Agenda21 : On sustainable tourism, Climate Change, the weather, whales, olive oil and poverty.
Chris Jones
Towards a more extreme climate
Jan 15th
The "Valencia" section of the Sunday Las Provincias carried an interview with Prof. Jorge Olcina of the Climatology laboratory of the University of Alicante, in which he indicated that the climate of the Valencia Mediterranean coast is becoming more extreme. We can expect the following trends: Reduction in the number of rainy days and concentration of the rains into periods of intense rainfall with attendant flood risks; less rainfall overall with drought - leading to fire risk in the mountains; extremes of temperature with damaging heatwaves. Warmer sea temperatures leading to the extension of the "Gota Fria" season into the winter. It is estimated that orange trees will disappear from this area by 2050 and be grown uop near the Pyrenees. Another article highlighted 13 exteme meorological evenst from last year, including floods, tornadoes, waterspouts, hailstorms, wind and heavy snow.
See also Prof Olcina's paper in English: Climate Change and Tourism Policy in Spain Climate Change and Tourism Policy in Spain - Diagnosis in the Spanish Mediterranean coast.
Xàbia will opt for sustainability and protection of its heritage in planning for tourism in 2017
The mayor, José Chulvi, announced that a meeting of Mediterranean destinations will be held to seek common strategies.
Jan 15th
After looking for "more", it's now time to look for "better"; commented the Mayor of Xàbia and Head of Tourism, José Chulvi, in presenting the balance of data for 2016 and the basic objectives for 2017.The mayor explained that although 2016 followed growth trend of previous years and reached historic highs, "the time has come to rethink the model. We want to continue to be an international tourist destination and for this, we need to preserve what we are and what makes us unique: our natural and scenic environment, quality services, traditional architecture, gastronomic excellence, cultural offer … and ultimately everything that has created our character as a town over the years. " Xàbia'sTourism wants to change the model for 2017 and go from traditional promotion to planning. In the words of Chulvi "planning means, for example, avoiding the peak flow of visitors concentrated in only two or three months, and spreading visitors the year. New events, like the Montgorock, the Trixabia, Black Xàbia Negra etc. are scheduled before or after summer as attractions. "
Last summer the Town Hall took some pioneering measures like marking the coves of Llop Marí and dels Órguens with bouys. In addition, a study of traffic capacity of the most sought-after coves such as Portitxol and Granadella, will be carried out to avoid traffic jams and reduce the number of vehicles. One possible solution on the table is the introduction of a bus service in high season which would discourage the use of private cars. Permanent buoy-marking of the Grava beach is also a possibility so that it can be enjoyed by bathers and swimmers in the winter. From Chulvi Facebook.
Responsible Tourism and Mediterranean Destinations - regional meeting planned for Xàbia
Jan 15th
2017 has been decreed by the UN as the year of sustainable tourism, and Xàbia does not want to miss this opportunity. The town is already working to obtain the Biosphere certification, issued by the Institute of Responsible Tourism and based on the standards and recommendations of the UN and UNESCO for sustainable tourism. According to José Chulvi, "we have many factors in favour of this, but we will also have to work hard and continue to take measures aimed at rationalising and protecting our most important resources. We want everyone to enjoy Xàbia, but without putting at risk what we are and the key to our success during the last fifty years. " Xàbia plans a meeting of Mediterranean destinations with potential and common challenges (Xàbia, Balearic Islands, Croatia, Malta, Greece, etc.) to be held in 2017 in our municipality and which should be "an exchange forum sharing experiences and a focus for new ideas and models in which political leaders have to participate, but also representatives of the business and academic world. Chulvi, added that "for us, it is very important to convene and lead this project given its international dimension, and the great possibilities it offers us in the future. We are clear what model we want to follow and who our partners must be to achieve it. " from Chulvi Facebook
Spain plans 'safe corridor' for migrating cetaceous species
Jan 13th
The Spanish government is planning to create a 'safe route' for whales, dolphins and other cetaceous species in the Mediterranean Sea.
The corridor would be located off the eastern coast of Spain between Catalonia and the Balearic Islands and should be established for 2018.
Spanish Environment Minister Isabel Garcia Tejerina is pushing for the route to be designated a "Specially Protected Zone of Mediterranean Importance" (Zepim) under the terms of the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean sea against pollution, which was adopted in 1995.
However, the NGO Alianca Mar Blava has warned that the project could be jeopardised by two offshore oil prospecting initiatives in the area that are awaiting authorisation from the energy ministry, according to Barcelona newspaper La Vanguardia. The NGO has reportedly written to Energy Minister Alvaro Nadal telling him that the underwater sound waves produced by the air guns used to prospect for oil could cause "irreversible physiological damage" to cetaceous species in what is supposed to be a 'protected' area. Full story from Ansamed
Spanish Olive Oil to Help Fight Climate Change
Jan 13th
The non-profit organization Interprofesional del Aceite de Oliva de Español will participate in a European project which will calculate the environmental footprint of olive oils and their contribution to reducing greenhouse gasses. The Spanish olive oil sector, along with the interprofessional group, will lead the European project titled PEF (Production Environmental Footprint) pilot, an initiative that will study the control of greenhouse gasses during climate change through the calculation of the environmental footprints of olive oil tree cultivation and oil production. The EU survey Eurobarometer 367 found that 80 percent of Europeans are occasionally concerned with buying products that in some form relate to improving the environment. In fact, the environmental impact a product is a key determining factor with consumers, just behind the price and quality, when making a purchasing decision. For full story see: OliveOilTimes
Calpe promotes itself to UK and Germany
Jan 13th
Calpe is promoting itself in two key areas to expand the foreign market: UK and Germany. The department of tourism has been present at World Travel Market and Leeds. They have also focused on reinforcing work with British tour operators to include Calpe in their product catalog and secure it as a tourist destination among the British. The English market sends more than 300,000 tourists a year to Alicante. Calp has therefore invested in a powerful promotion campaign in tourist magazines as well as promotional catalogs and specialized websites where it can display the municipality and make it known as a differentiated and preferential tourist destination for the coming years. In addition the council has worked in Germany in cities such as Cologne, Düsseldorf and Copenhagen, where there has been a lot of work with travel agencies to attract tourists, it is now included on the Berlin route. Note: German tourists continue to entrust the agencies with their vacations in most cases. From :Diarioinformación
Diputactíon modernises the "Costa Blanca" logo
Includes the word "Spain"
Jan 13th
More modern, universal and versatile. This is the renewed image of the Costa Blanca brand with which the area aims to increase the excellent occupancy figures of 2016, positioning the destination internationally and making the province of Alicante a clearly identifiable benchmark for emerging markets. The president of the provincial government, César Sánchez, and Deputy Tourism Promotion, Eduardo Dolón, presented the new corporate identity that, keeping the original symbol, presents a change in font and incorporates a range of greens as wink to the interior of the province. In addition, the word 'Spain' has been included next to the denomination 'Alicante' with the objective of helping people to know where it is. while the colour of the logo has a graduated tint. From Las Provincias
Xàbia Tourism calendar promotes sustainability and proceeds will go to rehabilitate Granadella
Jan 6th
The Xàbia department of tourism has released its calendar for 2017. The desktop calendar, entitled "Xàbia Sostenible" sustainable Xàbia, costs 2 euros and it promotes the image of Xàbia as a peaceful place at ease with its environment . A far cry from the crowds experienced during the summer. All proceeds from the sale of the calendar will go towards the rehabilitation of the Garandella Natural Park. From: La Marina Plaza
Xàbia among the Spanish towns with a high risk of poverty
Dec 30th
A study carried out by the AIS group reveals that Dénia and Xàbia are among the municipalities in Spain having more than 25,000 inhabitants with more than 30% of the population at risk of poverty and social exclusion. The AIS Group study is based on the methodology of the Institute fro National Statistics following criteria recommended by Eurostat. For this purpose, the following are considered to be risk-of-poverty situations: single-person households with incomes below € 8,011 per year, or € 668 per month (without imputed rent), or households of 2 adults and 2 children with Income less than € 16,823 per year, or € 1,401 per month. According to the list, 32.6% of the population of Xàbia would be in that situation, while in Denia the percentage is a little lower: 30.7%. According to these figures, Xàbia would be the Alicante town with the fourth highest population at risk after Torrevieja (36.6%), Orihuela (33.6%) and Benidorm (35.6%). Immediately behind Xàbia are Dénia and Elda, both with 30.7%. Another 16 municipalities in the province are also listed, with percentages between 22.6% in Alicante and 29.8% in Santa Pola. From La Marina Plaza
Despite the December rain - reservoirs at their lowest for seven years
Dec 30th
The reservoirs in the Valencian Community received a welcome top-up in December, however they still remain low (1,049 Hm3) at around 30% of their full capacity (3,347 Hm), lower than any figure since 2009 (996 Hm3) and below the average of the past 10 years. Without the December rains the reservoirs would have stored only 863 Hm3. Some reservoirs experienced a massive increase in reserves e.g. the Guadalest reservoir. The water in Beniarrés reservoir (on the Serpis) increased in volume seven fold. From Las Provincias Dec 30th print edition.
Xabia launches plan to use water from sewerage plant for irrigation
Dec 28th
Councillors, farmers, AMJASA and the director general of Agriculture have met to take the first steps to use the 5000m3 of water produced by the sewerage plant each day for irrigation of agricultural land on the Pla and for maintenance of municipal gardens. A Water Reuse Project of the Water Treatment Plant must be drawn up to be sent to the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation for assessment and authorisation. The project aims to be developed throughout 2017 and 2018. At the same time, farmers interested in using this water to replace that of wells that have dried or salinized need to be identified. The purified water would be distributed the networks of pipes that Amjasa has in disuse throughout the Pla area. The Xàbia treatment plant is not equipped with the so-called third phase, that allows purified water to be potable. The design capacity of the plant is 8000m3. from : La Marina Plaza
The December rains equal the rain throughout the rest of the year
Dec 26th
The rainy and windy storm of last weekend made records for 2016. This was not very difficult because it had been a dry year, with a significant water deficit. According to data from the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) compiled by the Valencian Association of Meteorology (Avamet), it rained practically as much in December as in the previous eleven months put together.
from January to October no month reached 50mm. Ff the 268.2 mm recorded this December, the vast majority, 179.6, correspond to the four days of the recent storm. From: La Marina Plaza
The sweet smell of success: Spain’s crisis-busting Christmas town
Dec 26th
..Estepa is just one of the Spanish towns that make a living off of special Christmas sweets. Medina Sidonia in Cádiz, Jijona in Alicante, and Sonseca in Toledo are other examples of where the lucrative industry has taken off. According to the Infoempresa business database, the top 32 turrón manufactures are experiencing business growth, and last year they sold produce worth €440 million. Beyond just making sweets, these towns have all reaped the benefits of becoming tourist attractions. People flock from all over to buy boxes of fresh sweets, learn how they’re made and get into the Christmas spirit. full story on: El Pais in English
Arctic ice melt 'already affecting weather patterns where you live right now'
Dec 19th
Soaring Arctic temperatures ‘strongly linked’ to recent extreme weather events, say scientists at cutting edge of climate change research…The jet stream forms a boundary between the cold north and the warmer south, but the lower temperature difference means the winds are now weaker. This means the jet stream meanders more, with big loops bringing warm air to the frozen north and cold air into warmer southern climes. Furthermore, researchers say, the changes mean the loops can remain stuck over regions for weeks, rather than being blown westwards as in the past. This “blocking” effect means extreme events can unfold. From: The Guardian (Eds note: Just for the record, Here's the Jetstream for Monday December 19th..Image from Netweather Jetstream forecast)
December storm hits 20 provinces
Dec 19th
A total of 20 provinces were on yellow or orange alert this Saturday for snow, rain, wind or coastal phenomena, especially in the Mediterranean area, on the Cantabrian coast and the Atlantic cornice and in the archipelagos of the Balearic and Canary Islands. (El Español) By the Sunday Granada, Almeria, Murcia, Alicante, Valencia and the southern province of Teruel were on orange alert for the storm will not begin to subside until Monday afternoon. The storm claimed two lives. rainfall of up to 200mm in 12 hours was possible, and force 8 winds. from ABC.es
Hotel maids in Spain rebel against low salaries
Dec 19th
Spain is enjoying a surge in visitors, but hotel maids are not reaping the rewards and are rebelling against their low salaries, which can be as little as two euros to clean a room. The country, which welcomed over 68 million foreign tourists last year - its third consecutive year of record numbers - employs around 100,000 hotel maids, according to union estimates….Over the past two years more and more maids have been challenging their contracts in courts and coming out in the press with tales of exploitation in the world's third most visited country. "In numerous hotels directly-hired staff have been replaced" by employees of service firms, said Ernest Canada, the author of a book on hotel maids. Maids who work for such firms are not governed by the collective labour agreement for housekeeping staff, but the one for the cleaning sector, and are paid up to 40 percent less than their peers. For full story see: The Local.es
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Cullen Hightower