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The Consorci de la Ribera hosts a transnational meeting of the European RISE Resilient Communities project
Alzira, 7 May 2026.
The Consorci de la Ribera, comprising the Ribera Alta and Ribera Baixa associations of municipalities, has hosted a transnational meeting of the RISE Resilient Communities project, part of the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme. Representatives from Spain, Italy, Ukraine, Turkey and Ireland have worked together with the aim of preparing citizens for natural disasters through adult education, digital learning and innovation. Toni Barea, president of the Consorci de la Ribera, and the departments of environmental education and economic development took part in the event.
RISE promotes proactive post-disaster recovery and long-term community resilience. The project is developing a training programme aimed at more than 80 educators and community leaders and will involve more than 250 adult learners in affected areas. It covers scenarios such as earthquakes, forest fires, floods, storms and wars. Indeed, the analysis of lessons learnt from the 2024 DANA was one of the key topics discussed during the meeting.
The initiative aims to achieve a series of objectives through the exchange of knowledge across Europe, addressing a range of challenges. These include researching, identifying and compiling best practices in the field of recovery through a guide to good practice, a digital database of strategies and the analysis of case studies.
Knowledge, skills and tools will also be provided to improve the resilience and sustainable recovery capacity of communities. To achieve this, a transnational curriculum is being developed, which includes measures such as training modules with digital tools, a pilot training programme, environmental workshops and an online learning portal.
In addition, collaborative and technology-based innovation for post-disaster recovery will be promoted, with the aim of developing scalable, community-driven solutions to foster resilience. The results will be channelled through a virtual innovation lab.
“The DANA storm confirmed that we need to be better prepared for flooding and climate-related risks that may affect our region. The RISE project gives us the opportunity to exchange experiences with other European countries and strengthen our resilience to disasters,” says Toni Barea.
RISE Resilient Communities is coordinated by the Consorci de la Ribera. The other partners are EXO Società Consortile (Italy), Building Ukraine Together (Ukraine), Antalya Bilim University (Turkey) and two organisations from Ireland: Momentum Educate + Innovate and Gairmeach Training Limited.
The Consorci de la Ribera and Limne install 15 information panels to raise awareness of flood risk
- The network of information boards, located at strategic points across the thirteen municipalities involved in the project, provides guidance on how to protect oneself during floods and details the environmental restoration work carried out.
- The initiative aims to change the public’s perception of the river, linking the recovery of the riparian forest with the region’s resilience to severe weather events.
- The project is supported by the Fundación Biodiversidad del Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico (MITECO) as part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
30 March 2026.- The Consorci de la Ribera, comprising the Ribera Alta and Ribera Baixa associations of municipalities, and the Fundació Limne have completed the installation of a network of 15 environmental information panels in the municipalities participating in the “Canya a la Canya” project. These displays, situated in public areas close to the project sites but above flood levels, serve as an educational window into risk management and river biodiversity.
Risk culture and self-protection
The content of the panels gives a central role to “flood risk management”. Using maps specific to each locality, residents can visually identify flood-prone areas for return periods of 10, 100 and 500 years. This information is complemented by a practical guide to emergency response, which includes vital advice such as avoiding garages, abandoning your vehicle if the water rises above the axles, or securing toxic substances in high places.
The project’s organisers emphasise that the severity of phenomena such as DANAs, linked to rising sea temperatures, makes it necessary to “rethink the territory” and provide the public with early warning systems and accessible risk maps.
Summary of the ‘Canya a la Canya’ project
The information boards also serve as a public summary of the project’s achievements (2022–2025) along a 75-kilometre stretch of the river. Among the figures available for public consultation are: vegetation restoration through the planting of over 61,600 helophytes, 35,700 shrubs and 1,300 native trees; the removal of invasive species through the mechanical clearing of 172,210 m² of invasive reed (Arundo donax) and the management of 2,120 m² of reed beds; and bioengineering and floodplain management measures that have enabled the stabilisation of 4,830 m² of riverbanks and the conversion of former abandoned farmland into floodplains to reduce the force of floods, providing 27,771 m² of flood resistance capacity.
Furthermore, during the project, great emphasis was placed on public information, with over 400 environmental education activities carried out, involving more than 8,000 people.
A joint commitment to resilience
Both the Consorci de la Ribera and the Fundació Limne emphasise that these panels serve as a link between technical intervention and raising public awareness. The environmental information network has been installed in Sumacàrcer, Antella, Gavarda, Alberic, Benimuslem, Alzira, Algemesí, Albalat de la Ribera, Polinyà de Xúquer, Sueca, Riola, Fortaleny and Cullera.
This project is supported by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) as part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
The “Canya a la canya” project comes to an end, significantly exceeding its targets for the removal of invasive reed
- Over the 28 months of the project, 172,210 m² of invasive reed has been removed, exceeding the 142,012 m² initially planned.
- The “Canya a la canya” project leaves a 75 km green corridor in La Ribera.
- The project is supported by the Fundación Biodiversidad of the Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico (MITECO) as part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
25 March 2026.– The ‘Canya a la canya’ project has come to an end, having significantly exceeded the objectives set at the outset. Launched in November 2023, it was originally due to conclude in December 2025, but was extended until March 2026 as a result of the effects of the 2024 DANA, which disrupted some of the activities. The project has been implemented by the Consorci de la Ribera, comprising the Ribera Alta and Ribera Baixa associations of municipalities, and the Fundació Limne.
This initiative was launched with the aim of mitigating the risk and impact of flooding by creating a 75-kilometre green corridor along the River Xúquer through a series of objectives: the removal of obstructions; the creation of flood retention areas; the restoration of the riverine environment; the improvement of infrastructure; and the stabilisation of the riverbanks. Work has been carried out in 13 municipalities in the Ribera Alta and Ribera Baixa regions: Sumacàrcer, Antella, Gavarda, Alberic, Benimuslem, Alzira, Algemesí, Albalat de la Ribera, Polinyà de Xúquer, Sueca, Riola, Fortaleny and Cullera. The objectives have been successfully achieved and have far exceeded the initial forecast.
The main action – the removal of Arundo donax – has cleared a total of 172,210 m² of this invasive alien species from the riverbanks. This represents 121.26% of the figure estimated prior to the project, which was 142,012 m². In addition, 63,800 m² of geotextile that was damaged during the 2024 DANA had to be replaced.
The objectives for the management and control of native vegetation have also been exceeded, with the removal of 2,021 m² of reed beds and the management of 63 trees in poor condition and 2,120 m² of shrubs. Furthermore, more than 100,000 native riparian forest species have been planted in the cleared area.
In addition to removing the geotextile used during the “Canya a la canya” project to prevent the reeds from regrowing, more than 30,000 m² of abandoned geotextile from previous projects has been removed in the municipalities of Gavarda, Algemesí and Albalat de la Ribera. This figure once again exceeds the target, which was set at less than 6,000 m².
As for other technical measures, a key initiative has been the conversion of 27,771 m² of agricultural land into riverine habitat in the municipalities of Alberic, Alzira, Polinyà de Xúquer, Sueca and Cullera. In the first and last of these towns, this work has been made possible thanks to stewardship agreements with private landowners. Finally, 1,651 m² of bank stabilisation and backfilling has been carried out in Alzira, using the Krainer wall technique, and in Cullera, where a breakwater wall has been constructed.
The project has also carried out cross-cutting governance and participation initiatives, such as the creation of the Xúquer River Advisory Council, involving the Consorci de la Ribera, the Fundació Limne and local councils, as well as private individuals and organisations. Furthermore, 15 environmental information panels have been installed at various points along the river, and over 400 environmental education activities have been carried out, involving more than 8,000 people. These have given the public the opportunity to take part in meetings, community planting days, school workshops, conferences and interpretive trails.
To round things off, “Canya a la canya” opened its doors to local councils and the public for a closing event to mark the end of the project, during which an assessment was made of the actions carried out – which can be considered a success, as they met and exceeded expectations. Furthermore, it has prompted reflection on the need to build on the actions carried out with new initiatives that help to continue improving the environment of the River Xúquer and preventing the risk of flooding.
The “Canya a la canya” project is supported by the Fundación Biodiversidad of the Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico (MITECO) as part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
The Consorci de la Ribera and Limne present a roadmap to safeguard the conservation of the Xúquer at municipal level
- A comprehensive legal report, drawn up as part of the “Canya a la Canya” project, defines local powers to turn river restoration into stable public policy.
- The document has been presented to the newly established Advisory Council as the key tool for coordinating the management of urban watercourses, the fight against invasive species and sustainable public use.
- The project is supported by the Fundación Biodiversidad of the Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico (MITECO) as part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
24 March 2026.- Following the recent establishment of the Advisory Council for the promotion and conservation of river ecosystems, the Consorci de la Ribera, comprising the Ribera Alta and Ribera Baixa associations of municipalities, and the Fundació Limne have presented a pioneering legal report that clarifies and strengthens the role of local councils in the protection of the River Xúquer.
The report, drafted by experts in administrative and environmental law under the umbrella of the “Canya a la Canya” project, has a clear objective: to ensure that restoration actions are not isolated interventions, but are consolidated as part of the routine and planned management of each municipality.
A legal framework for local councils
Historically, the complexity of responsibilities within the public water domain has created uncertainty in local management. The new report presented by the Consorci and Limne clears up these doubts, emphasising that the Framework Law on Local Government and the recent reforms to the Public Water Domain Regulations fully empower local councils to take action on their urban sections. “We want every local council to have a clear roadmap, backed by legal certainty, to maintain what has been restored”, says Toni Barea Olmos, president of the Consorci de La Ribera.
The document highlights several key points, such as the possibility for local councils to implement multi-year maintenance programmes for selective cleaning and the control of invasive species (such as the well-known invasive reed Arundo donax) without constant authorisations, provided they have a favourable report from the Júcar River Basin Authority; the need to integrate the river into the municipalities’ General Urban Development Plans (PGOU), promoting Green Urban Planning that protects ecological corridors from human pressure and the urbanisation of floodplains; and the identification of the Municipal Natural Area as the ideal framework in the Valencian Community for local councils to lead the active conservation of their natural heritage.
Shared governance and stewardship of the territory
In its legal report, the Consorci de la Ribera y Limne places particular emphasis on the fact that the health of the Xúquer depends on cooperative governance. The Consorci reaffirms its role as the ideal vehicle for coordinating shared services, optimising costs and providing technical and legal assistance to local councils.
Furthermore, the report advocates for public-social collaboration, positioning the stewardship of the territory as a strategic approach. This model enables civil society organisations and local councils to sign agreements for ecological monitoring and public awareness-raising, ensuring that the local community feels jointly responsible for the care of their river.
About the Canya a la Canya project
The Canya a la Canya project, running from 2022 to 2026, has focused on creating a major green corridor between Sumacàrcer and Cullera, centred on the restoration of native biodiversity and the reduction of flood risk. The initiative has been supported by the Fundación Biodiversidad of the Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico (MITECO), as part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
Report on the local regulatory framework for green infrastructure
Meeting of the Advisory Council on River Ecosystems in La Ribera
- This advisory body has defined its definitive lines of action around six thematic areas.
- Implemented by the Consorci de la Ribera and the Fundació Limne, the ‘Canya a la canya’ project is progressing in the municipalities of La Ribera with the creation of a 75 km green corridor.
- The project has the support of the Fundación Biodiversidad of the Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico (MITECO) within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), financed by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
On Thursday 29 January, the Advisory Council for the Promotion and Conservation of River Ecosystems in La Ribera held a regular meeting at the headquarters of the Consorci de la Ribera, formed by the associations of municipalities of La Ribera Alta and La Ribera Baixa.
This advisory body, created within the framework of the Consorci de la Ribera and Fundació Limne ‘Canya a la Canya’ project, aims to strengthen coordination, participation and the definition of strategies for the promotion and conservation of river ecosystems in the Ribera del Xúquer region.
During the meeting, members analysed the various proposals for lines of action that had been presented. They also prioritised and defined the final lines of action, established around six thematic blocks considered to be priorities: flood prevention; ecological flows and the state of water bodies; management, conservation, restoration and maintenance; education, awareness-raising and citizen involvement; river stewardship; and tourism management. Finally, the following steps to be taken in the work of the Advisory Council were established.
With this session, the Consorci de la Ribera and the Fundació Limne reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable management and protection of river ecosystems, consolidating the role of the advisory council, created as part of the ‘Canya a la Canya’ project, as a key forum for participation and advice on environmental improvement in the region.
The ‘Canya a la Canya’ project is supported by the Fundación Biodiversidad of the Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico (MITECO) within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), financed by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
The “Canya a la canya” project uses aerial photography to assess the condition of the geotextile
- Aerial monitoring of the geotextile facilitates the tracking of invasive reed rhizomes and the planning of new interventions on the River Xúquer.
- The “Canya a la canya” project is progressing in the municipalities of La Ribera with the creation of a 75 km green corridor.
- The initiative, promoted by the Consorci de la Ribera and the Fundació Limne, will extend the actions by three months and continue with the EmpleaXúquer programme to generate green jobs.
15 January 2026.- The Consorci de la Ribera and the Fundació Limne continue to promote the “Canya a la canya” project, which aims to create a large green corridor between Sumacàrcer and the mouth of the Xúquer River in Cullera. The initiative focuses on the conservation and improvement of the river through actions to manage and control invasive species, restore native vegetation, remove obstructive materials, transform abandoned crops into river spaces and stabilise riverbanks.
During the second half of 2025, an aerial survey of the geotextile installed in different municipalities was carried out in order to assess the state of the invasive reed rhizome and plan the next actions on the Xúquer river, which will be carried out in the first months of 2026.
The green corridor being developed covers an area of 124,358 m² along 75 km of the Xúquer River, in the municipalities of Sumacàrcer, Antella, Gavarda, Alberic, Benimuslem, Alzira, Algemesí, Albalat de la Ribera, Polinyà de Xúquer, Sueca, Riola, Fortaleny and Cullera.
‘This is a strategic commitment for the municipalities of the Consortium, which, in addition to combating the risk of flooding and the effects of climate change, focuses on generating sustainable public use and encouraging citizen participation in the governance of the territory,’ said the organisation.
The “Canya a la canya” project is supported by the Fundación Biodiversidad of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO) within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), financed by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
Extension of the project duration due to the 2024 DANA
The project’s activities, which were initially scheduled to run until the end of 2025, will be extended for a further three months due to the damage caused by the DANA on 29 October 2024, which severely affected the territory.
Continuity with the EmpleaXúquer project
Once “Canya a la canya” has been completed, it will be continued with the EmpleaXúquer project, which is already underway. This initiative seeks to improve the employability of more than 40 unemployed people in La Ribera through training and recruitment in river restoration and conservation work.
The project, which will last 24 months (2025-2026), is structured in two phases: an initial phase of free training, to be carried out between June and July 2025, and a second phase, which involves the hiring of 16 ecological restorers for 12 months and 5 nature agents for 14 months.
This will not only ensure the continuity of conservation actions on the River Xúquer, but also create green jobs and reduce the impact of flooding in the region.
The “Canya a la canya” project promotes the conservation of the Júcar river to mitigate the effects of flooding
- The Fundació Limne signs an agreement with a landowner in Alberic to allocate more than 8,200 m2 of agricultural land to environmental restoration, creating a floodplain area.
- “Canya a la canya” is a project developed by the Consorci de La Ribera (formed by the Mancomunitat de la Ribera Alta and the Mancomunitat de la Ribera Baixa) and the Fundació Limne in 13 municipalities in the lower Xúquer basin.
- The project has the support of the Fundación Biodiversidad of the Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico (MITECO) within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), financed by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
26 November 2025.- The Fundació Limne Foundation, in its commitment to the protection and restoration of aquatic ecosystems, has formalised a Collaboration Agreement with a private landowner in Alberic (Ribera Alta), whose land borders the Public Water Domain of the Júcar River. This agreement is part of the River Stewardship initiative promoted by the ‘Canya a la Canya’ project, led by Limne and the Consorci de La Ribera since 2022.
The main objective of this collaboration is to develop river stewardship actions on an 8,275 m2 plot adjacent to the riverbed, with the clear aim of expanding the river space and creating a flood control area.
A necessary response after the DANA of 2024
This action is particularly relevant in the context of the serious effects that the DANA of October 2024 had on the Valencian Community. The tragedy highlighted, once again, the urgent need to give rivers more space so that they can naturally manage large flows of water, reducing the risk of flooding in urban and agricultural environments.
The stewardship agreement will enable various crucial ecological restoration actions to be carried out on the plot, such as the management and elimination of invasive alien species, such as reeds, the recovery of original or potential riparian vegetation, the design and implementation of actions to adapt and stabilise the banks, and ensuring compliance with the right of way.
The “Canya a la Canya” project as a driving force for river stewardship
The “Canya a la Canya” project, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU as part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR) through the Fundación Biodiversidad of the Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico, aims to ecologically restore more than 13 urban sections of the Xúquer River and promote river stewardship as a long-term tool to ensure collaboration between the administration and landowners linked to the river.
With this agreement, which will have an initial duration of two years and is renewable, the Fundació Limne reaffirms its role as a land stewardship entity specialising in aquatic ecosystems and undertakes to seek funding, apply for the necessary permits and ensure the proper implementation of the improvements, working together with the owner and the relevant authorities.
This restoration area, which gives more space to the river, joins other agricultural estates that are being used as floodplains in Alzira. These floodplains are areas that help to reduce the maximum flow of a flood, decreasing peak flows as they descend the river. This is because the water is temporarily stored in these larger areas, which protects downstream areas from flooding by moderating the peak of the flood.
Kick-off Meeting for the European EMMA project coordinated by the Consorci de la Ribera
19 November 2025, Cullera.
The EMMA project (European training systeM aiMed at smAll and medium-sized municipalities), coordinated by the Consorci de la Ribera, formed by the Mancomunitat de la Ribera Alta and the Mancomunitat de la Ribera Baixa, has been launched during the Kick-off Meeting held in Cullera on 18 and 19 November. This initiative is funded by the European Union through the ERASMUS+ programme and aims to improve emergency response in small and medium-sized municipalities through effective volunteer management.
The meeting began with an institutional welcome by the Ajuntament de Cullera and the presentation of the project partners. Subsequently, the meeting addressed several key issues of the project, such as project management and the identification and development of a methodological intervention model to serve as a common guide. Each institution contributed its point of view on disaster management based on the experiences of its territories, and there was discussion on the necessary training and the creation of a toolkit for technical staff in small and medium-sized local councils. In addition, issues related to the dissemination, promotion and sustainability of the project were addressed. At this meeting, the next steps and other technical issues were defined that will enable progress to be made in its implementation.
The working session was attended by the Consorci de la Ribera and the five partners involved in the project: the Consorzio Scuola Cominità Impresa (Italy), Telewander ApS (Denmark), the Universitatea Lucian Blaga Din Sibiu (Romania), the Ajuntament de Cullera and the municipality of Lake Plastira (Greece).
EMMA will provide information and training tools with the aim of strengthening the skills of staff in small and medium-sized municipalities in the coordination of volunteering. It will also implement technologies such as artificial intelligence and augmented reality. The project will run until September 2027, but all materials will be made available to municipalities and the public when it ends.
Toni Barea Olmos, new president of the Consorci de la Ribera
Toni Barea Olmos has been elected as the new president of the Consorci de la Ribera, the supramunicipal body formed by the associations of municipalities of Ribera Alta and Ribera Baixa. He took office during the extraordinary session of the General Meeting of the Consorci de la Ribera, held on Tuesday, 4 November 2025, in Alzira.
The new president is a councillor in the Alginet Town Council and replaces Josep Mur Díaz-Hellín, councillor in the Carlet Town Council, who has resigned from the position in accordance with the agreement reached at the beginning of the legislative term whereby each would assume the presidency for two years. Barea previously held the position of first vice-president of the Consorci de la Ribera and also holds the position of first vice-president of the Mancomunitat de la Ribera Alta.
«It is an immense honour for me to assume the presidency of the Consorci de la Ribera. I do so with respect, humility and full awareness of the responsibility involved in representing an institution that unites municipalities, projects and people with a common goal: to improve life in our region», said the president, who also had words of thanks for Josep Mur: «Thank you, Josep, for your dedication, your serenity and your understanding of public service».
Barea highlighted three fundamental areas that he wants to strengthen during his presidency: first, the efficiency of the Consorci de la Ribera as a public service close to local councils and citizens; second, the commitment to ecological transition and responsible resource management; and finally, the well-being and cohesion of the Ribera, without leaving any municipality behind. «I want this new stage to be one of dialogue and proximity. I want each local council to see the Consorci as an extension of its own work. I want the technical staff to continue to be the driving force behind ideas and initiatives. And I want citizens to see the Consorci as an ally, an institution that listens, responds and builds with them», he added.
The Consorci de la Ribera aims to manage collaboration agreements between the two associations and other bodies and to manage the areas under the Consorci’s responsibility: economic promotion, energy, tourism and environmental education.
In addition, it currently has very ambitious projects underway, such as Canya a la Canya, which will create a large 75-kilometre green corridor on the Xúquer River by eliminating invasive species in its flow.
Furthermore, the institution is ensuring animal welfare with the construction of two shelters for abandoned animals in conjunction with the associations of municipalities of Ribera Alta, Ribera Baixa and Safor: the first centre has recently been inaugurated in Tavernes de la Valldigna and the second, located in l’Alcúdia, will come into service in early 2026.
Other notable projects of the Consorci de la Ribera are EMMA and RISE Resilient Communities, two initiatives to combat disasters that are funded by the European Union through the ERASMUS+ programme. The first will improve the management of volunteers in emergencies, and the second will use adult education, digital learning and innovation.
In the area of energy, this department aims to contribute to the sustainable development of La Ribera by promoting renewable sources and energy saving. Its initiatives include the municipal energy assistance service, which helps local councils to meet their emission reduction commitments, while also combating energy poverty by advising citizens. Innovation is present in projects such as SMART STREET LIGHTING to achieve intelligent public lighting systems, the CEL LA RIBERA project to promote local energy communities, and the ADAPTA CPI project to define a methodology for adapting to climate change and renaturalising urban areas.