ESPANA ORGANICA PROJECT...espana organica – june 2014 progress report espana organica 1. key information 2. project activities jul 2013 – june 2014 3. coming activities in 2014-2015

ESPANA ORGANICA – June 2014

Septembre 2010

ESPANA ORGANICA PROJECT

P R O G R E S S R E P O R T, J U N E 2 0 1 4


Contributing to the local economic recovery

PLANTING PROGRAM IN SPAIN

MAIN THEMES

KEY INFORMATION

SPECIFIC CONTEXT

Supporting the local economic recovery

by developing sustainable agricultural

practices;

Diversifying agricultural revenues

through the planting of organically grown

fruit trees;

Preserving the unique ecosystem of the

area by creating biodiversity refuges for

birds and replanting specific endemic

species.

• Type: Agroforestry / regeneration /

biodiversity

• Technical partner: Fundacion Global

Nature

• Participants: Spanish farmers

• Status June 2014: 7 300 trees planted

• Potential: 15 000 trees planted by

2015

• Products: Trees

Intensive agriculture in Spain has led to severe

deforestation and desertification issues in some

areas, causing periodic droughts, fires, soil erosion

and important pollution problems (water and soil).

“Espana Organica” project supports small and

medium scale Spanish farmers to develop

sustainable agricultural practices as a solution to

overcome the local economic crisis. It includes a

diversity of initiatives such as transition to organic

farming, diversification of revenues through the

planting of fruit trees (olives, almonds, pistachios),

protection of biodiversity and natural habitats

(especially for birds)…

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Climatemitigation

Self sufficiency

Culture

Communityempowerement

Economicdevelopment

Climateadaptation

Agroecology

Biodiversity

ESPANA

ORGANICA


PROGRESS REPORT ESPANA ORGANICA

1. KEY INFORMATION

2. PROJECT ACTIVITIES JUL 2013 – JUNE 2014

3. COMING ACTIVITIES

IN 2014-2015

4. PICTURES

LOCATION

Wetlands of La Mancha, Central Spain

Complex of lakes and

wetlands, more or less

saline, hosting unique

species of fauna

(birds) and flora.

But the massive

extension of

cultivations, in

particular vine stocks,

has contributed to the

degradation of the

ecosystem.

The area is a priority

for conservation:

among the 12 endemic

species of flora, 7 are

endangered.

LOCATION

Wetlands of La Mancha, Central Spain


Context and objectives

TREE PLANTING PROGRAM

Local ecosystems (salars) are fragile

and very specific in terms of biodiversity:

many species of butterflies, birds, plants,

unique in the world, are present in the

project area.

Monoculture and intensive agriculture

are dominating the landscape.

Soils are poor (salty), polluted and

eroded.

Local economic crisis and high rate of

unemployment

Creating biodiversity refuges: special

protection of birds and of the very

specific biodiversity of the area.

OBJECTIVES SPECIFIC STAKES

Combining agricultural practices with

the preservation of the local biodiversity.

Supporting local farmers to convert to

organic farming, diversify their income

(fruit trees) and improve their production.

Developing alternative sustainable

activities: organic farming, fruit trees


Fundacion Global Nature

LOCAL PARTNER

Fundacion Global Nature is a Spanish

foundation specialized in biodiversity

conservation, restoration of habitats and

threatened species, development of

sustainable agricultural activities.

They provide technical assistance to the

farmers, and are in charge of coordinating

the local operations:

Delivery of quality seedlings

Consulting on species selection

Planting schemes

Planting techniques

Maintenance

Training

Monitoring of the parcels


50 Spanish farmers

PARTICIPANTS

Around 50 small and medium scale

farmers (15 hectares on average)

producing cereals, vines and olives in and

around Villacanas and Madridejos cities.

Villacanas people in particular have been

badly affected by the economic crisis in

2012 when 80% of the city plants closed

down (70% of the doors of Spain used to

be produced in Villacanas). Some people

decided to start new activities and convert

to agriculture.

Organic practices will ensure the

sustainability of their project in the long-

term. Farmers are organizing to sell

collectively their production through local

cooperatives.



1. KEY INFORMATION

2. PROJECT ACTIVITIES JULY 2013 – JUNE 2014


IN 2014-2015

4. PICTURES


7,300 trees planted

PLANTATIONS ACHIEVED

PLANTING WAVE 1

Nov 2012 – Mar 2013

PLANTING WAVE 2

Feb - Mar 2014 TOTAL

Number of farmers

involved 8 18 26

Number of parcels 13 36 49

Number of trees distributed 3 008 4 295 7 303

Number of dead trees 265 Monitoring in process -

% mortality (replaced trees) 9% Monitoring in process -

Surface area 18 ha 21 ha 39 ha


Planted species


COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME FAMILIY ORIGIN GROWTH

SPEED

Olive tree Olea europaea Oleaceae

Asia minor (introduced

in the Mediterranean

region 20 000 years

ago)

very slow

Broom Retama Sphaerocarpa Fabaceae Native high

Almond tree Prunus Dulcis Rosaceae Iran, Afghanistan medium

Walnut Junglans Regia Juglandaceae Eurasia high

Holm oak Quercus Ilex Fagaceae Native slow

Kermes Oak Quercus Coccifera Fagaceae Native slow

Fig tree Ficus Carica Moraceae Asia minor medium

Tamarisk Tamarix Gallica Tamaricaceae Native medium

Lycium Lycium Europaeum Solanaceae Native high

Elm Ulmus Minor Ulmaceae Native slow

Pistachio tree Pistacia Vera Anacardiaceae Middle-East slow

Hawthorn Crataegus Monogyna Rosaceae Native medium

=> Diversity of species to improve the resilience of crops and ensure multiple co-benefits:

support to organic production, biodiversity, food sovereignty, diversification of agricultural

activities, land regeneration, natural habitats…)


GPS mapping of the planted areas









Control of the plantations and registering in the planting registry



Feb - March 2014 : plantation completed by the farmers


Land preparation

Holes digging

Panting according to the

chosen model


Feb - March 2014 : plantation completed by the farmers



Observations of growth and survival conditions

FOLLOW-UP ON PLANTING


Recommendations on maintenance techniques



Pruning of fruit trees planted in 2013



On-site visits


Meeting with farmers, discussion

on their vision and objectives for

the project.

Recollection of farmers’

feedback on planting;

Monitoring of the plantations and

further technical advices from

Fundacion Global Nature.

Detailed monitoring for each

site.

Recollection of media contents:

pictures, video rushes,

interviews.


Direct sales of organic food product

LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT

Production of organic olive oil, wine,

almonds, peas, lentils, chickpeas… from

the participating farms;

Direct sales by the Global Nature

Foundation;

Objective is to develop a local network

of direct and local food, increase and

diversify farmers’ revenues and promote

traditional Spanish food products.


Multiple co-benefits for farmers

LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT

• Carbon sequestration in trees

• Impact on climate change at

global and local level

• Increase and diversification of revenues

• Less dependence on crop production

• Social cohesion

• Pride, Cultural value

• Food sovereignty

SOCIAL & ECONOMIC

CLIMATE

BIODIVERSITY

• Ecosystems preservation and regeneration

• Cycle of organic matter, pollination, etc

• Protection of threatened and endemic

species

WATER • Preservation of water resources

• Increase of water stocking capacity

• Regulation of rainfalls / avoiding droughts

• Filtering and limitation of water runoff

SOILS

• Regeneration of unproductive

soils

• Erosion avoided

• Nitrate sequestration



1. KEY INFORMATION


3. COMING ACTIVITIES IN 2014-2015

4. PICTURES


NEXT STEPS

Complementary planting project in Valencia province

Planting program with 20 organic citrus farmers

(oranges, mandarins…) members of the cooperative

Vall de la Casella;

They cultivate parcels between 0,5 and 5 hectares

in the South of Valencia province;

The objective is to integrate trees in the parcels to

support the organic citrus with many

ecosystemic services: stabilise and enrich soils,

improve water efficiency in crops, increase resilience

against drought, encourage pollinating insects, offer

an additional source of income from fruit, nuts and

timber…

Organization of educational days in the farms with

communities and farmers to explain the benefits of

trees and ground covers in organic citrus production.

Planted species are all native and with mulitple

benefits for the farmers and the environment

(Labiérnago, Madroño, Espino negro, Aladierno,

Acerolo, Serbal, Membrillo, Níspero autóctono…

Fresh organic oranges are available for local sales.


Plantation of 10,000 trees in Castilla la Mancha and Valencia

NEXT STEPS

PLANTING AREA JULY – DEC 2014 JAN – MARCH 2015 APRIL - MAY

Castilla La Mancha

(Villacanas &

Madridejos)

Identification of farmers for

the next planting wave

Site visits

Training

Communication tools to

promote the project to

farmers and the public (TV

report)

Plantation of 6,000

trees

First follow up of the trees

planted in 2015

Monitoring of the trees

planted in 2013 and 2014

Sending of the planting

registry for all sites planted

and GIS map of each site.

Recommendations to

farmers

Valencia

Identification of farmers for

the next planting wave

Site visits

Training

Communication tools to

promote the project to

farmers

Plantation of 4,000

trees

First follow up of the trees

planted in 2015

Sending of the planting

registry for all sites planted

and GIS map of each site.

Recommendations to

farmers



1. KEY INFORMATION



IN 2014-2015

4. PICTURES













PUR PROJET

20 passage de la bonne graine

75011 Paris - France

Tel: +33 9 81 30 91 43

[email protected]

www.purprojet.com

THANK YOU!

Documents

ESPANA ORGANICA PROJECT...espana organica – june 2014 progress report espana organica 1. key information 2. project activities jul 2013 – june 2014 3. coming activities in 2014-2015