Page 58 - FCC-N9-eng

Considering that the preventive measures
were applied gradually during the different
phases of the project, we will focus on the
corrective and compensatory measures
that are being applied at the Natural Despe-
ñaperros Park in Jaén as part of the effec-
tive planning carried out by FCC to fght
against the degradation of the ecosystem.
Planning of these measures frst requires a
methodical study of several terrain-related
aspects vegetation, fauna, animal cros-
sings, rivers, brooks, etc. The corrective
measures in this case were designed to
address the impact of construction activity,
particularly the recovery of the landscape
and vegetation. The most salient of these
measures include: the restoration of landfll
sites and paths by planting trees and bus-
hes. Trees and other species will be plan-
ted in the areas which were affected by the
viaducts and the animal crossings. Lastly
because of the rough terrain, a special
treatment will be applied to the slopes and
embankments by means of hydroseeding,
which is more suitable for this terrain since
conventional techniques could not be used
to plant the slopes.
The corrective
measures to address the
impact of construction
activities have focused on
recovering the landscape
and vegetation.
The measures designed to offset the
project’s impact on the ecosystem can be
classifed into two groups: measures to
save the vegetation and those aimed at
compensating the autochthonous fauna.
The latter measures were of particular eco-
logical interest since the objective was to
reduce the mortality rate of lynxes due to
unnatural causes. To this end, wells were
fxed, eating and drinking areas were built
and road signs were improved to prevent
lynxes from being run over by vehicles.
The natural habitat of the Iberian lynx was
also improved thanks to selective pruning,
by building fences, creating refuges, and
controlling predators. In short, the protec-
tion of special areas for this animal will be
encouraged by extending the planting of
grasslands to connect lynx populations by
creating corridors. Heaps and artifcial rab-
bit warrens will also be expanded to increa-
se the mountain rabbit population.
Some of the compensatory measures affec-
ting vegetation include the morphological
restoration and re-planting at the Las Mon-
jas curve, currently not in service. Efforts
are also being made to increase the popu-
lation of the Centaurea tricolour, a species
of great botanic interest since it is typical of
the Sierra Morena and Despeñaperros area
and is in the Ministry of the Environment’s
list of endangered species.
Other important measures to improve ve-
getation in the area include the annual co-
llection of seeds, conservation and plan-
ting in the Natural Park surroundings, the
improvement of vegetation on the banks of
the Despeñaperros River, respecting and
increasing those already in place, collec-
ting waste from the beds of the Cuchareros
Brook and the river in the area surrounding
the intersection of the new highway.
All these measures will be monitored on an
annual basis over a fve-year period after
the project is completed, according to pro-
jections, by the end of this year.