Today, the 10th of February, 2011 , we have had a meeting with GENDEN’s members Mònica Tomás and Cristobal Jiménez. GEDEN stands for the Catalan words: Grup d'Estudi i Difusió de l'Entorn Natural (Fostering research on Natural environment).
They have talked about the projects they are currently carrying out in Igualada and Vilanova del Camí. They are tracking and monitoring the 105 nest boxes spread all over the region because of the lack of thick enough trees for the birds to put their nests.
They have just finished an amphibian and reptile research for Vilanova del Camí with the aim of approaching the municipality’s species. They have mentioned the intrusion in the river of the Pseudemys floridana (an exotic turtle) that is abandoned by people and causes severe problems.
The birds in Vilanova del Camí and Igualada research, which includes a display CD, sets apart from the rest. They also organise different activities such as the Plantada popular d'arbres (collective tree planting) with the purpose of reforesting degraded areas. Another activity is a workshop called Coneix el teu riu (Experience your river) usually performed with scholars, where they raise their river’s conservation awareness.
They draw up programmes with different outings to the country and trekking through Catalan natural areas. For further information, visit their interesting web: http://www.geden.es/
Thanks very much to Mònica and Cristóbal for their speech that will help us go on with our projects.
Translated by Lissette Torres, Javier Quiroga, Sílvia Vives