- The tree planting in the zona of Mas Pinell, has been finished. This is where the new pools have been constructed.

The past 21st of december was completed the plantation of 100 ashes and 100 tamarisks in the Mas Pinell, in the surroundings of the pools constructed at the end of the last year for the later delivery of turtles.
The objective of these trees planting was to initiate the process of recovery of the shore forest, that will culminate when the set of plants and animals from this ecosystem, headed by amphibians and the European Pond Turtle, will re-conquer the space that was their own.

Planted trees in the zona of Mas Pinell

- The construction of the ponds has finished.

Works on the ponds destined to the reproduction and later reintroduction of Emys orbicularis have finished. The viewpoint for the pond located near the water-treatment plant in Torroella has been built and at the moment work concentrates on building a fence to keep the turtles in the enclosure.
During the month of august works to build a new set of ponds into which adult Emys orbicularis will be reintroduced have been carried out in the Mas Pinell sector.

Pond for the reintroduction of turtles in the Mas Pinell sector	View of the breeding pond from the viewpoint
Pond for the reintroduction of turtles in the Mas Pinell sector	Levelling of the land for the creation of a new pond in the Mas Pinell sector

- Turtle Breeding Centre (CRT) of Albera:

The 10 adults kept in captivity in the CRT were captured in 1992 in the Lower Ter area, being in all likelihood the last specimens that lived there.
Towards the end of last summer (2005) a total of 24 specimens were born and we are waiting for new births at the any time. These newborn turtles, weighing less than 3 grams, were removed from the pond and kept in two glass aquariums in which natural conditions, with stones and seaweed, were reproduced.
At the beginning of November, period during which turtles begin hibernation, the temperature of the aquariums was increased in order to keep them active, reduce the long period of inactivity and force-feed them. These conditions have been maintained until the end of December, moment at which the temperature of the aquariums was decreased to get the turtles to hibernate, period that will last until mid March.
The difficulty in rearing young turtles during the first months of life falls, first of all, in a correct feeding. This is difficult since they only eat live prey suitable to their very small size and weight. The food provided on a daily basis has been, mainly, live mosquito larvae. Another problematic aspect is to avoid reproduction, in the aquariums, of certain types of fungi, since they can cause generalized mortality.

Emys orbicularis in captivity in the CRT

- Construction of a pond for young turtles near the water-treatment plant of Torroella de Montgrí

- March 2006: Excavation works begin for the new pond in the new water-treatment plant of Torroella de Montgrí.

- May 2006: The pond in which young Emys orbicularis will be reared is nearly finished. The construction of the viewpoint has begun. It will be located in front of the pond and it will allow observation of young Emys without disturbing them.

- 29/May/06: Intensive fishing starts in the lagoon with the purpose of capturing the greatest number of invading species. Carried out by electrical fishing, it has resulted in the capture of 128 pumpkinseeds, 4 carps and one American crab.

Pond built for young European Pond Turtles

- Ponds built for the later reintroduction of Emys orbicularis

Construction of a net of permanent ponds surrounded by temporarily flooded areas in the Mas Pinell area, where Emys orbicularis will be later reintroduced.



- Restoration project of the enclosure of Can Mascort

The main objective is to repair the Can Mascort enclosure so to improve the conditions of amphibians’ habitat and increase the area of the Ter Vell in which run off water is collected.



- Restoration project for riverbank vegetation of “Cul de les Senyores”

The main objective is to recuperate the riverbanks in the Mas Pinell area. Specially:
- recover riverbank forests in areas where it has disappeared and improve the continuity and the state of conservation of the existing ones.
- improve the state of hydrophilic and helophytic formations linked to the areas’ watercourses.
- recover the transition zone between the newest sector of the housing estate and the riverbank forests.