Stop Cortaderia +. Development and implementation of a transnational alliance against Cortaderia

Introduction

The Project LIFE COOP Cortaderia “Stop Cortaderia + Development and implementation of a transnational alliance against Cortaderia”, with an expected duration of 5 years, has as general objective the dynamization of cooperation and coordinated action for the control and confinement of Cortaderia selloana (CS) in the Atlantic Arc.

Objectives

The project aims to:

1. Improve public and private governance to deal effectively with the invasion.
2. Control Cortaderia populations, especially protecting coastal Natura 2000 areas and river corridors.
3. Work on the confinement of the species, with an expected result of 1,000 hectares eliminated.
4. Favor the transfer of scientific and technical knowledge to other biogeographic regions where CS is also a problem, arising from the activities carried out during the execution of the project, thanks to the transnational alliance (now with 160 entities; objective 250).

Strategic Foundations

To this end, it works according to the strategic foundations agreed in the "Transnational Strategy to combat CS in the Atlantic Arc", which arose during the LIFE STOP Cortaderia project (LIFE17 NAT/ES/495).

Consortium

The consortium, formed by 11 partners, is established throughout the Atlantic Arc of Portugal, Spain, and France, with partners established in each of the work territories:

• Central Portugal
• Northern Portugal
• Galicia
• Asturias
• Cantabria
• Basque Country
• Nouvelle Aquitaine

The profile of the partners highlights the complementarity of entities working for people with disabilities (SAEMA, AMPROS, and SERCA), nature conservation entities (SEO/BirdLife, AGA, and CEN), public entities (DFG, CMVNG, and CPA), and research centers specialized in human health (IDIVAL) and invasive alien species (IPC).

Impact

Together they are working to reduce the presence of CS, which is capable of colonizing habitats of community interest in degraded areas, especially in the coastal strip of the Atlantic Arc, where mild temperatures and high rainfall help the invasive plant to develop.