The death of the prickly pear

(Source: Guadalinfo Jimena on Facebook) Prickly pears are a delicious, slightly exotic fruit (if you live in colder climes, that is) much enjoyed in August in these parts. Known as chumbos, they are the fruit of the chumbera, or cactus plant. But there are hardly any about - despite the fact for some years now there has been an increase in the tiny white flies that feed off them, the ones that turn red when you swat them. The chumberas are dried out by zillions of these sucking on the 'leaves'.>>>

Imported species endanger Palmones turtles

LOS BARRIOS / Palmones The native species of turtle on the Palmones River is being taken over by two species imported from America. The latter (trachemys Scripta Elegans and trachemys Scripta Scripta) are the type bought at pet shops or won as prizes at fairs - and then tossed into the river because they've grown. The environmental pressure group, Verdemar-Ecologistas en acción, have asked the Junta's Department of the Environment for permission to remove them and take them to the zoo at Castellar. Behind the request is a study of two important parts of the river. The first was at the old dam close to the now-closed Celupal factory, where the invading species accounts for between 20% and 30% of the turtle population. The second tranche of the river inspected, was between the Mirador del Río urbanization and Cortijo Jaramillo, where the invasion accounted for 5%. The problem is that the American species reproduce more rapidly than the native species, and there is a fear that this could be a repetition of a severe invasion of non-native red crab, which is proving extremely difficult to eradicate because of its adaptability.

Dog park has a hundred daily visitors

LA LÍNEA Only two months ago, an association was created with the support of Verdemar-Ecologistas en Acción, the environmental organization, and the Council, whose objective was the establishment of what came to be called a 'canine park' within the large Reina Sofía Park. Over one hundred people now use this space to walk their dogs every day. According to the president of the Asociación Canina Parque Sofía, Fuensanta Guerrero, the idea was born from the need of pet owners to have somewhere to walk their animals and to meet other people. Largely thanks to Verdemar, the park already has a drip system to water the grass, and an agility course is planned. There is also a disused bunker within the area, which Guerrero hopes can eventually be used as an office and meeting place for the association.

Help requested for El Risco botanical garden and other needs of agricultural economy

Gates don't keep the vandals out

JIMENA Many foreign residents of the village don't know El Risco (and quite a few of the local inhabitants either, we suspect), one of the village's best walks, and one that will take you up high, to watch flying vultures from above them, on a good day (See Take a Walk on the Wild Side on the old, old JimenaPulse, where you can have some fun looking into the 'past'). And most of those who have done the very easy walk are not aware that near the top is, or was, a botanical garden that was decimated by stupid vandals some time ago. Now the local opposition party, PSOE, have requested help from the Junta de Andalucía to restore what could and should be an excellent tourist attraction for a municipality in sore need of it. The PSOE (with good connections at the Junta thanks to it being run by the same party) also presented Federico Fernández, territorial environmental representative of the Junta, at a meeting last week, requests for help with the briar (cepa) and heather (brezo) sector, as well as to eradicate the 'white fly' plague that is destroying all the chumberas in the area. (See also Botanical garden to get restored and improved, dated June 4, 2009) (Slide show of El Risco walk below, plus how to get there.)

Energy Efficiency Certificate needed as from tomorrow: are you ready?

SPAIN Chaos is rampant at most of the Autonomous Regional authorities because they haven't yet got a registry together, in which to register their region's energy certificates, the need for which comes into effect tomorrow, June 1. The exceptions are Andalucía, Balearics and Castilla y León. If you want to sell or let your home, you will need one. If you're building a new home, energy efficiency must be in the upper region of certification (A, B or C). But what is it, and how do you get one? The answers are below in Q&A form.>>>

Fracking concessions in Andalucía, water supply could be threatened

Click to enlarge

ANDALUCÍA  A study by the Consejo Superior de Ingenieros de Minas (Superior Council of Mining Engineers) says that 40% of Spain's non-conventional gas is likely to be found in Andalucía, some 48 trillion cubic metres and enough to supply the country for 39 years. These are estimates that must be corroborated by more specific analyses, says the report. The best sites, according to Professor Ángel Cámara, who headed the study, are the Guadalquivir Valley, the old coal mining area of the Guadiato, Villanueva del Río and Minas, as well as the southern part of the province of Cádiz. However, environmentalists warn that the extraction system known as fracking, is controversial, to say the least.>>>

Doñana defends itself against water pollution

Dangers at Coto Doñana, by WWF
(Click on image to enlarge)

ALMONTE (Huelva) Two new water purification plants were opened recently in Europe's largest nature park, Coto Doñana. The objective is to protect the wetlands from nearby agricultural pollution, to be achieved by treating the myriad streams that run through the area and removing the harmful effects of contaminant nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous, which can impact the fauna and flora of places that are extremely sensitive, containing unparalleled riches in protected species. There are other other such purification plants in the area that have been in operation for a number of years, though these two are about six years behind their original schedule. Population in the area has also grown substantially over this time, to some 56,000 in the municipalities of Almonte, Rociana and Bollullos. These three were denounced by WWF, which said that they generate some five million litres of sewage each day, containing contaminants that multiply by eight the levels that are supposedly allowed by regulation. Much of the delay is owed to the Junta's non-payment for a substantial proportion of the costs.

Spring is here!

So where did winter go? Officially, Spring starts tonight, but you knew that. You also know that this is the rainy season in these parts (you didn't need us to tell you that, either.) It is also the time of year when a train ride up to Ronda is a magnificent experience - the wildflowers are breathtaking. In fact anywhere you go out into the countryside in the next couple of months will be well worth it - though we suggest you let some sun seep into the ground just to give the flowers a bit of a push. And if you get any good photos, send them in!

Sewage dumped out to sea - again

(Photo: europasur.es)

Pollution has been going on for years

LA LÍNEA The sewage outlet on the Poniente beach (the Western one) has once again seen to be dumping sewage into the sea. The matter was raised by local residents, who complained about an 'unendurable' smell. They also pointed out that this offered a very bad image as the promenade area is the major access to the town. This is nothing new, of course, as La Línea's sewage system is notoriously deficient and has been for years, with spillages not only at the Poniente beach, but also at Levante and El Burgo, all of which have outlets. The beaches are frequently closed in the summer, although they are usually blocked up to avoid the problem during the high season.

Remember this?

And they used to cost 10c!

An old but good story that still raises a smile among wrinklies

WORLD At the checkout counter, the young cashier suggested to the older woman that she should bring her own shopping bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment and she had to pay for them. The woman apologized and explained, "We didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days."

The cashier responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations." She was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day.>>>

Campo de Gibraltar gets cooking oil recycling containers

In Jimena this morning

CAMPO DE GIBRALTAR Jimena residents may have noticed some new orange/red containers in several parts of the municipality, where six have been installed recently. Getting rid of used cooking oil has been a problem for most households for a long time. The usual method has been to put it down the sink, but this is very bad for the water tables (one litre of oil can contaminate up to one million litres of water!). Some 114 special containers, with capacity for 420 litres, have been distributed in the Campo de Gibraltar, many at strategic points such as close to municipal markets and at Puntos Limpios (recycling centres). An important part of ARCGISA's Servicio Comarcal de Recogida Selectiva de Aceites Vegetales Usados (Regional Used Vegetable Oil Collection Service) is that bars, restaurants and other such establishments can request a special 25-litre drum that will be exchanged for a clean one at regular intervals. They can ask for it at their nearest ARCGISA office.

Castellar Mayor and Gibraltar Health and Environment Minister get together

Juan Casanova (l.) and John Cortes

GIBRALTAR (Press release) The first meeting between the Mayor of Castellar de la Frontera, Juan Casanova, and the Minister for Health the Environment  John Cortes, took place yesterday morning at Josua Hassan House. The idea was to find common ground between the Campo village and the Rock that might be used as a bridge between the two communities. Castellar believes that 'green' strategies would help both to confront the present crisis, so the first item on the agenda was Finca Majarambú and the possibilities of developing that area -recently 'returned' to Castellar- in terms of the environment and ecologically.>>>

Tree Day in Jimena at a very special place

JIMENA This year's Día del Árbol (Tree Day) is on Sunday, November 25 and as always, well organized by Agadén. The place where we will be planting trees and bushes is very special, as anyone who knows El Risco will tell you. Towards the end of the beautiful path is the botanical garden that was ransacked by stupid vandals some years ago. It needs us there. Bring your gardening (tough ones, it's pretty rocky) for planting, and your eating tools for, you guessed it, eating a lovely paella after all the hard work. You are also advised to bring drinks and a mac and wellies just in case. More importantly, bring a big smile and a willingness to share. Below you will see the map that is linked to this reference, use them to get there. It's well worth a visit, promise!>>>

Arcgisa to collect used domestic oil

One litre of oil can contaminate 1000 litres of water

CAMPO DE GIBRALTAR Arcgisa, the Campo's waste management company, yesterday signed an agreement with a subcontractor, Hermanos Padilla, who has the concession to pick up and recycle used domestic oil for the next five years. 114 containers, with a 420-capacity each, will be installed at permanent public markets and Puntos Limpios recycling centres, as well as in certain streets or other locations in the seven municipalities in the area. All we have to do is put the oil into a plastic bottle (image), sel it with its top, and place it in a container. That way, both the oil and the bottle get recycled. The oil will be used for making bio-fuel, according to the concessionaires. To start with, the containers will be emptied once a month, until an information campaign is finished and the best routes have been determined. They also pointed out that a single litre of oil poured down the drain can contaminate over 1,000 litres of water, aside from creating blockages and problems at the water purifying plants. Bars and restaurants can apply for a free 25-litre container that will be identified and controlled, so they can be properly registered and then removed, with a certificate of proper usage, which is required by law.

Jimena airport on the books - yet again!

Demo at the castle - ten years ago

Project began ten years ago · Now officially on P.O.T. but not located

JIMENA Ten years ago next month, it was announced that an Irish Businessman, Robert Noonan, was planning to build an airport just outside Jimena de la Frontera, or possibly in Castellar. There was as much support for the idea as there was for its rejection. Environmentalists on one side, Council and employment needs on the other. After a push-me-pull-you three years the idea fell for matters environmental. Before that, it all seemed to be sewn up. Noonan estimated an investment of €36m and 2 million passengers by 2015, who chose Jimena instead of an overwhelmed Málaga airport. Joint use of the Gibraltar airport was a pipe dream back then, too.COMING SOON:

Ship scrapping rules divide EU countries

Spain and France support non-compliance sanctions, Germany and UK oppose the measure

LUXEMBOURG New Community laws on the scrapping of ships has split the 27 countries of the European Union. The new rules are aimed at achieving the least possible environmental impact, but some the most controversial points are about sanctions against shipowners who break the rules. The EC agreed last week to continue paying the present subsidies until 2017, as well as help when a fleet is grounded temporarily. Spain thus managed to overcome opposition from some countries that had wanted to eliminate these subsidies immediately. The agreement has yet to pass the European chamber. Spains Minister for the Environment. Miguel Arias Cañete, on his arrival at the meeting said he believed "recycling of ships is important for Spain" because "it is an opportunity for our shipyards and other installations to be registered as being permitted to carry out this activity."

Fined €610 for illegal bird netting

Illustration only

Algeciras man caught by Guadiaro River area near Jimena

ALGECIRAS They used to be a delicacy available almost anywhere in the countryside: pajaritos fritos (fried little birds, see illustration below). Today they are illegal but sometimes available furtively. Presumably the man from Algeciras caught some time back and now fined €610 for netting ten goldfinches, ten greenfinches and two chamarines (can't find the English, but we know they're often crossed with canaries, and sing well - anyone know?). His fine was not only for possessing the birds' bodies but, in accordance with Article 74 of the Law of Wild Flora and Fauna, but also for 'possession, use and trading of forbidden capture methods without authorization'.SEE PHOTO BELOW>>>

Coastal law proposals approved last week, subject to much opposition

Luxury on the beach

Chiringuitos and coastline properties get up to 75 years' reprieve · Environmentalists in heated opposition

MADRID At the press conference after last week's Friday Council of Ministers meeting, Vice-President Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría announced the approval of the draft for a reformed coastal law (Ley de Costas) that has two objectives: coastline protection and protection under law of property owners and licencees. She said that it 'solved the chiringuito problem' that 'were on unsafe legal ground'. The new law allows them concession for the next four years, plus maintenance as long as environmental protection regulations are obeyed. COMING SOON: SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION>>>

Imperial eagle numbers on the increase in province

From two pairs last year to five at present

CADIZ province (Agencies) There are some 81 areas in Andalucía with stable pairs of Iberian Imperial eagles (Aquila adalberti). That's ten more than last year, according to ornithological reports. The rise in numbers was observed last spring, when nest building and other reproductive behaviour was also seen. The Imperial population in the province of Cádiz became an incipient reproduction nucleus when the two pairs watched in 2011 grew to five. Among them are>>>

Council removes rubbish from Prodean neighbourhood

Danger to animal rescue centre was reported by environmentalists

LA LÍNEA A couple of weeks ago environmentalist pressure group Verdemar-Ecologistas en Acción reported to the Junta the state of neglect of a piece of land adjacent to the animal refuge centre run by Protectora de Animales del Campo de Gibraltar (Prodean). Not only had a fire broken out there, causing alarm among the animals and their carers, but thye plot had also become a health hazard thanks to the accumulation of rubbish. The Council has since cleaned the place up, according to Councillor Ángel Villar, in charge of such matter at the Ayuntamiento.