Terra Alta county: population halved since 1920, further loss expected through 2046
Local community, struggling to keep basic services running, hopes remote working will 'halt' gloomy trend
terra alta
Heavy snow causes 12-hour power cuts for towns in southern Catalonia
Falset, Arnes and other towns in Priorat and Terra Alta feel effects of Storm Filomena
Torra links fight against far right with struggle for freedoms in Catalonia
The Catalan president also challenged his Spanish counterpart to make concrete proposals, speaking during an official trip
Scabies infection threatens the last population of Iberian wild goats in Catalonia
Hunters and park rangers are currently working together to try to contain the outbreak of Scabies in the wild population of Iberian ibex in the mountainous area of Terra Alta, in the south of Catalonia. This is the last surviving population of this local species throughout Catalonia, after it became extinct from the Pyrenees. Negotiations between the two parties began late last month after the Catalan Government's Department of Agriculture granted permission to hunt and kill the infected specimen before the disease spreads. A previous case in 1987, which eliminated 97% of the goat population, has meant that the Department of Agriculture is not taking this news lightly and want a swift yet controlled extermination of the diseased animals in order to prevent the extinction of the species in Catalonia.
UNESCO adds the Ebro Delta, in Southern Catalonia, to its Biosphere Reserve network
Terres de l’Ebre, which encompasses the delta and the catchment area of the Ebro River’s lowest stretch, displays a unique relationship between nature and traditional human activities. It has lovely landscapes, with hills, cliffs, fields and picturesque villages on both sides of the river, as well as coastal ecosystems, where the delta offers amazing and delicate environments. The new Man and the Biosphere reserve covers 367,729 hectares and has 190,000 inhabitants. The cultivation of rice, citrus fruits and olives, livestock breeding as well as aquaculture and fishing are the main human activities, “respecting biological conservation and landscape values”, stated UNESCO. The Montseny hills and forest are the other Catalan biosphere reserve.
The Terra Alta wine making region expects to collect about 36 million kilos of grapes
Seven wineries that are part of the Terra Alta protected geographical indication (PGI) have begun the harvest of white varieties. This is the second harvest with the distinguished Terra Alta Garnatxa Blanca (white Grenache) label in place, to guarantee high quality standards.