Evaluación y cartografía del riesgo de aludes en el camino PR-PNPE 21 de acceso a la Vega de Urriellu, Picos de Europa (Noroeste de España)

ABSTRACT: The growing interest in natural mountain areas related to winter recreation activities requires the elaboration of studies which quantify the risk of avalanches. In this work the main goal has been to assess the avalanche hazard and associate risk from an Avalanche Hazard Index (AHI) in one of the most popular mountain routes in Picos de Europa, the access walking track to Vega de Urriellu from Collado Pandébano, the PR-PNPE 21. Firstly, it has been necessary to locate and identify the avalanche path crossing the mountain route using different information: morphological, vegetation and historical. The frequency of the avalanches was estimated from the comparison of temporal sequences of aerial photographs, field observations, survey population and average slope of avalanche path. As regards to the risk assessment, several possible scenarios in relation to the variability of the data have been considered. The AHI obtained by this procedure is generally low for the entire winter season, moderate in certain situations when the factor exposure is high, and finally this Index is high at Easter due to the special visitors traffic. Also, information to the user is proposed as a means of mitigating risk.RESUMEN: El creciente interés en espacios naturales de áreas de montaña vinculado a actividades de ocio invernales hace conveniente la elaboración de estudios que evalúen cuantitativamente el riesgo de aludes. En el presente trabajo se han aplicado varias metodologías destinadas a localizar y delimitar las zonas de aludes y valorar el riesgo a partir de un Índice de Riesgo de Aludes (IRA) en una de las rutas de montaña más frecuentadas de los Picos de Europa, el camino de acceso a la Vega de Urriellu desde el Collado Pandébano, el PR?PNPE 21. Una vez definidas las zonas de aludes según criterios geomorfológicos, de vegetación e históricos se ha estimado la frecuencia de los aludes a partir de la observación de secuencias temporales de fotografías aéreas, observaciones de campo, encuesta a la población y pendiente media del recorrido de los aludes. En cuanto al cálculo del riesgo se han planteado varios escenarios probables en relación a la variabilidad de los datos tenidos en cuenta en el análisis del riesgo, obteniendo como resultado un IRA en general bajo para el conjunto de la temporada invernal, moderado en determinadas situaciones de exposición prolongada al peligro, y alto en la Semana Santa debido al especial tránsito de visitantes. Además, se propone la información al usuario como medida mitigadora del riesgo

Feral American mink (Neogale vison) continues to expand its European range: time to harmonize population monitoring and coordinate control

1. The American mink Neogale vison is an invasive alien species in Europe that threatens endemic biodiversity and can transmit zoonotic diseases, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The last attempt to map the geographic range of this species in Europe, at continental scale, dates back to 2007. 2. We aimed to update the distribution map of the feral American mink and assess its temporal trends. The information we collected was critically analysed with the aim of improving future monitoring protocols and data collection. 3. We gathered and standardised data from 34 databases, covering 32 countries. Through 3 five-year periods from 2007 to 2021, changes in range size, hunting bags and capture statistics were analysed. We also reviewed the current situation of mink farming in the different European countries and recorded population control schemes. 4. The American mink is now widespread in the Baltic States, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Poland, Scandinavia, Spain and the UK. The species is reported to be absent in some areas (e.g. parts of the UK, Iceland and Norway). Data are deficient for several countries, mainly in south-eastern Europe. These findings indicate that, during the last 15 years, the species has continued to spread across the continent, increasing its potential extent of occurrence in most countries. Our effort to collect and harmonise data across international borders highlighted information gaps and heterogeneity in data quality. 5. Updated distribution data on the species provided here will aid risk assessment and risk management policies. These actions require a coordinated effort for population monitoring at continental level. Monitoring effort and data collection should be intensified in south-eastern Europe to improve data on the current distribution of this invasive species.This work was made possible thanks to the ENETWILD project (www.enetwild.com) funded by EFSA (www.efsa.europa.eu) (“Wildlife: collecting and sharing data on wildlife populations, transmitting animal disease agents”, contract number: OC/EFSA/ALPHA/2016/01). This study also benefited from the Invasion Dynamics Network (InDyNet), the AlienCSI CA17122 COST Action funded by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology and the hunting associations of the German Federal States within WILD. Project reference PID2019-111699RB-I00 (National Research Program of Spain).Peer reviewe