Guadalquivir River

Córdoba, Spain

City population: 329259

Duration: 1999 – ongoing

Implementation status: Ongoing

Scale: Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level

Project area: unknown

Type of area: Other

Last updated: October 2021

“The Guadalquivir River offers some of the best landscape, ecological and environmental values. There is an exceptional variety of flora and fauna and the river is considered as one of the main lungs of the city and as a privileged area for the residents”. (Ref. 12) The river is an essential element of Cordoba, having been declared a natural monument in 2001. (Ref 3, p.4) There are ongoing efforts to maintain and restore the river as a natural and cultural heritage site (Ref. 1,2,5,8,9) and a space for recreational activities (Ref. 12).

Source: Ref. 6

Overview

Nature-based solution

Grey infrastructure featuring greens
Blue infrastructure
Riverbank/Lakeside greens
Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries

Key challenges

Water management (SDG 6)
Improvements to water quality
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Preservation of natural heritage
Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
Preservation of historic traditions

Focus

Maintenance and management of urban nature, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Protection of natural ecosystems, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas

Project objectives

Efforts along the Guadalquivir River aim to achieve the following: -Environmental restoration of the natural habitat of the Guadalquivir riverbank (Ref. 1,2,5,8,9) -Preservation of Natural Heritage and Cultural Heritage (Restoration of the Molinos de Martos) (Ref. 2) -Opportunities for recreation, such as sports and leisure spaces and activities (Ref 9,11,12)

Implementation activities

- "In the nineties, the Special River Guadalquivir Plan was drawn up to restore the Guadalquivir to its former role as the backbone of Cordoba." (Ref 1, Pages 14,15) -Plan of revegetation and preventing invasive species (Ref. 2,5) -This intervention also contemplates the planting of native tree species typical of riverside, which will contribute to soil fixation and the improvement of river habitat (Ref. 2) -Posters to raise public awareness of need to take care of river and prohibit throwing garbage and belongings into riverbed (Ref. 5) -Cleaning of urban waste, vegetation and sludge accumulated in the channel (project back in 2013) to improve water flowing (Ref 5) -Plan for the implementation of a wood fences along the riverbank in the city in order to protect the area (Ref. 2) -Installation of fences to protect the habitat and regeneration of plants (Ref. 2)

Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities

Biodiversity restoration:

Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
Clear and control invasive alien species
Public engagement

Main beneficiaries

National-level government
Local government/Municipality
Non-government organisation/Civil Society
Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

National government
Regional government
Local government/municipality
Non-government organisation/civil society

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

Dissemination of information and education
Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Citizen science

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

- The Goverment of Spain including the regional and the local municipality agents are behind this project (Ref. 2, page 1). - Guadalquivir Hydrographic Confederation (Regional entity of the Spanish Government) is in charge of the works of restoration and maintenance: "The works for the cleaning and environmental recovery of the Guadalquivir River as it passes through Cordoba, which is being developed by the Guadalquivir Hydrographic Confederation (CHG), an agency under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment" (Ref. 4). -Environmental protection groups under "The Platform for a Rio Vivo" are also involved with a proposal of conservation (Ref. 11)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown

... a national policy or strategy? Yes (National Hydrological Plan (Ref. 8) Commitment of the Government of Mariano Rajoy (Prime Minister of Spain) with the City of Cordoba: "The Government demonstrates the commitment with this city", "with this action we continue working so that the people of Córdoba can continue enjoying their river"." (Ref. 2, page 1))

... a local policy or strategy? Unknown

Financing

Total cost

€2,000,000 - €4,000,000

Source(s) of funding

Public national budget

Type of funding

Earmarked public budget
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

Environmental quality
Improved soil quality
Water management and blue areas
Improved water quality
Improved stormwater management
Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
Green space and habitat
Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
Improved prevention or control of invasive alien species
Increased spread of native/heirloom/open-pollinated seed
Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Other

Economic impacts

Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

Social justice and cohesion
Improved access to urban green space
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Cultural heritage and sense of place
Protection of natural heritage
Increased appreciation for natural spaces
Education
Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits

Type of reported impacts

Expected impacts, Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Unknown

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

No evidence in public records

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

References

1. Ayuntamiento de Cordoba (n.d). "Córdoba Patrimonio Natural". Source link.
Available at: Source link [Accessed 11 September 2020].
2. Gobierno de España (2016). Delegación del Gobierno en Andualucía. "Nota de Prensa" [Document provided].
3. Peinazo,D. & Sánchez, J.M. (2014). "Aves en el Guadalquivir a su paso por Córdoba". Source link.
Available at: Source link [Accessed 11 September 2020]. [Document provided].
4. Anon. (2013). "Los trabajos para la recuperación del Guadalquivir a su paso por Córdoba están al 70% de ejecución". Source link. Available at: Source link [Not available in 2020].
5. Europe press - Andalucía (2013). "Concluyen los trabajos de limpieza del río Guadalquivir en la capital con una inversión de casi 1,9 millones". Source link. Available at: Source link [Accessed 11 September 2020].
6. Cordobahoy (2017). "Por un Río Vivo retira una serpiente de peluche del río y pide limpieza en la zona" Source link.
Available at: Source link [Accessed 11 September 2020].
7. Anon (2013). "CORDOBA SE DA CUENTA DE QUE TIENE UN RIO". Source link. Available at: Source link [Accessed 11 September 2020].
8. Garcia Higueras, Julia (2003). "La remodelación del río va llegando a su fin". Source link. Available at: Source link [Accessed 11 September 2020].
9. Description of the biodiversity and natural and social benefits of the river passing through the city. [Document provided].
10. Guadalquivir Hydrographic Confederation. Available at: Source link [Accessed 11 September 2020].
11. Plataforma por un río vivo (n.d). "PROPUESTAS CIUDADANAS POR UN RÍO VIVO". [Document provided].
12. Teodosio (n.d.). 684 CÓRDOBA. HIDROGRAFÍA. GUADALQUIVIR Y MEDIO AMBIENTE. EL MONUMENTO NATURAL LOS SOTOS DE LA ALBOLAFIA. Available at: Source link [Accessed 11 September 2020].

Source: Ref. 3

Source: Ref. 3

Source: Ref. 11