Room 2

The interventions in Guardamar began in May 1896 with the recognition of the dune system by Francisco Mira and the President of the Forestry Council José Jordana y Morera. The project signed by Mira in 1897 allows us to appreciate the dangerous situation in Guardamar faced at that time as the dunes advanced 3 and even 8 meters per year.

The priority of the works focused on creating an artificial coastal dune in order to contain the sediments thrown by the Segura river. The houses were protected with cane fences in the limits between the dunes and the streets of the town.

The dune field, whose extension was 846 hectares, was divided into 5 work zones or perimeters with different degrees of priority, the most important was the one that affected the survival of Guardamar.

In each of these perimeters the work was systematized in a similar way

• A main nursery was created in which different fixation and planting methods would be tried out. Then, secondary nurseries were stablished.

• Required infrastructures were built: pathways and forest houses related to surveillance and maintenance tasks.

• The dunes were fixed using different planting techniques such as Bremontier, Goury and Empordà.

It was an act open to all the people, but focused on children.
They planted trees and sang hymns with the help of their school teachers.

The music band and local authorities also actively participated in this event, the most awaited moment was Francisco Mira’s speech.

Currently, Tree Day is still celebrated in Guardamar, still keeping the educational spirit.