The banks of the river Dílar, as it passes through the municipality of Vegas del Genil, has from today, February 6, with new trees and plants, after an act of reforestation, which involved more than 100 schoolchildren in 6th grade of primary school in the municipality CEIP Virgen de los Remedios, Virgen de los Dolores and La Almohada.

The day, organized by the Diputación de Granada, through the Delegation of European Funds, Development, Industry and Employment, with the promotion of the City Council of Vegas del Genil and the collaboration of the University of Granada and the association Salvemos La Vega, has been developed between 09:30 and 11:00, along the banks of the river Dílar.

This is an action that is part of the work program of the project “LIFE Wood for Future”, funded by the European Union, through LIFE. “Wood for the Future” aims to contribute to the mitigation of climate change, recovering the surface of the poplar groves of the Vega de Granada, through the enhancement of its wood, transforming it into structural bioproducts for our construction sector.

In this sense, the Diputación de Granada, has dedicated one hectare of its Provincial Nursery, located in Cortijo Peinado (Fuentevaqueros) to have a field of poplar mother vines, with a double perspective: to produce certified varieties, whose wood is intended to allow a more sustainable construction; and to have native varieties that can be used by municipalities for the reforestation of the river Dílar.

The LIFE project includes among its actions, the reforestation of the banks of the river Dílar, in a section of 2 km, using native species of poplar, as well as other species such as ivy, wild roses, willows or brambles.

The Diputación de Granada, which assessed the possible interest of extending this reforestation to the 12 km of the Dílar riverbed, which runs between Gójar and its mouth in the Genil, in Vegas del Genil, drew up a technical project, which aroused the interest of all the municipalities concerned, which has become a reality for the first time with this act in Vegas del Genil.

 

In the day have participated the mayor of the City Council, Ms. Mª Mª del Carmen Ros Moreno, the Deputy Delegate of European Funds, Development, Industry and Employment of Diputación de Granada, Mr. Antonio Díaz Sánchez; the coordinator of the LIFE WOOD FOR FUTURE project and professor of the School of Building Engineering of the University of Granada, Mr. Antolino Gallego Molina; and a representative of the Association Salvemos la Vega, Ms. Manuela Martínez Jiménez.

The Deputy – Delegate of European Funds has stated that “we hope that, after Vegas del Genil, other municipalities join this initiative of “Ecological Improvement” of the river Dílar, as a first step to give visibility and engage society for the reconstruction of its ecosystem, without forgetting the fact that humans are part of it, recovering the memory of those people who, as children, swam, fished or walked along the river Dílar, and also transmit it to the next generation”.

For his part, Professor Antolino Gallego has expressed the double aspect of the LIFE project on poplar, as a crop to create wealth and a healthier environment and as a native tool to restore the tremendously degraded rivers and streams of the Vega de Granada. The University thus acts as an agent to improve the surrounding environment, socially, economically and environmentally, Gallego emphasized.