Hiking Trails February 2022

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

from Radio Sintonia:

'Breaking botanical blindness', hiking trails to get to know the biodiversity of Fuerteventura.
The Cabildo of Fuerteventura, through the Ministry of Education and Youth, collaborates with the Chekipa Foundation and Oasis Wildlife Fuerteventura in the implementation of three new hiking trails of 90 minutes. Under the name 'Breaking botanical blindness', the initiative is aimed at all those visitors and residents of the island who want to know, first hand, the biodiversity of Fuerteventura and the threats faced by its species.

 

With the help of Dr. Stephan Scholz and a team of educators from Oasis Wildlife, these routes will be carried out on Saturdays 5, 12 and 19 of February.

The first of the routes will begin next Saturday, February 5, at 9.30 in the morning, in the Saladar de Jandía and the participants will meet next to the sperm whale of the 'Path of the cetaceans' to begin the route. The following itineraries will pass through the Pinar de Betancuria, on February 12 and whose meeting point will be in the picnic area of the picnic area of the same name; and, by the Dunes of Corralejo, on February 19, which will depart from the entrance of the Hotel Riu Oliva Beach Resort. It is a free activity for all audiences (recommended from 8 years old), who must previously book by whatsapp at the number 620265415.
Professor Stephan Scholz, technical director of Oasis Botanic, the botanical garden of Oasis Wildlife, leads a lifetime studying the flora of Fuerteventura. He is the author of the first botanical guide to the island of Desierto Florido. Guide to the Botanical Garden and Atlantic Environmental Award 2018. Doctor in Biology, he has dedicated his professional and personal life to the study and promotion of the conservation of the natural heritage of Fuerteventura. He has prepared studies prior to the drafting of the recovery plans of four endangered species of endemic flora of Fuerteventura. He has also participated as director in the drafting of the Green Map of the municipality of Pájara; in the Atlas of Threatened Plant Species, published by the Ministry of Ecological Transition; in the drafting of the Recovery Plan of Echium handiense, the blue tajinaste of Jandía and in the elaboration of the Recovery Plans for Salvia herbanica and Crambe sventenii. In addition, he has participated in the revision of the General Plan of Territorial Planning of Fuerteventura, pointing out the areas of floristic and faunal importance. He has also collaborated in the drafting team of the Biosphere Reserve project.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Radio Sintonia:

The hiking trails to know the botanical wealth of Fuerteventura, started this weekend and organized by the Chekipa Foundation and Oasis Wildlife, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Youth of the Cabildo of the island, have been a success of assistance and interest on the part of the majoreros. More than fifty people have made the first of the three planned routes, in which 180 registered have had to be on the waiting list due to the large number of applications.
 
Under the name "Breaking botanical blindness", this free initiative has as its main objective to value the botany of the Canary Islands and bring nature closer to all those who want to know the biodiversity of Fuerteventura and the threats faced by its species.
The attendees have been able to know the secrets of the different species of native flora from the hand of Dr. Stephan Scholz author of the guide Florido Desert, the first catalog that collects all the species of flora existing in Fuerteventura. Professor Stephan Scholz, technical director of Oasis Botanic, the Botanical Garden of Oasis Wildlife, leads a lifetime studying the flora of Fuertevetura. Doctor in Biology, he has dedicated his professional and personal life to the study and promotion of the conservation of the natural heritage of the island.
More than 500 people have already shown interest in this initiative, so the routes will be extended during the month of March, to accommodate all those interested. Registrations have already been closed due to the high demand for places.
As pointed out by Guacimara Cabrera, manager of the Chekipa Foundation and Oasis Wildlife Fuerteventura, "the success of this activity makes us continue betting on these initiatives in which we teach the natural value of our habitats, in order to conserve all the spaces that surround us. It is overwhelming to know that more than 180 people have remained on the waiting list, who wanted to attend this activity and have not been able to, on this first day. We see that there is a great interest of people to know, so, without a doubt, we will expand the routes and continue betting on this type of initiative throughout this year".
According to the Minister of Education and Youth, María Saavedra, it is important to bet on this type of activities that involve those who reside or visit Fuerteventura. "We believe in the benefit of these meetings of high educational and outdoor value, because they are the best way to enhance the scientific vocation, culture and knowledge that citizens have of our island, its flora and fauna. The connection that occurs between the participants and the ecosystem, promotes the culture of protection of nature, "said the counselor.
The Jandía salt marsh has been the first route, which will be followed by the Pinar de Betancuria or the Dunes of Corralejo. Visitors toured in Jandía this peculiar ecosystem, which only exists in the Canary Islands in the eastern islands of the Canary Islands. "It is an ecosystem straddling land and sea," as Professor Scholz points out, "it has unique species that can only grow in this area, adapted to salting."
The visit to the salt marsh of El Matorral began at 9:30 with an introduction, about the characteristics of the salt marsh ecosystem, the geographical location of the salt marshes in the Canary Islands, relegated mainly to Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, as well as the recent history of the salt marsh of El Matorral.
The attendees walked to the beach, knowing the past of this salt marsh, the conservation problems it has suffered, with human activity and wastewater discharge or invasive species, and the conservation that is carried out today. "With good conservation programs," said Ana Cabrera, head of Education at Oasis Wildlife, "this salt marsh has been recovered."
With multiple questions from the attendees and different stops on the route, the activity lasted until 12 noon.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

From Radio Sintonia:

Schoolchildren on the island of Fuerteventura know their natural heritage thanks to the hiking program 'Huellas Verdes', which the Ministry of Environmental Sustainability of the Cabildo de Fuerteventura develops in the Fuerteventura Trail Network. This program offers guided and explanatory environmental routes, promoting the conservation of the environment and promoting healthy and sustainable lifestyles.
 
A total of 32 students of 4th, 5th and 6th grade of primary school of the CEIP Pájara participated this week in the route that leads from Toto to the Dam of the Peñitas, an itinerary that served the schoolchildren to know the geology, fauna and flora of the area.
The counselor of the area, Lola García, was present during the activity, where she highlighted the importance of involving schools in this type of actions, "acquiring, on the one hand, an exhaustive knowledge about geological formations, fauna and flora, and, on the other, promoting sport and physical activity."
The routes are recommended for people over 8 or from 12 years old, depending on the complexity of the trail. In addition, the routes are open to the participation of non-profit associations and collectives.
This initiative is part of the environmental education program of the Ministry of Environmental Sustainability. Under the title 'Knowing to protect', it includes a total of four projects, covering aspects such as respect for natural spaces, knowledge about the Majorero coast, trails, the conservation of species and the recovery of rugged fauna. New ones will be added to these projects.