- The ‘Canya a la canya’ 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.
22 December 2023.- Alzira, one of the first towns to host the works of the Canya a la Canya project, was visited by the president of the Xúquer River Basin Authority, Miguel Polo, who was able to examine the project site first-hand alongside the town’s mayor, Alfons Domínguez, the president of the Consorci de la Ribera, Josep Mur, and the president of the Mancomunitat de la Ribera Alta, Paqui Momparler.
The project works currently underway in Alzira involve the clearing and removal of the invasive alien species Arundo donax, better known as ‘reed’, to enable the subsequent stabilisation of the riverbank through the construction of Krainer walls. In addition, the newly cleared area alongside the River Júcar will be used to plant native riparian forest species in a zone that is currently used for cultivation. This will create a high-value riverine ecosystem in the area.
The ultimate aim of the project, in addition to the environmental restoration of the area, is to enhance the Júcar River in the lower basin (between Sumacàrcer and the mouth at Cullera) and bring this valuable space closer to the public. This is why the project also includes public awareness and engagement initiatives developed by the Limne Foundation, a project partner.
Thanks to the “Canya a la Canya” project, a major green corridor linked to the River Júcar will be created between Sumacàrcer and the sea, focusing on the conservation and improvement of the river through measures to manage and control invasive species, restore native vegetation, remove obstructive material, transform abandoned farmland into natural riverine habitats, and stabilise the riverbanks.
The actions designed for this large green corridor cover an area of 124,358 m² along 75 km of the River Júcar as it flows through the municipalities of Sumacàrcer, Antella, Gavarda, Castelló, Alberic, Benimuslem, Alzira, Algemesí, Albalat de la Ribera, Polinyà de Xúquer, Sueca, Riola, Fortaleny and Cullera.
This is a strategic initiative for the municipalities of the Consorci de la Ribera bordering the river which, in addition to combating the risk of flooding and the effects of climate change, will focus on creating sustainable public use and systems of participation and governance in which the public can be involved.
EUROPEAN FUNDS
The project managed by the Consorci de la Ribera in collaboration with the Limne Foundation, known as ‘Canya a la Canya’, has been awarded €3,747,949.03 in a call for proposals launched by the Fundación Biodiversidad del Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico (MITECO), for the restoration of river ecosystems and the reduction of flood risk in urban areas, within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR) funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
The call for proposals, which received a total of 230 applications, has selected 37 projects, including ‘Canya a la canya’, for presenting initiatives that promote nature-based solutions which, in addition to restoring and enhancing the biodiversity and environmental values of the River Júcar, contribute significantly to reducing flood risks in its urban sections. Once the project is completed, the aim is to enhance the river’s surroundings and ensure that this resource, managed sustainably, enables greater regional revitalisation.