The removal of eucalyptus trees in the Cíes Islands archipelago is consolidating as one of the most relevant actions in the ecological restoration of these protected areas. Within the framework of actions promoted by the LIFE INSULAR project and complemented by the policies of the Xunta de Galicia, around 30,000 specimens of this invasive species have already been removed.
The works carried out by the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park show different paces depending on the islands. On Faro Island, hardly any specimens remain; on Monteagudo approximately one third of the specimens have been removed, and on San Martiño the works are progressing at a slower pace.
The removal of these species makes it possible to advance in the restoration of natural habitats, favoring the recovery of native vegetation and improving conditions for fauna. During these works, the discovery of a spring hidden by the mass of eucalyptus even occurred, which demonstrates the potential of these actions to recover ecological processes and spaces of high environmental value. The National Park estimates that within a decade, the landscape of the Cíes will have changed significantly.
The restoration of island ecosystems, particularly sand dunes and their contact habitats, is aligned with European nature conservation objectives and highlights the importance of acting continuously and maintaining subsequent monitoring against the spread of invasive species.
In parallel, the Xunta de Galicia creates synergies through new initiatives such as LIFE GLOBAL, through which a new tender has just been published for the removal of invasive alien species in coastal lagoons located around the target habitats of LIFE INSULAR, with an investment exceeding 150,000 euros. The actions, which will run until 2028, include selective interventions, mostly manual, on around twenty invasive alien species.
