The waterfowl sanctuary, La Charca de Suárez, in Motril is going to have 140,000 euros spent on it. The money will go on improved signposting and generally doing up the installations.

According to the Mayor, Luisa García Chamorro, the wetlands have received around 44,000 visits since the site opened in 2006.

Visitors of the winged variety number 160 different species of birds, some of which are in danger of extinction, such as the red-knobbed coot… and no, I didn’t make that name up.

The Mayor also said that there are plans to add a further 20.5 hectares to the existing 13.8 hectares belonging to the sanctuary.

Anyway, so where did the money come from? Funnily enough, mostly from fishing funds: Grupo de Desarrollo Pesquero. It’s money that the EU, through the European Fishing Funds, gives to Spain. These EU funds account for 75% of the 140,000 euros. The remaining 25% comes from the Junta… from its Fishing, Farming and Rural Development Department.

The Town Hall originally asked for more to increase the pond area, but as this has already been carried out, they settled for funds to build the bird observation posts and rest areas, as well as a botanical garden and improvements to the access lane.

Editorial comment: It shouldn’t surprise readers that funds destined for the fishing sector end up financing wetland protection, because funds for rural infrastructure are repeatedly used for doing up town-centre streets.