Global Nature Foundation, Murcia.

The Global Nature Foundation is a worldwide organisation dedicated to climate protection, environmental conservation and sustainability, but focuses on working at a local level.

Here in Murcia, the foundation is involved in many projects, working with sponsors, local governments and dedicated volunteers to carry out projects beneficial to all, including tree planting, the creation of educational facilities, preservation of wetlands, the conservation of endangered species and the creation of biological reserves.

The Foundation has its’ own finca, El Cortijo de La Tortuga Mora, near to Lorca, which offers educational facilities and runs several voluntary projects promoting community involvement and awareness, as well as housing several of the endangered Murcian chicken breeding pairs.

The Project to save the Murcian Chicken

A campaign has been initiated to save the traditional Murcian chicken from extinction, after it was discovered that only 70 breeding pairs remained in existence. Traditionally the choice of the Murcian farmer, this chicken has been brought close to the edge of extinction by the popularity of more productive modern breeds and the  increase of intensive production methods. The murcian chicken is considerably more sensitive to temperature and climatical conditions, and lays fewer eggs than its’ modern counterparts.

The foundation has created a centre in the Sierra de la Almenara, in the Cortijo de la Tortuga Mora,  and has located  several pairs in private fincas around the region.

The Network of Biological Reserves

In 1994 the foundation began a project to protect the Tortuga Mora, the wild tortoise previously commonly found across the region, but now facing an uncertain future, when it signed an agreement to protect the tortoise with a finca in Aguilas.

Since then, the network of protected fincas has grown to 152, covering more than 7,500 hectares, and we ourselves were proud to become the first English owned finca to join the network when we signed an agreement with Global Nature before Christmas 2009.

The desire to protect species within the network has now grown to embrace conservation of other species, including owls, eagles and wild cats, and the programme aims to encourage ecological farming methods, stimulate production and sale of ecologically produced honey, almonds and olive oil and support owners within the reserve to maintain the land using traditional farming methods rather than use intensive methods and chemical controls.

The foundation emphasises the need to work in deep co-operation with finca owners to ensure that they are supported completely in their decision to participate in the conservation programme of  the foundation, and  assists owners in dealing with any problems they may have in relation to the unwelcome presence of hunters and motorcyclists on their private land.

There is some degree of comfort for private finca owners in being part of a group that has their interests so much at its’ heart, the feeling of safety in numbers . There is so often a feeling of them and us, when trying to deal with the daily issues of bureaucracy  in an area of high protection, and it is reassuring to feel that the numbers of fincas involved in the scheme are united in a common purpose and stand together united. For ourselves, certainly, it is good to know that we’re not on our own should there be any moves afoot to turn what is currently a wild and beautiful place into a motorway layby should the powers that be decide that although our finca carries the highest level of protection in Spain, that it’s better for the tourist trade in the area to cut a swathe right through the middle of it. As much as I love life in this country, this is Spain after all!!

The foundation is actively encouraging landowners within protected areas to join them in their desire to protect protected land. The size of the finca is irrelevant, the important fact is that it falls within a ZEPA zone, or that the owners of fincas outside of this area farm their trees using ecological products.

If anyone is interested in joining the programme, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to forward the agreement documentation or talk to you. There is no cost involved, and no hassle, just a positive commitment to preserve the natural spaces and species for future generations to enjoy.

The website for Global Nature Foundation is www.fundacionglobalnature.org

Juan Luis Castanedo is the Director of Murcia. He can be contacted on 679 171 429 ( Spanish only)

Pilar Sanchez Sanchez runs the Cortijo de la Tortuga Mora near to Lorca. She can be contacted on 639 78 67 51.( Spanish only).

We are intending to take a group to the Cortijo in the early summer, and, providing Laurence can get the fencing up as planned , will become the proud keepers of a pair of Murcian chickens later this year, so anyone wishing to see them will have the opportunity nearer to home. Details will be posted on the site once this has been arranged.

Just before Christmas 2009 the mayor of Mazarron signed an agreement with global nature to undertake various projects to encourage eco-tourism in the region and create a new visitor centre to encourage the enjoyment of the natural spaces Mazarron has to offer. It is hoped that the initiatives agreed at this meeting will promote wider participation in environmental projects and provide educative facilities for school children in the area. We’ll keep you up to date with the projects as they come on line and let you know when volunteers are needed for projects locally.