The Monitoring Committee of the project meets for the first time in the City Council of Montalbo. This committee was created with the intention of acting as an advisory board for LIFE El Hito: on the scientific side, due to the uniqueness of the ecosystems present in El Hito Lagoon; on the social side, due to the confluence of interests of different groups; and on the administrative side, due to the different governments that have jurisdiction over the area.
El Hito LIFE project seeks to protect the natural values of El Hito Lagoon and halt the loss of biodiversity in this area, which is home to an excellent representation of the saline steppe landscapes of the Mediterranean and has priority habitats and unique species in danger of extinction. For this reason it has several protected statuses: Natura 2000 Network, Nature Reserve and RAMSAR.
The managers of the natural space and the scientists present at the first committee highlighted the relevance of the habitats and species existing in the lagoon, which are very specific and some of them endemic. This is due to the extreme conditions of the lagoon (endorheic, steppe, saline, temporary). All agreed on the need to conserve this very important natural heritage. The Manager of the Nature Reserve, environmental agents and national experts from different institutions (University of Valencia, CSIC, National Museum of Natural Sciences, Autonomous University of Madrid) participated.
The social representatives highlighted the opportunity that this project represents for the development of the territory, agreeing that it should be sustainable and based on the enhancement of the natural wealth of El Hito Lagoon. The municipalities of Montalbo and El Hito, Cuenca Regional Government, CEOE-CEPYME Cuenca, the Association of Afected by Cranes and the Cultural and Rural Turism Association in Mancha Alta Conquense participated.
The agricultural sector was also represented, as well as the General Counsil of Agro-environmental Policies, emphasizing that the sustainability of the territory involves seeking solutions where all parties can feel supported.
Fundación Global Nature, which coordinates this project, presented the different actions of the project and anticipated the expected results. He emphasized the prestige of having a LIFE project and that this is due to the unique values of El Hito Lagoon and the fact that it belongs to the Natura 2000 Network. It was mentioned that this project is the result of the work and the joint impulse of the Regional Government of Cuenca (which supports the project), of the Administrative Council of Castilla La Mancha (which collaborated closely in the drafting of the project and expressly supports it) and of the Munnicipalities, which have decidedly supported it.
The objective of this Committee is to gather views and expectations on the different areas of work related to El Hito Lagoon and it will be the advisory and consultative body of the project. The implementation of the project should take advantage of the catalytic effect of concentrating resources and efforts for a few years in the territory and serve as an ‘enzyme’ for new projects and a long-term strategy.
Eduardo de Miguel, FGN Director, stated that this is a territorial project and that “we will not achieve a healthy wetland if the farmers, shopkeepers, hoteliers, neighbors and society as a whole do not win”.
