With an investment of 1 million euros, the City Council of Santa Coloma and the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona will build a biodiversity refuge to renaturalize the Besòs River.
The shelter will be located on the Salzerada de Santa Coloma promenade, parallel to the river.
70% of the project is financed by the AMB and the remaining 30% by the Santa Coloma City Council. It is also supported by the European Feder Fund.
The first phase of development of the project includes works in the area of the riverbed between Pont Vell and Can Zam.
It should be noted that the Besòs River has been on the verge of overflowing in the Santa Coloma de Gramenet area during periods and episodes of torrential rains.
Biodiversity refuge seeks to create an ecological corridor
Among the main objectives of the development of the shelter are:
- Eliminate invasive species
- Preserve existing habitats
- Strengthen native biodiversity.
It is also intended to improve the river’s function as an ecological corridor, as well as the environmental conditions to foster the development of several endangered species such as the European eel.
Moreover, the project managers claim that the new biodiversity refuge will improve the landscape quality of the environment.
Thanks to the refuge it will be possible to connect the Parc Natural de la Serra de Collserola and the Parc de la Serralada de Marina with the coast.
In the end, it is hoped that with all this effort, the Besòs River will become a healthy and active place for the citizens.
