Spartaria is a project that promotes diversification and forestry use while allowing and promoting the resilience of forest masses and promoting the creation of green jobs. It is applied in the areas of Cartagena, Calasparra and Moratalla.
During the two years, the Spartaria project will work on the adaptation of forest masses to strengthen three of the pillars of the rural economy of the Murcia region, such as tourism, the esparto industry and the aromatics industry.
Spartaria project in the Murcia region
At the end of 2024, the Spartaria project started planting native vegetation in the municipal farms of Cartagena that are part of it, some of which are located in protected areas such as the Calblanque Regional Park, Monte de las Cenizas and Peña del Águila or the Sierra de la Muela, Cabo Tiñoso and Roldán Natural Park. These works complement the that have already been carried out on the same farms, consisting of the elimination of invasive exotic flora.
So far, The plantations concentrate on two farms, one near the Perín Provincial Council cemetery and sports fields, and another on land adjacent to the Tallante Provincial Council youth hostel.
He The purpose of these plantations is to promote native biodiversitythe design taking into account the restoration and promotion of the priority habitats in these areas, in particular the 9570* Bosques de Tetraclinis articulated and 5220* tree shrubs of Ziziphus lotusthese are ecosystems typical of semi-arid areas, very unique in the European context and shared with North Africa. In addition, these habitats are home to a large number of flora species protected by Decree 50/2003.
Among the varieties used on these first plantations, the aladierno stands out. (Rhamnus alaternus), the black hawthorn (Rhamnus lyciodes), the kermes oak (Querxus coccifera), to lavender (Lavandula dentata) or heart of palm (Chamaerops humillis) for the Perín estate or like the jujube (Ziziphus lotus) the mastic (Pistacia lentiscus), the esparto grass (Macrochloa tenacissima) and asparagus (Asparagus albus) in Tallante. With these interventions it will be possible to restore these ecosystems in both areas, in addition to strengthening the resilience of the landscape against climate change, one of the objectives of the Spartaria project.
The Spartaria project combines environmental restoration with innovative forestry models, for a sustainable and profitable use of natural resources of the Murcia region all year round, respecting the balance of the environment. The actions are not limited to the mountains of Cartagena, but also cover the forest areas of Calasparra and Moratalla.
During the two years of the initiative, Spartaria aims to strengthen the rural economy through three fundamental pillars: tourism, the esparto industry and the production of aromatic plants. Moreover, the project will stimulate creating local green jobs through training programs and support for entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on the inclusion of women in the forestry economy.
The Spartaria Project, which began filming in early 2024, promotes diversification and use in forestry profitable throughout the year of forest standss, and also works to promote its biodiversity, multifunctionality and ecosystem benefits, with the aim of promoting its resilience in the face of current environmental changes.
Spartaria has the support of the Biodiversity Foundation Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) under the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU. The Cartagena City Council is developing the project together with CARM, CETENMA and ANSE for 24 months.