Portal de Lorca
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The Minister of Water, Agriculture and Environment, Adela Martinez-Cacho, reported today the Governing Council of the end of the emergency works of the first phase of recovery of the areas affected by the fire last summer in the Sierra del Almirez Lorca.
The Minister noted that "have been some jobs that have been made in almost record time, thanks to technical and social support of volunteer groups of Lorca, which has made an important contribution to the recovery of the affected area."
The fire destroyed 228.22 hectares, of which 92.1 percent (210.20 ha) were of Mediterranean forest of Aleppo pine, 6.45 percent (14.72 ha) scrub, grasslands and firewalls and 1.45 percent (3.3 ha) of farmland.
The work accelerated, said the minister, "the need to act before natural regeneration starts, preventing further damage and protect the soil against the possible arrival of rains."
The recovery plan torched in the Sierra del Almirez land was launched in August 2015, as in the environment Almadenes canyon and saw Almorchón.
Lorca Plan has a budget of 1,805,154 euros, of which 595,972.48 have already invested, it estimated a total of ten years for the full development of the plan.
The recovery plan consists of five large blocks of shares: precautionary measures, emergency, ecological regeneration, environmental monitoring and volunteer and outreach.
The total allocation must be added the funding of 250,000 euros from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
performances
One of the most important actions taken during these first months has been short of burned trees on 136.85 ha, with the use of waste generated to reduce the impact of heavy rains.
Complementary to the removal of burned vegetation and restoration of the hydrological network of the mountain, other studies have been necessary to ensure access to areas of action for the duration of the restoration plan.
They have improved a total of six forest roads (Col de la Vaca, La Cantera, Curve Romana, Garita del Almirez and two other routes that pass through the sunny side of the fire), actions have included the replacement of the firm, opening ditches to retain rainwater and drain and construction of ditches and culverts to promote cross drainage and the contribution of clayey gravel in those sections that are difficult to move in case of rain.
The forest system lost the multiple features that will recognize the Mediterranean ecosystem, including absorbing the kinetic energy of the drops of torrential rain on impact with the tops of Aleppo pine, juniper blackberry, mastic, juniper and Kermes.
Among other features that dissipated highlights water retention, encourage infiltration, conserve soil fertility, significantly reduce surface runoff, serve as support natural habitats of vegetation or constitute habitats of wildlife species endangered .
As a relevant figure, fire destroyed the carbon sink 28,500 tons of CO2 sequestered, and served among other things as a refuge for various species of wildlife, some as emblematic as the golden eagle, eagle owl or peregrine falcon.
Upcoming jobs
After this first phase, will continue the recovery plan during the nine years remaining for completion.
ecological regeneration measures, environmental monitoring, voluntary and dissemination of progress will be developed.
It stresses the importance of biological, pedological and forest monitoring, where the degree of achievement of the objectives will be analyzed by applying indicators.
Monitoring faces the challenge of diagnosing how is evolving forest fire area and propose measures which can successfully complete the restoration of this place.
"It is certainly a major challenge, in which the harsh weather conditions and the obvious signs that forest systems in the Region are in a climate change scenario will condition the biological results," concluded the minister.
Source: CARM
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