TOWN HALL TO CATALOGUE DISTINCTIVE TREES IN JAVEA
Friday 27th January 2012

Javea Town Hall, in collaboration with Fundación CIRNE, is to embark o a project to catalogue all the large, distinctive and unique trees in the municipality not only to protect them but also to educate about another important part of the local heritage. The work includes an intention to create a comprehensive record of the specimens, such as the Oliveria Milenario, and prepare an educational exhibition specifically aimed at schoolchildren so that they may learn to appreciate and respect the local plant heritage. In addition, a network of trees of interest may arise which may offer opportunities for special routes for interested residents and tourists, subject to any agreement with the owners of the land on which the trees are situated.

The project calls for the cooperation from residents since many of the specimens are within private property and may be dificult to locate if the land-owners aren't willing to report their location. The town hall assured those landowners that owning a distinctive and unique tree would not necessarily create problems but would in fact create several advantages, including the possibility for council staff to assist with prunng, maintenance and pest management.

The research phase will last until the summer and be coordinated from the town hall's Department of Environment and Agriculture in Avenida Amanecer and the headquarters of the Fundació CIRNE in Avenida de Alicante. After this phase, a group of experts will analyse the data to select the trees that should be placed in a municipal register. Although the requirements for the distinctive trees are regulated by regional law (they must be at least 350 years old and a minimum of 30 metres in height with a minimum trunk diameter of six metres), a uniqueness derived from traditional uses may well demand cultural preservation.

Councillor Juan Luis Cardona explained that the idea of preparing a register of Jávea tree heritage was raised at a recent meeting of the Agricultural Council shortly before discovering that the Fundació CIRNE was to start work on the same objective. This week saw the first meeting between all the departments involved - Agriculture, Environment and Tourism - along with representatives from Fundació CIRNE and biologist Tere Bou who already have some working files.

Source: Press Release - Xŕbia Ajuntament