Calpe continues to improve the surroundings of Las Salinas. A few months ago, the regeneration works and the creation of pedestrian paths have been completed, and now the initiative is continued with tree planting actions. The Diputación Provincial is subsidising the project, which is concentrated in the area of Las Salinas and Avenida Juan Carlos I.
This is an area of 27,800 m2 of green space separated from the built-up area and the road. This area was vegetationless except for small shrubs and dry mimosa. The project included irrigation, soil preparation and planting of mulberry trees, strawberry trees, carob trees, olive trees, poplars, pomegranate trees and fig trees. These are indigenous species that are easily maintained on these soils.
The action has a total cost of 62.213 Eur and was financed by the Diputación Provicnial through investments in trees for urban soils.
This initiative is completed with the Plan de Arbolado project included in the EDUSI Plan. This initiative aims to create a green corridor that connects the urban center with the Salinas and the surroundings of the beaches, thus improving the urban environment through recovery of green spaces and regenerating degraded urban areas.
The project focuses on the avenues Spanish Armies, Juan Carlos I and the area of Las Salinas. Although the species to be planted will be defined in the project, the EDUSI Plan contemplates the planting of walnut, poplar, platanaceae, cherry, strawberry, lime, ash and mulberry trees.
The objectives of this part of the EDUSI plan are to articulate part of the city's infrastructure network, to geographically link two valuable areas (Historical Centre-Las Salinas/Peñón surroundings), to improve the urban landscape in general and to improve CO2 exchange.
Other improvements
This year, a signposted circular route was already laid out in Las Salinas. The main paths were signposted with beacons 1.20 metres high. Since the path crosses two drainage ditches, two pedestrian bridges were installed to cross these points.
Over the northern part of the water, a 163 metre long footbridge was installed to guide visitors through and limit access to areas that require greater protection due to the breeding grounds.
All this will be completed with the installation of elements of the Las Salinas birdwatching route within the programme that the Ministry of Tourism and Environment has carried out in various parts of the municipality to promote ornithological tourism or birdwatching. To this end, various panels have been set up with information on birds that can be seen in each of these places, their more or less strong presence depending on the season and the places where they live, as well as the course of the route. A wooden bird observatory has also been set up to admire the birds without disturbing the local fauna.
In addition, in one of the most urban areas of the protected area, old spills have been removed and cadastral paths have been restored with clearing work. Rowing vegetation without any relation to the Las Salinas ecosystem has been removed removed.