C.M.W..MaóThe Balearic Department of the Environment has initiated the project to restore the natural habitat in the area of Ets Alocs and Es Milocar which was destroyed by fire last August. The land burned in Menorca´s worst fire of the decade includes 95 hectares of scrub, 40 of woodland and over 4 of agricultural land.
The department is to spend 600,000 euros on a project to restore the area which will take three years. Action is currently being taken to avoid soil erosion in the area and prevent the appearance of blight.
The Regional Minister for the Environment, Jaume Font, visited the area last week with his team to check that all the necessary work is being done to recreate the original landscape in the zone. He explained that the actions to be taken included: avoiding soil erosion in areas of unequal height by creating terraces using the burned tree trunks; preventing blights of insects such as "tomicus" (the pine shoot beetle) by removing the remnants left by the fire in which they could breed; and, in a third phase, studying the natural regeneration in the area until next summer to decide whether replanting would be necessary.
Divided into four zones
The burned area has been divided into four zones to make the task of restoration easier. Work has started at one of the points of origin of the fire, close to the access road to Ets Alocs, and also in the area where the fire was extinguished.
The first zone, at the southern part of the afflicted area, offers easy access to the machinery needed to remove fallen tree trunks. It is the area least affected by the fire and small groups of pine trees have survived the disaster. Holm oaks in this zone will be pruned to encourage growth.
The second zone, which was at the centre of the fire, is the largest and was previously populated by scrub and pines. Access is so difficult that mules and horses will be used for transport. The plan is that burned trees will be felled and chopped up, with the trunks being used to create terraces to help prevent soil erosion by wind or rain. There used to be a mature pinewood in this zone and experts hope that the seeds have been dispersed. Initially, there are no plans to plant new pine trees here but if after two years there has been insufficient natural regeneration, then seeds will be planted. In the damper areas, holm oaks will be introduced.
The third zone, situated to the north, is already showing signs of soil erosion and remedial action will be taken. Various parts of this zone will be artificially planted with holm oaks and pine trees.
The last zone specifically covers the area where there were around 60 protected "pinus pinaster" (maritime pines). Ten of these were destroyed in the fire and the others will be subjected to a special recovery programme, which would be aided by any autumnal rainfall.
With regard to animal life, almost all those which died were tortoises, the other species being able to flee the area and find new homes. Nevertheless, a meeting is to be held to decide whether it will be necessary to reintroduce any animal species to the area.
The forestry agent in charge of the Menorcan team, Carmen Orellana, has produced a report on the origins of the fire which has been passed to the National Police to aid them in their investigations.
