The WWF (World Wildlife Fund for Nature) Málaga held a new forest reforestation day on Sunday 11th of January with volunteers and groups, in collaboration with the Town Hal, in the Los Arenales area. Work has been carried out in the area for years and it is now possible to see how some seedlings have thrived thanks to the care and emergency watering carried out during the summer. WWF Málaga is working here to restore the environment after a devastating fire that affected all the vegetation.

The forest restoration project at this site involves reviewing last year’s seedlings and replacing those that have not survived. The team has marked the surviving plants and identified the spots where new seedlings will be planted.

According to Claudia Perlini, local coordinator of WWF Málaga, "we are back in this area as we visit several times a year to monitor the situation. We are checking what was planted last year, we replanted three or four times, returned in the summer to water, and now we are taking stock. Where plants have not survived, we are reinforcing with other seedlings and species, and changing the locations".

For his part, the councillor for the environment at the Mijas Town Hall, Marcos Cortés (PP), said that "we are once again collaborating with WWF in these reforestation efforts. We must thank and applaud their work and dedication, as they have been carrying out this work in Mijas for years, particularly in this area, which was hit by the fire. As always, we are reforesting with native plants. What's more, the results of several years’ work are already visible". The councillor pointed out that "the public forest belongs to everyone, which is why we must thank WWF for caring about this mountain range and visiting frequently, several times a year, to carry out reforestation and raise awareness among the general public".

On this day, in which 40 volunteers participated, 100 holm oaks and 150 shrubs were planted, including mastic trees, labiérnagos and aladiernos, as well as olivillas and cornicabras.

According to Perlini, "it is normal that many seedlings have not survived, sometimes due to animals, such as goats or wild boars, and other times because of drought. Although it rains in winter, summers here are very harsh, and many do not survive. Another problem is that they are very exposed and there are no plants to provide shade. That is why we also plant scrub, which helps the soil and protects the new seedlings as they grow".

On the 1st of February, WWF will return to Mijas to carry out a new reforestation project. The event is open to the public. For more information and to participate, please register at WWF Málaga.

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