Restoring and protecting arborescent matorrals with Ziziphus as a tool for building resilience to climate change in semiarid climates

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1 Restoring and protecting arborescent matorrals with Ziziphus as a tool for building resilience to climate change in semiarid climates Dr. Reyes Tirado Senior Research Scientist Greenpeace Research Laboratories University of Exeter, UK

2 In SE Spain, Almería: Some of the best representations of priority habitat '* Arborescent matorrals with Ziziphus' In Cyprus: Rizoelia National Forest Park, Natura 2000 site Potential for protection of habitat 5220

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5 Arborescens matorrals with Ziziphus P.N. Cabo de Gata, Almería, Spain

6 CLIMATE IMPACTS FUTURE OF THE Ziziphus HABITAT 1. How will Climate Change impact the Ziziphus habitat? Priority habitat in endangered situation and already degraded in large part of their distribution ranges. Future research needed. 2. How the Ziziphus habitat can help build resilience in the semiarid region. Key ecosystem engineer species that provide ecosystem services that build resilience.

7 In SE Spain, Almería: Some of the best representations of priority habitat '* Arborescent matorrals with Ziziphus' In Cyprus: Rizoelia National Forest Park, Natura 2000 site Potential for protection of habitat 5220

8 Average rainfall: 180 mm per year, very variable

9 Trends toward more intense and longer meteorological droughts, and longer dry spells. IPCC WGIIAR5-Chap23, 2014

10 Semiarid! Water deficits become extreme Mediterráneo Sevilla aeropuerto Precipitación Temperatura Mediterráneo semiárido Almería aeropuerto Precip- Almería Temp- Almería mm C mm C ENE FEB MAR ABR MAY JUN JUL AGO meses SEP OCT NOV DIC 0 0 ENE FEB MAR ABR MAY JUN JUL AGO meses SEP OCT NOV DIC 0

11 Ziziphus lotus P.N. Cabo de Gata

12 Arborescens matorrals with Ziziphus P.N. Cabo de Gata, Almería, Spain

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15 Ziziphus lotus P.N. Cabo de Gata

16 Ziziphus lotus Ballota hirsuta Lycium intricatum 150 South-North distance (m) East-West distance (m)

17 Arborescens matorrals with Ziziphus P.N. Cabo de Gata, Almería, Spain

18 Up to 4 m height? Up to 20 m diameter

19 Zziphus mound height (m) R 2 =0.93, P< Isoenzimes analysis confirmed that each mound seems to be a different Ziziphus individual Ziziphus North-South canopy diameter (m)

20 Nebhka effect in Ziziphus lotus development: Islands of fertility 2.6 ± 0.2 m 13.6 ± 0.9 m In the Open In Patches 0.5 ± 0.1 Soil Organic Matter (%) 1.2 ± ± 0.02 Nitrogen (mg/g) 0.57 ± ± 0.3 Phosphorus (mg/g) 12.1 ± Summer soil Temp. ( o C) RH (%) 52

21 13.6 ± 0.9 m 2.6 ± 0.2 m

22 25 A 60% burial 30% burial Main stem leng th (c m) E xperimental burial 0% burial 0 J un 20 J ul 04 J ul 18 Aug 01 Aug 15 Aug 29 S ep 12

23 Extensive and very deep root system. Phreatophyte and very drought resistant (grows during dry period) In Morocco, roots of 1 cm diameter were found at 60 m deep 2 months old seedling

24 Ziziphus lotus acts as an ecosystem engineer, with three main effects: 1. Increasing soil fertility and as a reservoir of substrate that can prevent erosion. 2. Ameliorating microclimate. 3. Enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

25 2 shrub species 12 annual and herbs spp 15 shrub species 33 annual and herbs spp

26 m. Zizizphus lotus Asparagus albus m. Tirado, 2003 Oecologia

27 population starting point: 100 Flowers Patches Open Flowers % Fruit set Fruit % Seedling survival Surviving seedlings Tirado, 2003 Oecologia

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29 How the Ziziphus habitat can help build resilience in the semiarid region? 1. Increasing soil fertility and as a reservoir of substrate that can prevents erosion. 2. Ameliorating microclimate 3. Enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. - Arborescent shrub able to sustain semiarid and arid climate, and deep-rooted: Less affected by changes in rainfall. - Soil conservation and soil fertility enhancement (positive for both wild and agriculture habitats, with benefits in fighting desertification) - Nurse plant and refuge for accompanying species, both plants and animals. Accompanying plant and animal spp might suffer changes in distribution ranges, but the presence of Zizphus islands of fertility might ameliorate extremes (soils, microclimate, other pressures like herbivory).

30 Way forward 1. Strong protection and restoration of remaining habitats (enclosures and fencing). 2. Regeneration and expansion, avoiding fragmentation of populations. 3. Holistic policies that look at biodiversity conservation transversally, including various land uses and in consultation with all stakeholders (honey, agroforestry, ag policies?). 4. Foresight into future climate impacts on the habitat, and options for mitigation and adaptation strategies.

31 Thank you!