, following the Territorial Sustainability Circles approach. To achieve this, contacts are made with neighborhood associations and involved socio-cultural entities, also requesting their help in spreading this initiative to reach a broader social spectrum.
For volunteers who want to become custodians, the project activities are structured as follows:
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Phase I: Explanation of the project through a participatory workshop field trip about the selected springs, their biodiversity, and ecosystem services. This also includes gathering local information.
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Phase II: Collection of scientific data for understanding, assessing, and monitoring the state of the spring ecosystems. This phase includes several field trips accompanied by technical staff, as well as self-managed data collection by the volunteers.
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Phase III: Workshop for gathering and sharing the work and knowledge acquired, and developing proposals for a future common strategy.
Lastly, a fourth phase, also open to the general public in the region:
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Phase IV: Public presentation of the project and citizen science work as a tool for local knowledge and empowerment.
Unfortunately, only Phase I could be developed due to not meeting the requirements for funding from the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT).
Materials:
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Summary table identifying the services provided by the springs
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Summary table identifying the pressures and possible impacts on the springs
Temporal scope:
2021-2022. Currently the CST doesn't participate in an active way but there is a network of people who are taken care of the different springs.
CST Team:
Mireia Jiménez and Llorenç Planagumà
Support:
