the Regional Government Nursery Net and were managed taking into account the
locality of origin. A previous experience shows that planting depth is a critical
factor and the saplings were buried to half of their height in order to be closer to
the phreatic level. Tree guards of plastic mesh (60 cm in height, 21 cm in diameter)
were used to reduce rabbit predation; the plastic mesh also avoided an overheating
effect.
Survival monitoring of saplings showed a mean of 35 % with a high variation
depending on local conditions. Adverse climatic conditions during the second
hydrological year (less than 200 mm of annual precipitation) caused a high
decrease in survival rate (46 % ± 10). On the other hand, the presence of a canopy
of pine trees was identified as a favorable factor for sapling survival by reducing
radiation and temperature in the initial phase of establishment. However, a longterm objective should be to substitute the pine plantation.
As noted above, coastal pine plantations change the physical environment, plant
composition, and diversity of juniper communities, and affect mature juniper
performance and natural regeneration. With the aim of increasing the natural
regeneration of maritime juniper, several activities have been carried out in order
to restore, at least partially, the physical environmental conditions of its habitat. In
addition to these, alien species, such as Carpobrotus edulis, that occupy juniper
areas and prevent seedling establishment were also removed. To reverse this situation, several treatments were carried out in pine plantations and in stands
containing the neophyte C. edulis. These treatments affected 215 ha and consisted
mainly in pine tree clearings, including pruning and felling of pine individuals
selected according to their vicinity to junipers. Hand removal of C. edulis was also
carried out, affecting 8.6 ha.
Actions to reduce the impact of human activities, such as trampling and use of
motor vehicles, were carried out in the Enebrales de Punta Umbría Natural
Landscape. Here, new wooden paths crossing the dune area between the beach and
the road were built. Bike-lane protection, barriers for motor vehicles, and informative and interpretative signs were also installed. The purpose of these measures
was to avoid motor vehicles passing through the juniper stand, and to channelize
the walking paths of beach users to avoid sand erosion and direct damage to plants.
No doubt, an essential part of any conservation or restoration project, including
habitat changes, is the involvement of the inhabitants of and visitors to the territory
affected. Therefore, complementary activities to raise the awareness of local
inhabitants within the distribution area of maritime juniper and environmental
education were implemented. The purpose was to make several social groups
aware of the necessity of preserving juniper trees and their habitat. Three different
sub-programs were developed:
1. ‘‘Enebrando dunas,’’ in which 20 schools and 810 children in elementary
education participated.
2. ‘‘Proyecto Enebro,’’ an environmental volunteering project.
3. ‘‘Conoce tus enebrales,’’ guided interpretative visits to nearby maritime juniper
woodlands.
9 Restoration of Andalusian Coastal Juniper Woodlands
153
locality of origin. A previous experience shows that planting depth is a critical
factor and the saplings were buried to half of their height in order to be closer to
the phreatic level. Tree guards of plastic mesh (60 cm in height, 21 cm in diameter)
were used to reduce rabbit predation; the plastic mesh also avoided an overheating
effect.
Survival monitoring of saplings showed a mean of 35 % with a high variation
depending on local conditions. Adverse climatic conditions during the second
hydrological year (less than 200 mm of annual precipitation) caused a high
decrease in survival rate (46 % ± 10). On the other hand, the presence of a canopy
of pine trees was identified as a favorable factor for sapling survival by reducing
radiation and temperature in the initial phase of establishment. However, a longterm objective should be to substitute the pine plantation.
As noted above, coastal pine plantations change the physical environment, plant
composition, and diversity of juniper communities, and affect mature juniper
performance and natural regeneration. With the aim of increasing the natural
regeneration of maritime juniper, several activities have been carried out in order
to restore, at least partially, the physical environmental conditions of its habitat. In
addition to these, alien species, such as Carpobrotus edulis, that occupy juniper
areas and prevent seedling establishment were also removed. To reverse this situation, several treatments were carried out in pine plantations and in stands
containing the neophyte C. edulis. These treatments affected 215 ha and consisted
mainly in pine tree clearings, including pruning and felling of pine individuals
selected according to their vicinity to junipers. Hand removal of C. edulis was also
carried out, affecting 8.6 ha.
Actions to reduce the impact of human activities, such as trampling and use of
motor vehicles, were carried out in the Enebrales de Punta Umbría Natural
Landscape. Here, new wooden paths crossing the dune area between the beach and
the road were built. Bike-lane protection, barriers for motor vehicles, and informative and interpretative signs were also installed. The purpose of these measures
was to avoid motor vehicles passing through the juniper stand, and to channelize
the walking paths of beach users to avoid sand erosion and direct damage to plants.
No doubt, an essential part of any conservation or restoration project, including
habitat changes, is the involvement of the inhabitants of and visitors to the territory
affected. Therefore, complementary activities to raise the awareness of local
inhabitants within the distribution area of maritime juniper and environmental
education were implemented. The purpose was to make several social groups
aware of the necessity of preserving juniper trees and their habitat. Three different
sub-programs were developed:
1. ‘‘Enebrando dunas,’’ in which 20 schools and 810 children in elementary
education participated.
2. ‘‘Proyecto Enebro,’’ an environmental volunteering project.
3. ‘‘Conoce tus enebrales,’’ guided interpretative visits to nearby maritime juniper
woodlands.
9 Restoration of Andalusian Coastal Juniper Woodlands
153