The first reforestation actions, of this 2016-17 school year, will be carried out on the forthcoming 19th , 20th and 21st December in the area of Els Hostalets in Costa d'en Blanes.
Calvià 14th December 2016
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN CALVIÀ: CALVIÀ SE PLANTA AND ACOSTA'T A LA COSTA
The first reforestation actions, of this 2016-17 school year, will be carried out on the forthcoming 19th , 20th and 21st December in the area of Els Hostalets in Costa d'en Blanes. These reforestation actions, carried out by students of different school centres of the municipality, are framed within the environmental education programme 'Calvià Se Planta'.
One of the main reasons that give force to the existence of these reforestation programmes are the fires that occurred in 2011 and 2012 in Sa Talaia (Peguera), which affected about 12 ha, the fires in Son Caliu and in Costa d'en Blanes in 2012 and the great fire of the Serra de Tramuntana, which affected more than 20 ha in the year 2013. The image that we have left of a zone after a fire is shocking and produces a feeling of desolation, so it is important to get on with it and try with the means available to draw up reforestation plan.
The programme 'Calvià Se Planta' includes activities with volunteers (schoolchildren, tourists, etc.) to carry out recovery and reforestation actions focused on areas of the municipality affected by fires in recent years.
The reforestation days are organised by the Natural and Urban Environment Department of Calvià Town Hall with the important collaboration of Xarxa Forestal Balear of the Government of the Balearic Islands which contributes its forestry knowledge and provides us with the specimens of trees to replant and the necessary material.
The reforestation activities have clear and important objectives:
-Recover the area and recover green mass
-Reduce the visual impact so as not to lose the attractive scenery of the area
-Improvement of the environment and landscape
-Raise awareness of participants
During the reforestation, in addition to carrying out a great task of replanting and recovering tree mass, an important awareness-raising exercise is carried out, trying to raise awareness of the importance of the Mediterranean forests, the value of these forests, the importance of good practices in the forests, etc ...
The reforestations are always carried out with native trees that generally come from the nursery 'Menut' of the Conselleria de Medi Ambient (Regional Ministry for Environment). The most used species are pine, wild olive tree and holm oak, amongst others.
Other tasks that are carried out in the reforestation days are to eliminate protectors when the trees have reached a considerable height, the dispersion of seeds by the area and the watering of the specimens mainly after periods of drought.
It is planned to carry out several reforestation days during the months of December 2016 and January 2017. The area chosen for reforestation, following the guidelines of the technicians of the Conselleria de Medi Ambient, will be an area of Costa d'en Blanes called Els Hostalets.
In principle, a total of five working days are planned, four of them with students from various schools centres of the municipality of Calvià and another day with groups of tourists from the area of Peguera-Cala Fornells. In these reforestation actions, in addition to the planting of new native trees (olive trees, pines, etc.), and the protection of trees that are already growing in the area, mainly small-size pine trees, a small talk explaining the task of planting is given with great doses of respect and environmental awareness.
Each day an average of 50 participants take part.
It is estimated that the total participation will be approximately 200 students of the municipality and between 30-50 tourists, according to the following schedule:
CEIP Xaloc of Paguera: Monday 19th December: 5th year
CEIP Jaume I: Tuesday 20th December: 2nd year
CEIP Ses Quarterades: Wednesday 21st December: 5th-6th year
CEIP Puig de sa Ginesta: Friday 27th January: 5th-6th year
Group of tourists Paguera-Cala Fornells: date and area to be confirmed
The collaboration of tourists, through the Hotel Association of Peguera-Cala Fornells, is framed within the agreement signed, about a year ago, with the Town Hall and that will allow more actions to protect and improve the environment, thus involving the tourists who visit us.