The project for the restoration of the forest in the Park of the Dehesa del Generalife enters the final straight.
The project for the restoration of the forest in the Suburban Park of the Dehesa del Generalife is entering the final straight. An announcement to this effect was made by María Jesús Serrano, the Minister of the Environment of the Regional Government of Andalusia in a visit to this area surrounding the Alhambra, on which she was accompanied by the Director of the Council of the Alhambra and Generalife, María del Mar Villafranca, and various experts and specialists.
The Minister said that “our aim with this project is to replant 100 hectares of forest that was burnt down in two fires in 2005 and 2007. The park has enormous environmental value and is a popular recreational and leisure area for the people of the city, the main reasons behind a special regeneration plan which began in 2011 with an investment of €1 million, of which 76% has now been executed”.
The Regional Government of Andalusia will complete the plan for the reforestation of the Suburban Park of the Dehesa del Generalife, situated next to the Alhambra, after two fires that destroyed 100 hectares. The number of firewalls will also be increased to guarantee the protection of this important natural space.
The project includes the design of new firewalls which will prevent fires from affecting the monument precinct itself. This will be achieved by extending the transversal defence systems so as to minimize the consequences of a possible fire in the area.
The Regional Government has also redoubled its fire prevention efforts, ordering the pruning of the tops of the trees in order to create a “fuel-free space” that would prevent the flames from spreading.
The Regional Ministry has finished the forest treatment work and the main task from now until September will be repairing paths and tracks. 90,000 holes have been prepared for planting holm-oaks, a species that re-shoots after a fire.
“The Ministry has two very important objectives, environmental regeneration and job creation. So far more than 6000 days’ work have gone into this project”.