I've written at length (and enthusiastically) about the El Aguila Project to restore a small section of La Janda and establish a nature reserve (see birdingcadizprovince.weebly.com/cadiz-birding-blog/el-aguila-project-la-janda-a-cause-for-optimism-hope). It's a wonderful project and would give an insight into what was once the Laguna de La Janda.
However, this spring I heard rumours that a large section of the proposed reserve had been purchased by a local farming estate for development. This autumn I was concerned (but not surprised) to see that a large area had been ploughed up with extensive (and expensive) drainage work underway. I'm no expert but the work (the construction of "ridge & furrows") looked like preparations for planting (avocado?) trees. If my suspicions about this work are accurate then it must jeopardise, if not completely prevent, the development of a reserve here. This would be a tragedy and a huge disappointment to all those who have worked on this project. It seems that, as ever, agricultural interests will always have access to greater funds than conservationists.
However, this spring I heard rumours that a large section of the proposed reserve had been purchased by a local farming estate for development. This autumn I was concerned (but not surprised) to see that a large area had been ploughed up with extensive (and expensive) drainage work underway. I'm no expert but the work (the construction of "ridge & furrows") looked like preparations for planting (avocado?) trees. If my suspicions about this work are accurate then it must jeopardise, if not completely prevent, the development of a reserve here. This would be a tragedy and a huge disappointment to all those who have worked on this project. It seems that, as ever, agricultural interests will always have access to greater funds than conservationists.
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