Format: ORAL

Brbara Martnez Escrich Mnica Lpez Martnez

IMGEMA- Royal Botanic Garden of Córdoba, Spain

From chlorine to Biodiversity, a short phrase that titles the project that is being developed in the Royal Botanic Garden of Crdoba (Spain). The main objective of this initiative is the naturalization of urban ponds, removing chlorinated water and introducing autochthonous aquatic species and charophytes meadows in order to create a hot spot of biodiversity. In this way is not only possible to eliminate chemical compounds harmful to the environment and reduce water consuption but also ecological restoration points are created in cities and villages. One of the greatest strengths of this project is that the species used are autochthonous aquatic macrophytes and algae. After the five years that the project has been developed and having naturalized 22 spaces, it has been possible to establish a protocol that imitates the natural processes that occur in the ponds of the countryside, it is possible to establish a trophic chain that allows the self-regulation of the new ecosystems. More than 1500 people have participated in the programme and 44 students have completed their internships within the project. Furthermore, naturalized sources have been revealed as a novel and attractive instrument to explain the complex concept of Biodiversity. The educative programe offered by the Royal Botanical Garden of Crdoba conceives the ponds as ecosystems that allow the observation of associated flora and fauna, as well as the interactions that occur between them. The growing pollution of cities, the scarcity of water and climate change can be tackled through urban policies and management strategies that considers green structures as backbones of the design of cities and villages. Experience has shown us that citizen participation is essential. The creation of synergies with associations and collectives helps to drive the transformation of these urban green infrastructures.