fotografías españoles - European Union ‘Life+ Project’ 1600 to 2000 meter high Ski Resort San Isidro Province of Leon Espaňa
Project Life+ ski resort San Isidro Spain
The reforestation area lies between 1600 and 2000 meter no tree is capable to germinate and start to grow here by itself
Snow covers the soil between October 1 and May 20
After May 20 temperatures rise high so planting in May is impossible as it is too hot and too dry
So we have planted thousands of trees - look at the huge number of planting holes - in September 2011
Thousands of trees have been planted in biodegradable therefore yellow waterboxxes
The trees are necessary to help prevent avalanches of either snow or stones
The avalanches are destroying everything that's in their way. Trees can help preventing this
We check the survival rate aftter winter - it is above 95%
The soil is rocky and without box it is impossible to replant
This is the structure of the 'soil'.....
But below the waterboxx the soil is humid and soft
We have planted 10% of the saplings without waterboxx as a control group
Without waterboxx the saplings are destroyed because of the meters of snow on it, that move slowly downwards during winter
Here you see an example of a waterboxx that we still found below the snow on May 29 2012
We tried to take it out but the snow was hard
So we tried to 'chop' the snow away with a stone
We filmed the action for a YouTube video
You see how well protected the young sapling is
Jaime Martin from Diputacion de Leon, responsable for the project, makes photos
This is the photo he made to check the same plant next year and compare
A nice view of a box on approximately 1900 meters high
Only avalanches if they occur are a problem but the frost doesn't damage the Groasis waterboxx
Beautiful lichens make stones colourful
Checking the results
Fabio Cesariny from Revoltosa Films Madrid makes a documentary for Life+
These are the challenges - low temperature, snow and stones - harsh environments for saplings
But after the winter when temperatures rise the saplings grow well
In 2020 this whole area will be covered with trees and avalanche free
L to R Christof van Hulle from Sylma tree supplier - Jaime Martin Project manager Diputacion de Leon - Egbert-Jan Sonneveld Groasis Espana
