Today, on the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity, it is necessary to remember the importance of caring for the planet, especially in the face of the current health crisis, and of preventing the introduction of invasive species into the environment, the world's second leading cause of biodiversity loss, according to the UN.

That is why SUEZ in Spain, a group to which Hidralia belongs, within the framework of its Sustainable Development strategy (REwater Global Plan, 2017-2021), has developed the BiObserva ‘STOP-invasive’ program. The objective of this initiative is to control invasive species in all its water treatment facilities, thus contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and more specifically to SDG No. 15, which focuses on stopping the loss of biodiversity.

The water treatment plants are facilities that have, for the most part, green areas where invasive flora can be found, fast-growing species with great dispersal and invasion capacity, especially in aquatic environments (riverside forests, wetlands , river courses, temporary rafts...) which are currently suffering the greatest loss of biodiversity.

From SUEZ in Spain, the conservation of biodiversity is part of the management of the company's facilities. The BiObserva program 'STOP-invasive' offers, through its own methodology and tools (a web platform and a mobile app), all the information necessary to train on how to identify species, report observations, as well as execute and carry out control plans and communication of invasive species in facilities. The web platform can also be consulted publicly at www.biobserva.com/stopinvasoras, thus contributing to the awareness and knowledge of citizens regarding said environmental problems.

The Head of Biodiversity of SUEZ in Spain, Clara Rovira, highlights that "it has been a challenge to design a management program for invasive flora species, viable for all facilities, and aimed at personnel without prior knowledge of botany". For this, SUEZ has had the collaboration of experts in botany and invasive species, as well as citizen science tools. Clara Rovira added that “we are satisfied with the result since the program will allow us to integrate this aspect into the operational management of facilities, which will contribute to improving the ecosystems quality, thus benefiting the biodiversity ”.

The program was launched in February with a pilot test carried out in the Garrotxa treatment plants and its deployment in all the Group's facilities -more than 800- will continue throughout 2020.