ELCHE PALMS WINNING RED WEEVIL BATTLE

Elche’s Councillor for Parks and Gardens, Manuel Rodríguez, called a press conference last Thursday to announce that his staff are finally winning the Elche Palm Grove’s eight year battle with the red palm weevil

The Unesco World Heritage Site, home to more than 90,000 palm trees, has seen the loss of five different specimen’s of palm during recent years but at long last the measures taken against the weevil infestation are beginning to show positive results.

Among them, the councillor spoke of the reforestation campaign and a continuous inspection of the municipal gardens together with the use of chemical and biological treatments, the latter through collaboration with universities and researchers.

“We are on track in the fight against the plague,” said the councillor, who explained that the council is spending 1.2 million euros a year on the maintenance and treatment of the palms.”

“Some of the money comes from the regional administration,” he said, “although the amount has declined in recent years from 72,000 euros in 2009 to 10,000 euros this year.”

Although he was unable to tell the press how many palms have been lost in recent years he did say that five different variety’s have gone following infestation by the red palm weevil.

But he assured everyone that the current management of the site and the discharge of any necessary action now lies with the City Council and not the Board of the Palm Grove.

Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/45831/

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