The Empordà environmental volunteer group is organising a joint action at the Pac Natural dels Aiguamolls de l’Empordà to clean the park’s beaches before the breeding season of the kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) begins, a protected bird species that nests on the sand.
The initiative, which has the support of the Parc Natural dels Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, has been organised through the collaboration of the environmental organisations that form part of the Taula de Voluntariat Ambiental de l’Empordà. The aim is to remove debris and leave the coastline in the best possible condition to facilitate the breeding of this vulnerable species.
The activity will take place on 15 March from 9.00 am to 12.00 pm and will focus on the Parc’s beaches between the mouth of the Muga and the Riuet. The specific areas for the clean-up will be determined based on the number of participating volunteers and in accordance with the instructions of the Parc’s conservation technicians.
The organisations remind everyone that anyone can join and take part in the clean-up day, as participation is open to all. Anyone interested only needs to get in touch with an environmental volunteering organisation on the Taula or with the AAPNE (Association d’Amics dels Aiguamolls i del Patrimoni Natural de l’Empordà) to register and receive more information about the activity.
This initiative aims to encourage citizen involvement in the conservation of the natural environment and to contribute to the protection of the black-winged plover, a species particularly sensitive to disturbance and the presence of litter in its nesting areas.
The kentish plover in Empordà
The kentish plover is a small shorebird that nests on the beaches of the Alt Empordà region and also in the Parc Natural dels Aiguamolls de l’Empordà. It has a discreet plumage, with sandy tones that allow it to camouflage itself easily in the sand. Its black legs and agile behaviour make it easy for birdwatchers to recognise.
This species prefers open, sparsely vegetated sandy areas, where it builds its nest directly on the ground, making only a small depression in the sand. Normally, she lays between two and three eggs, which are also very well camouflaged.
The kentish plover is a protected species and is very sensitive to human presence, especially during the breeding season in spring and summer. Furthermore, the presence of debris on the beaches can severely affect their habitat, attracting predators or making it difficult for them to feed. For this reason, protected areas are designated and the cleaning of beaches, as well as their maintenance free of waste, is promoted to facilitate their conservation.
The clean-up, the first joint action of 2026 by the entities of the Taula de Voluntariat Ambiental de l’Empordà.
La Taula de Voluntariat Ambiental de l’Empordà convened the first meeting of the year 2026 on 25 February. The meeting was held at the headquarters of the Parc Natural del Cap de Creus, in the CAT building in Vilajuïga, and is part of a schedule of itinerant meetings rotating between the headquarters of the natural parks and those of the entities that are members of the Taula.
The aim of this working space is to promote a model of collaboration and mutual support between the management team of the protected natural areas and the organisations that carry out volunteer activities within the scope of the ENPE (Espais Naturals de Protecció Especial).
The meeting, which was attended by around twenty environmental organisations from the area, was held in a very participatory and productive atmosphere. During the session, experiences were shared and the main needs of organisations promoting environmental volunteering were analysed, as well as the ways in which nature parks can respond to them and strengthen technical support.
Parallel to this, environmental organisations that carry out all or part of their work through volunteering have agreed to launch a new WhatsApp broadcast channel with the aim of improving the visibility and coordination of the activities they promote. This channel, which can be found under the name “Voluntariat Ambiental de l’Empordà“, will serve to disseminate calls, actions and participation opportunities aimed at the public.
Along the same lines, the participating organisations also agreed to include the hashtag #VoluntariatAmbientalEmpordà in all their social media posts, with the aim of facilitating the joint promotion of initiatives such as this first clean-up and expanding their reach among users.
