Lake of Sils: management and restoration of a protected Catalan wetlands

The general objective of the work camp is to show the environmental reality of a territory and how to intervene in it by: 1. Contributing to the improvement and conservation of the Natural Area of Sils wetlands. 2. Knowing the biodiversity and the characteristic habitats of these humid zones 3. Knowing the landstewardship, the actors in the territory that participate and good practices. 4. Transmitting values of cooperation and respect towards the environment and its inhabitants. 5. Offering a space for exchange and discovery of the different realities of the participants, mainly in environmental issues and for the conservation and management of natural spaces. 6. Encouraging responsible consumption in every way. On the one hand, as an important measure for our environment; on the other hand, in the use of new technologies and other aspects related to the care of oneself and the community. 7. Promoting participants to become diffusers. 8. Showing Catalan culture through vividness and networking. The technical work that will be done: Sils Lake is a protected natural area included in the Plan of Spaces of Natural Interest (PEIN) of Catalonia. It is part of the European Network of Natural Spaces Natura 2000, which is at the core of European biodiversity policies. In recent centuries, areas of natural flooding have receded and today they are scarce in Catalonia. In our Mediterranean context, the conservation of spaces such as the Sils Lake has become of the highest interest. Due to its special humidity and flood conditions, several species of flora and fauna characteristic of wetlands are still preserved in this area. That is why the restoration of this area has been carried out since last year, in order to make it a biodiversity reserve of both fauna and flora and an important point of rest, food and shelter for a large variety of birds and other animals. During the summer of last year, the third international field of work was carried out at Sils Lake in order to recover the sheet of water and restore the adjacent areas and infrastructure. However, there were many tasks left to do due to the situation in the pond. That is why this year we want to continue with the work begun and focus on all the things that were left to us. The spaces where volunteers will work are: - Permanent lagoon. - Old viewpoint. - Water canal. - Infrastructures. Each space has associated tasks to be performed this year, of which a detailed technical sheet has been prepared for the work to be done, indicating the spaces where they will be performed. These tasks are: - Elimination of invasive flora. - Make deeper two ponds. - Nest box traking. - Maintenance and restoration of infrastructure. - Fixation of points of insolation on the shores and garbage collection.

The accommodation is located in the "Sala Cultural" of La Laguna (the local cultural center). La Laguna is a space of about 800m2, with different rooms. On the one hand, at the bottom there is a very large entrance that is used as an entrance but also as a room for activities due to its capacity. And right next door it has a kitchen. On the other hand, there are separate boys and girls toilets, between this room and the large room. The large hall is about 510 m2, where all kinds of activities take place (plays, dances, etc.). This would be the sleeping and resting area for the participants. At the top there are two more spaces, which would be "el galliner" and a very large corridor that is also used as a room for some activities. In addition, it has two offices and a material and cleaning room. The equipment has a kitchen with the basics and the food as much as possible will be organic. The menu is balanced so that it provides all the necessary nutrients with the environment in mind, but since they consume practically no fish and little meat, it means no meat is eaten daily. No problem if you are vegetarian, vegan and/or with allergies and/or intolerance. The dining room is equipped with tables and benches, and there will be an area of toilets and showers. In addition, we hope to be able to go to the pool and, in our case, exceptionally, use the showers of that equipment.

Sils will be your accommodation town in your stage in Catalunya. Sils is a municipality and town of the “comarca de la Selva”. It is located at the bottom of the “comarca” plain and its southern third was occupied until the mid-nineteenth century by the lake of Sils, which we will restore. The town has 6.093 citizens and it’s located near Girona, Lloret de Mar or Sta. Coloma de Farners. Lake Sils is a protected natural area in accordance with the legislation of the Generalitat de Catalunya, and has been proposed to be included in the European Natura 2000 network. It is the remains of a lagoon that was drained in the past in order to obtain new farmland and fight malaria. However, thanks to the conditions of special humidity and the annual floods, species of flora and fauna characteristic of the humid zones are still conserved. In recent centuries, areas of natural flooding in Catalonia have suffered a major recession and are currently scarce in Catalonia. On the other hand, in a predominantly Mediterranean context, the conservation of natural spaces such as the Sils lake is one of the most interest. There will be leisure activities every day, and some days some excursions, here attached a list of the main activities that will be done: - Knowledge activities - Group cohesion dynamics - Self management activities "Do it together" - Bats observation - Dynamic on gender - Excursion to Can Moragues, headquarters of Fundació Emys. A country house, situated in Riudarenes, next to Sils. - Excursion to Girona - Excursion to Costa Brava town - Excursion to Farners Castle - Experience how we do human castles