Erosion and Water Management Plan – From Strategy to Implementation

This Erosion and Water Management Plan presents a comprehensive strategy to transform a severely degraded 31.3-hectare landscape in the mountainous region of Ibi, Alicante (800-950 m elevation), into a climate-resilient, biodiverse, and water-retentive system. More information on the methodology can be found at: https://ecology.academy

At the heart of this plan lies a watershed-based, top-down strategy designed to restore the local water cycle and regenerate vegetation. By combining passive water harvesting structures, native and fire-adapted planting, and strategic erosion control measures, the plan aims to rebuild the site's ecological and hydrological functions.

Key findings and strategy components:

• Hydrological Restoration: Full ecological upgrades can reduce surface flow by over 90% in critical zones.
• Water Harvesting: Detailed designs for swales, one-rock dams, Zuni bowls, and ponds to slow, spread, and sink water.
• Fire & Erosion Control: An integrated approach using fire-resilient species and structural firebreaks to stabilize soils and protect biodiversity.

This report functions as a technically robust, ecologically grounded path to regenerate degraded Mediterranean terrain into a resilient ecosystem.