Hello everybody,

thanks so much for all your replies, I certainly have even more questions now

Someone told me that the greenhouse farmers have trouble competing the prices of the Marocco farmers, and therefore think about relocating or starting some other business (pres. tourist business).

I wonder if there is any truth in this?

Joo

The local owners here have probably never been out off the area, so unlikley they will go into tourism, that would be for the big boys. It is true that they dont make as much money as they used to, hence the friends I have that own a greenhouse are not growing certain crops anymore.

I am wondering what the greenhouses do to the environment and the water-management. Some people say that the flood in Almunecar would have been less worse, had it not been for the greenhouses. Is that correct?
I take it that the greenhouses are watered with wellwater. Does anyone know how the situation is re wellwater in the area of Albunol/Albondon? I once lived in a totally different area, a moor, where waterdrilling led to a lowering of the underground waterlevel, which in turn led to a complete change of the nature. Could that happen here as well?

Now about the politics: is it correct that the local councils and the Junta make plans, or does the Junta only approve or disapprove?

Is there anything one might do to find out more about the plans for agricultural areas near the sea?

http://www.theolivepress.es/PDF/35.pdf

Please read this article (pages 12-13)regarding groundwater, flooding and the Guardia.

No it's not correct.

Mercifully Almunecar is virtually greenhouse free.

The immediate problem was mainly caused by to much rubbish in the dry rivers which caused restrictions in the water flow which led to the water overflowing into the town.

The other contributory factor was the longer term overbuilding on the established flood plain which puts too great an increased load on the dry "rivers" through the town.

Thanks Scampicat,

very good article, makes totally clear how greenhouses can both dry out the area by (over)using groundwater and enlarge the risk of flooding and thereby destroying the topsoil, by blocking the normal watercycle.

It makes you worry deeply what will become of this area, if the greenhouses will continue. But on the other hand, the people who earn their living there, will need an alternative before the greenhouses will ever stop.

I had not realised the greenhouses represent another danger: toxic waste.

Do you know wether local ''green'' groups are involved in discussing these concerns with the local authorities?

And Fred,

you are right of course. My spokesman probably mixed up the flood in Almunecar and the risks of flooding in the plastic areas.

The article was written by my husband.....

However, I agree it is good and many people do not realise the total environmental impact upon the land that the invernerados have.

Green groups, yes 'ecologica en accion' is one, but I don't know how to contact them, sorry.

My husband has also written an article about this. Fred is correct in what he says.

A excellent article it was too. Especially the pictures of the old flood plains.

[QUOTE=scampicat;5513102]The article was written by my husband.....

Good for him.
I enjoyed the article and was very happy to find out about the Olive Press (probably well-known to all of you).

How does your husband see the future of this plastic area?

Hi Joo

Get a copy of our local mag from the estate agent when you are over Joo, you will like it, covers this area.

[QUOTE=joo;5514448] Hi there,

My husband will reply to you in the next couple of days. Probably not tomorrow as we have to pick visitors up from the airport.

Glad you enjoyed his articles.

I assume you are referring to The Olive Press.

It is available online in very readable PDF format here

www.theolivepress.es/

No I am not it is the costalivingmagazine which is in its 7th month and covers Albuñol, Salobreña, Padul, Almuñecar, Adra now reaching Mojacar, universally called "the little yellow mag" anyone want details on seeing it online pm me.

pwwm

I have seen it around but is not easy to find. I have just had a look at it online and it certainly has turned out to be a useful mag in quite a short time - and it isn't full of estate agents ads for a change!