On 5 December, ICRA researchers took part in the first Recreation Ecology Symposium (REC), organized by the Emys Foundation. Researcher Anna Freixa presented the talk “Canyoning and bathing: impacts on river ecosystems and management measures”, which outlined the main effects of these recreational activities on rivers and pools.

During the presentation, it was highlighted how such activities can alter water quality, biodiversity and the structure of river habitats, particularly in heavily visited natural areas. Finally, the importance of combining scientific knowledge with appropriate management strategies was emphasized in order to reduce these impacts and ensure the conservation of river ecosystems in a context of global change and increasing recreational pressure.