ARCHIVED - Pilar de la Horadada aims to amplify Sierra Escalona protected area

The Town Hall will urge the Valencia government to widen the reserve in the Vega Baja del Segura

The Town Hall of Pilar de la Horadada has agreed on a proposal regarding the modifications it intends to submit regarding the planned protected area in the mountains of Sierra Escalona, following the full session of council which was held on Monday.

According to council spokesman Alfonso Armenteros, the Town Hall has identified two areas in which the protected area could be made larger, both of them currently categorized as non-buildable in the local Land Use Plan. 

The Sierra Escalona is located mainly in the Vega Baja municipalities of Orihuela, Pilar de la Horadada and San Miguel de Salinas, and naturalists are concerned over the need to protect bird species which are present in the mountains, including buzzards and eagle owls as well as short-toed snake eagles and accipiters. A birdlife protection area of over 10,000 hectares has been in place since 2009.

For more local news, events and other information consult the Vega Baja edition of Alicante Today.