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Agenda 21 Local

POSIDONIA PROTECTS OUR BEACHES

When we swim underwater we are sure to find Oceanic Posidonia.

Contrary to popular belief, Posidonia is not a seaweed (which grows on rocky seabeds), it is without doubt, a plant with flowers that grows on sandy seabeds and is exclusive to the Mediterranean Sea. Its presence in the water is a strong indicator of the good quality of the water as it needs water that is clean, transparent and free from contamination for its growth and development.

Its green leaves are long and flat and can measure up to 1 ½ metres. These leaves form themselves into large banks of Posidonia which can go from the surface of the water to a depth of 40 metres. Its shoots have a average lifespan of about 30 years.

Its presence in the water is of the utmost importance due to the many advantages it gives to the ecosystem, such as:

* The production of large quantities of oxygen.

* The provision of a breeding ground , reproduction, food and shelter for the countless number of marine organisms living in the water: starfish, sea-urchins, octopus.

* The maintenance of the sedimentary balance along the coast as it prevents the erosion of the coastline.

With respect to the protection of the beaches, the banks of Posidonia act in the following ways:

* The leaves slow down the movement of the waves.

* The subterranean stems retain sediment.

* At the point where the waves break, the dead leaves lessen the impact of the waves.

* The accumulation of dead leaves on the beach protects the sand from the direct impact of the waves.

With these activities, a notable deterioration of the coastline is avoided along with the subsequent loss of sand and deposit of pebbles.

Having now seen the great importance of the banks of oceanic Posidonia, it must be pointed out that we are dealing with a protected ecosystem, and therefore there are some actions that must be avoided such as:

* The dumping of waste waters.

* The dumping of rubbish from the ports.

* The carrying out of maritime works.

* The regenerating of the beaches.

* Trawling Fishing

* Anchoring of boats.

* The introducing of animal species that could invade it.

Being aware of all of this and following the objectives of the Local Agenda 21, the Town Hall of Teulada is carrying out a series of actions designed to preserve the existing posidonia of our coast by:

* Informing the public of the importance of the banks through notice boards on the beaches of el Portet, l'Ampolla and Platgetes.

* Installing ecocliffs on the beaches of el Portet to prevent the anchoring of boats in the posidonia banks.

* Not remoring the remains of the Oceanic Posidonia from the beaches of el Portet, l´Ampolla and Les Platgetes, during the winter from the 15th of December to the 15th of May.

In this way, it is hoped to draw the attention of the beach users to the importance of the banks of Posidonia for the environment and also for the protection and preservation of our beaches as the very presence of this plant in our waters is indicative of its quality.

LOCAL AGENDA 21

In 1999, our town opted for the promising road of sustainability, adopting the Local Agenda 21 tool proposed in Chapter 28 of the agreements adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro on 14 June 1992.

The Town Hall has decided to direct the future evolution of the town in accordance with the principles of sustainable development.

Sustainable development enables the satisfaction of our current needs without endangering those of future generations.

Sustainability represents a change in the way we think and act; it is thinking globally while acting locally, overcoming the barriers between the economy, society and the environment by considering the real interactions that take place between said fields. We must be committed to a town that is economically viable, socially fair and environmentally healthy.

The Local Agenda 21, which could be defined as a 'shared all-round strategy plan', is the tool we have chosen for sustainable development. It includes an action plan which, in our case, was drawn up by the Citizen's Forum and adopted unanimously in the plenary session of April 2003.

The action plan coves three areas: society, economy and environment. Three key lines of strategy have been set up for each area. In turn, each line of strategy is divided into action programmes and each programme is carried out as part of various projects.

The municipality of Teulada-Moraira presents a model of growth adapted to the drive of tourism developed over a number of years.

Today, a new outlook has brought about a change in the way of thinking, living and conducting our life.

We take on responsibilities. We evaluate before moving forward and bear in mind new criteria of
development that take into account the clear differences with respect to other tourist destinations.
Why are we different?
- Because we have clean beaches.
- Because we respect the environment.
- Because we care for our surroundings and
Say NO to those large environmental impacts.
- Because we keep alive our history.
- Because we share time and space with others.
- Because we worry about the development of the economy,,
social-cultural values and the efficiency and organization of our environment.
- Because we offer Quality of Life.
- Because we are advancing towards self-sufficiency.

Teulada-Moraira, for sustainable development:

" To satisfy the needs of the present without compromising those of future generations"