Principles and recommendations for the sustainable management of the gardens at Hacienda Riquelme

Versión en español

In order to properly manage the gardens at Hacienda Riquelme, the Gardening sub-committee propose setting some principles that should be followed, with recommendations to accompany them.

It should be noted that working with the environment is far more productive, and ultimately cheaper, than trying to control it.

In line with European and accompanying Spanish legislation, the environment of Hacienda Riquelme should be respected and improved.

1. Climate targets

In principle, the resort should be at least “Carbon Neutral” or preferably “Carbon Negative”.

In order to achieve this, encouraging existing plants and planting new ones reduces our Carbon footprint.

2. Recycling of organic matter

To the best of our knowledge the vast quantity of organic matter removed from the site, grass cuttings and tree prunings have never been recycled. These could be treated / composted and returned to the soil. This would increase the water retention of the soil, feed the plants, increase plant resilience, and encourage biodiversity. This gives us both healthier plants and is carbon negative.

3. Biodiversity

There are European and Spanish Biodiversity targets. Biodiversity needs to be encouraged at all levels.

Put very simply, if you kill plants and damage the soil, then insects die. If you kill insects, you kill birds and the higher mammals and reptiles. Many of these birds and reptiles are the natural predators of many pest species, including those we are spraying against.

Biodiversity should start by improving the soil. Soil organisms and insects are the foundation of any sustainable ecosystem.

Note: There is specific legislation to protect bees. Bees are routinely killed at Hacienda Riquelme as a result of two things:

• Regular spraying with glyphosate herbicides which will kill ALL non-grass plants. This removes most available pollen sources for the bees.
• Regular use of insecticides, which are none specific, and do kill all insects that they come contact with. Many of these insects are beneficial, indeed many are the natural predators of these insects that you are wanting to kill!

These insecticides seem to be used on a precautionary principle rather than when a need arises. This is not only wasteful but expensive and potentially harmful.

Both herbicides and insecticides are potentially carcinogenic and certainly poisonous. Some are banned in various parts of Europe.

At Hacienda Riquelme, they are used indiscriminately, often using high pressure hoses with a reach of 5-10m. There is evidence of pets regularly being taken to the Vet in Sucina. Residents have reported being hit by spray on their terraces and around the swimming pools. This shouldn’t be acceptable. Plants caught with sufficient spray will be killed. It is hard to recommend planting any new plants whilst this continues.

Recommendation: Phase out the use of harmful chemicals with immediate effect.

Note: Killing plants is Carbon Positive, the opposite of what we want to achieve.

Note: Weeds in the grass can be adequately controlled by mowing.

4. The European habitats directive

This prohibits the destruction of any habitat, especially during the breeding season of birds.

This would include many of the areas that STV currently destroy with herbicides.

Recommendation: There is a strong argument to allow some parts of the resort to be wild areas. This would include most of the strip along the eastern edge of the resort, the wide bare strip by the sports courts and the steep slopes above phase 7. These are the natural breeding grounds for the likes of Crested Larks (Once common on the resort) and potential feeding areas in winter. Leaving wildflowers to grow will ultimately improve the soil, rather than leaving it impoverished.

Note: This is very similar, to what is now increasingly common practice in UK farming, where “habitat strips” are created to avoid having to use pesticides.

Note: Contrary to what we have seen written elsewhere, the vast majority of these plants do NOT produce wind blown seeds and do NOT pose a hazard to the golf course.

Benefits: Biodiversity increases, habitat is protected, it is a refuge for natural insect predators, it is food for birds, bees, and other pollinating insects. It is carbon negative.

5. European Birds Directive

This aims to protect all bird species. The arguments are the same as set out above.

6. Irrigation

Irrigation at Hacienda Riquelme is currently managed very poorly.

• The system is inadequately maintained.
• rrigation happens at the wrong time of the day. Ideally it should be done at night.
• Over irrigation leads to the leeching of nutrients from the soil leaving plants impoverished.

Irrigation during the day causes:

• Rapid evaporation.
• Salt production from the evaporates and ultimately salinisation of the soil.

This is detrimental to both plants and soils. Fertility is decreased, and in some well documented cases, irredeemably.

7. The Spanish government’s objectives for the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Prevention of desertification via sustainable management of the land and the plantation of indigenous varietals.
• Guarantee water and sanitation for all for a sustainable world. (Point 6 in the report)
• Take urgent measures to address climate change and its effects. (Point 13)
• Protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, manage the sustainable use of forests, address desertification and halt and revert the degradation of the land, and halt all biodiversity loss. (Point 15)

Recommendation: The board should address these points with urgency.

8. The lawns

If we had a much more professional care of our current grass, we would see an improved lawn coverage. This should include Scarifying, Aerating, Mulching, Fertiliser (but no use of herbicides or insecticides).

Recommendation: Set up trial areas, in Autumn, to follow these principles.

Alternative Landscape Group