The government delegate in Galicia, Pedro Blanco, advanced today the imminent completion of the dredging and regeneration work of the Ría de O Burgo, with the beginning of the reforestation of the green areas that complete the action. Pedro Blanco traveled to Culleredo, where he participated in the planting of the first ten trees that will be part of the new spaces for public use included in this environmental recovery project, implemented by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.
The delegate highlighted how the government faced this work alone, in which it invested a total of 37.5 million euros. Of this amount, 3.7 million were destined to compensate the marshals of the Ria who had to paralyze their activity at this time “through a new procedure designed and approved by this Administration,” he added.
Pedro Blanco recalled that the project of the Ría de O Burgo is the environmental regeneration action of a more ambitious coastal system in the history of Spain, and that it was possible “thanks to the technical and construction staff, the collaboration with the municipalities and the impulse of civil society”, he acknowledged. This involvement and effort “make this action model, both at a technical level, being a national and international reference; and at an environmental level, associated with an intense monitoring program; and at an institutional level, with permanent contacts with the administrations and professional groups involved.”
The action began in early 2022 and during this time 583,000 m3 of contaminated material were removed from the bottom of the estuary in a procedure qualified as “surgical” for its thoroughness. At the same time, 227,000 m2 of habitats were preserved and 70,000 m2 of green areas were created that allow the walk around the estuary to continue. The estuary canals, the shellfish banks and the bottom of the Culleredo lagoon were also restored and a part of the material was destined to recover the Santa Cristina Beach. In addition, the project includes a thorough environmental monitoring for 10 years before, during and after the works.
Symbolic planting
Today’s plantation was attended by boys and girls from the Down Coruña Association, in the framework of a workshop organized by this association on the occasion of Down Syndrome Day and Tree Day, which are celebrated tomorrow, March 21.
In the activity, 10 specimens of elderberry and birch were planted and also participated the subdelegate of the Government in A Coruña, Maria Rivas; the mayor of Culleredo, José Ramón Rioboo; the vice-president of Down Coruña, Enrique Pena, and the head of the State Coast Demarcation in Galicia, Carlos Gil.
This plantation starts reforestation with native species of the new green areas in Culleredo and Oleiros. The project includes the planting of 190 specimens of pine, birch, elderberry, strawberry, laurel, white thorn and wild apple.