Wildtalk archives

Wildtalk Spain # 82: Shepherd nomads

Wildtalk Spain, an email newsletter from www.wild-spain.com
7 September, 2005 - Issue 82


Back again after a brief summer lull, to slightly cooler weather and, in
some parts, tantalising sprinklings of rain!

In our latest article journalist Mark Eveleigh takes a longish walk with one
of Spain's last transhumant shepherds...
http://www.wild-spain.com/article.php?sid=62

And if you'd like to know more about nomadic shepherding in Spain you might
like to re-read this interview with Jesus Garzón, a prominent champion for
the cause...
http://www.wild-spain.com/article.php?sid=6


------- News Briefs

  . Cabo de Gata proposed for UN conservation plan -
The coast of Almería has been proposed for a United Nations pilot programme
to preserve its environmental values. The initiative would be included in
the UN's Mediterranean Action Plan which seeks an integrated management
model for coastal regions to protect them from building pressures and to
give them a quality seal which will boost social and economic development.
The pilot scheme will centre around the Cabo de Gata-Níjar national park.
Date: September 06, 2005 Source: Junta de Andalucía

. New Spanish bird list -
A revised list of Spanish birds, compiled by a committee of experts of
SEO/Birdlife is now available online. Follow link for printable version, in
several languages including Spanish, Latin and English. Date: September 06,
2005 Source: SEO/Birdlife

. Ash to acorns project bears first fruits -
A pioneering reforestation project in Monte Prieto, in the Sierra de
Grazalema natural park (Cádiz), is producing visible results. The area was
devastated by a fierce forest fire in 1992 but has been restored with the
aid of 5,783 volunteers who between them have planted 15,800 trees over a 10
year period. The project, initiated by conservationists from Ecologistas en
Acción and financed by the Junta de Andalucía, has placed special emphasis
on natural regeneration methods, encouraging the spontaneous growth which
occurs in many Mediterranean trees and shrubs from the undamaged roots after
a fire. Last year many of the different species of oak, now over 2 metres
tall, gave their first crop of acorns. Date: August 23, 2005 Source: Portal
del Medio Ambiente

. Spain's water reserves down to 45% -
The current drought is already causing water restrictions in the SE (Murcia)
and in the NE (Huesca). Stored water is currently about 15% lower than it
was at this time of year in the previous two years. Follow link for updated
statistics and graphics. Date: August 23, 2005 Source: El Mundo

. EU blames drought and human negligence for fires in Southern Europe -
Officials and experts said recent years have seen an increase in forest
fires in the Mediterranean region, especially in EU countries Spain,
Portugal, Italy, Greece and France. While 2004 saw a dip in fires, this year
was on track for a dramatic increase across Europe, comparable to the
disastrous 2003 forest fire season, which saw 740,000 hectares (1,828,540
acres) of forests burned to the ground and claimed the lives of 40 people.
"The situation in Portugal, Spain and also the south of France is pretty
critical," said Paulo Barbosa, from the EU's Institute for Environment and
Security. He said preliminary figures compiled from EU member states up to
the end of July, showed that 20 people had died in some 70,000 forest fires.
He said "only 10 to 15 percent (of fires) are started by natural causes,"
pointing to this summer's deadly blaze in Spain. Date: August 23, 2005
Source: Associated Press

. Waterwise golf in Madrid -
Playing golf whilst Spain suffers one of its most severe drought in 60 years
may seem scandalous, unless you are prepared to make do with less greenery
than usual. This is the case of Quijorna, near Madrid, one of Spain's first
ecological golf courses. The course uses 100 m3 of water a year, the same as
an average household. A typical golf course's annual water usage is about
700,000 m3, equivalent to the needs of 15,000 people. Of the 28 golf clubs
in Madrid only 2 comply with the legal requirement of using only recycled
water, said Greenpeace's Julio Barea. Date: August 09, 2005 Source: El Mundo

. Gibraltar bird migration online -
This summer volunteers are once more monitoring the post-breeding migratory
passage of soaring birds (storks and raptors) between Spain and Morocco
across the Straight of Gibraltar. The 10th edition of the Migres programme
can be followed on SEO/Birdlife's website. Follow the link for updated
day-by-day counts of the different species. Date: August 09, 2005 Source:
SEO/Birdlife

For links to sources of these News Briefs see
http://www.wild-spain.com/wsbriefs.php


------- Latest questions [ Check out answers and/or share your knowledge ]

Centipede in Menorca
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1383
Spider in Mallorca
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1382
Hiking in the Alpujarras
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1377
Black snake in Valencia
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1373
Jellyfish in Granada coast
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1372
Bustards in Gallocanta
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1371
Access to Abies pinsapo forest in Grazalema
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1369
Orange spider
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1367
Weather on the GR11
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1364
Giant freshwater clams
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1360
Walking ban in Los Alcornocales
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1355
Ruta del Duero
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1352
Raptors in Castril, Granada
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1350
How to tell the age of an oak tree
http://www.wild-spain.com/noticeboard.php?tid=1349


------- Field Reports

Latest...
- Eagle vs. snake in Alora, Málaga
- Sierra de Albuñuelas, Granada
- Sierra de Grazalema, Cádiz
http://www.wild-spain.com/wsfieldreports.php

Or post *your* report...
http://www.wild-spain.com/fieldreports.php?op=Post


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