MONTLLOBER PROJECT
Preserving the drylands from the irrigation tsunami
Steppeland, including arable lands, grain fields and traditional fallow fields are one of the most iconic landscapes in Spain. In fact, it is one of the greatest Spanish contributions to the European network Natura 2000. However, the steppeland is deeply unknown and are not valued by the locals. They have been seen like the place where nothing grows and so they have been used like rubbish dam or the right place to set those infrastructures that nobody wants in the backyard, with special attention to be used as a place to dispose of excrement coming out from intensive pig farms. Also, some activities like extensive livestock are vanishing due to the low prices and competence with intensive farms. The perfect storm driving to lose the Iberian steppelands, leading transformation projects including irrigation and concentrate those biodiverse lands in a few hands of big agrocompanies.
From the very beginning we, in PHOTO LOGISTICS, have tried to offer alternatives to the remaining small landowners in different places in Ebro Valley. We pay a part of the incomes generated by our hides to them in order to encourage to keep that fallow field where the Little Bustard still display every springtime, that edge tree where a couple of Roller have their nest or getting softer the impact for the protection (and son the banning to harvest) of a piece where the Montagu’s Harrier is breeding this year.
Always eager to add new hide services we land in Massalcoreig willing to deal with a small landowner having a nice hilly dryland plot where birds like Black Wheatear, Blue Rockthush, Southern Grey Shrike and other steppeland flagship birds occur. Avoiding the boring details, the end of the negotiation was that we bought the land instead of offer a share of our incomes, as usual. So, here we are with our first piece of land in property. We call the project after the name of the whole range where the plot is: Montllober. It takes your mind to the Catalan name of the wolf: llop. Of course, it is gone a long time ago from this place, but the name talks about the wilderness and the fierce of this land.
What is the goal here? First of all, to preserve a piece of 3 hectares, that we will work to make growth with neighbors landowners that we can reach an agreement. We will take care of the Olive trees in the estate and will leave the olives for the wintering birds, we have already planted some Cheery trees for the summer visitors and, very important in the drylands, we have set a drinking pond where birds and other wildlife can come and bath and drink across the year.
It has to be an example to local population that the steppelands worth. We are in contact with local hunters, hikers, etc. and the most important point, with the Ajuntament de Massalcoreig (munipality council) in order to work together for the steppeland appreciation. We have already get some locals involved through a volunteer day to clean up the farm of agricultural waste. Many of this actions will come in the next future.
Do we set hides? Of course, it is done. What you expect!? It is what we do and we, as landowners now will reinvest our revenues in improving this lands for wildlife. Black Wheatear, Southern Grey Shrike, Goshawk, Buzzard, Blue Rock Thrush are already available.
Our Montllober project is also in between of Montgai set of hides and Belchite Sandgrouse hides. The perfect stopover in a photo trip.
We wish to dedicate a special thank you to our friend and now guide, Juan Bernal, who toke us to Massalcoreig in the first place and the key person in this exciting project.
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