2B

Answer to 5A.

Hi, 5A.

To add your information, we have worked about your topic and we have found an interesting new.

Probably you are interested in it:

26 years ago, in 1990, ‘Torraspapel’ factory, named ‘Papelera Del Carmen’ noticed that they couldn't use the water of Ibaizabal river because of the high level of toxic products. This company discovered that the guilty was Smurfit Nervion. (Now known as Smurfit kappa) One year later, exactly on    october and december, they killed the few remaining fishes that Biscays deputation was trying to keep alive.

EKI (nowadays known as ''Ekologistak Martxan'') and ''The Consorcio de Aguas de la Merindad de Durango'' made a legal complaint but a time after, The consorcio gave up the lawsuit.

In 2005, legal case became and the district attorney demanded four months of prison for the two executives of the company.

But the ecologists were  disagree with this. They asked for they two years and four months of prison in addition to 36.000 euros to repair all the damage done.

This incident has been one of the most serious environmental incidents in the Basque Country in the last two decades. 

2A MAÑARIA'S QUARRIES.

GROUP 2-A

A quarry is an open pit mine from which are extracted large blocks of stone, which are crushed and towed. Normally a quarry is used for a certain time. Then, it is fill with groundwater and all the area is restored to create a habitat for wildlife and natural recreation.

The main negative effect of quarry extraction is the loss of habitat and the species that inhabit it.  Habitats are destroyed not only by direct removal, it may also be altered or destroyed by excessive dust, water seepage, erosion of the soil and the noise caused by the quarries. Other secondary impacts are mainly related to rivers, air and soil pollution.

The mayor of Mañaria, Endika Jaio looked for solutions to the problem of the quarries in his town. He granted the license to begin the process of dismantling the plant, however, due to the politic about pillaging the natural resources, he can’t start his project yet. Moreover, he thinks that despite her objective is very far to fulfill, the process has already began with the closing down and the recuperation of Zalloventa’s quarries, situated in Urkiola’s Natural park, two years ago. But more surprising was that when they were forced to close, the government pay them a compensation of 9.2 milion euros. Furthermore, the prohibition of continuing with the mining activities in this quarry previous mention, didn’t affect in any stent to Markomin Goikoa business, the biggest mining company in Bizkaia. Unfortunately, for our astonishment mining will continue until 2027 in one side of the quarry and until 2030 in the other one, Mutxatxe, both with a extend of 30 years.

INFORMATION RESOURCES

http://www.elcorreo.com/bizkaia/duranguesado/201406/08/cantera-zalloventa-comienza-desmantelamiento-20140607212923.html
http://www.ehowenespanol.com/efectos-ambientales-canteras-info_184967/
http://www.manaria.org/es-ES/Ayuntamiento/Paginas/default.aspx
http://www.monografias.com/trabajos82/medio-ambiente-explotacion-canteras/medio-ambiente-explotacion-canteras2.shtml

1B

Hunters shoot Uzelai, the most famous stork of the Basque country

Urdaibai, a protected area in Biscay  (Basque Country) ,is considerate a perfect place for migratory birds due to its large area and the big degree of humidity. Many birds have been living there for a long time and the reason of it is that it has been protected by the man.
The last 23rd December, the most well-known stork in the Basque Country called Uzelai has been cruelly shot by a group of teenagers through a car. A week later, the stork’s pair was searching for him.

Uzelai was a stork male and, with its pair, were part of the first couple that made their nest in Urdaibai in the last century. It was originally from Lleida (Cataluña) and as others animals, it came from the Recovery center Vallcalent Wildlife where they rescue disoriented and injured animals. It was released in Urdaibai in 2005, where it raised every year in its nest of Atxaga, Forua.
Moreover, the pair has brought up 20 baby storks, and the last three in 2015. This score means a lot taking into account the lacking number of this type of animals here.
Uzelai didn’t migrate to Africa, he spent the winter in Alava. And like other years, he returned early to Urdabai, exactly 2 weeks ago, to fix its nest and protected it from intruders.

This pair was extremely important for the reproduction of the stork in the Basque country but now, unfortunately, a group of heartless has finished with one of them. The consequences of this actions mean the loss of a lot of species in the ecosystems of the Basque Country’s biodiversity.
Urdaibai Bird Center has been protecting this specie since 2005, and they feel very sorry about this loss. They have criticized the thoughtlessness or insensibility of people with animals and their dangerous situation. They also pointed out that a great education and information is essential to avoid this kind of situation and have warned authorities about that.
PACMA, an spanish animalist party against the abuse of animals that protect  the environment and the social justice, is up to date of this incident and said that it is immoral and horrible action made by human. Furthermore, they said that they are going to continue fighting against the use of weapons and in favor of the prohibition of hunting.
There are a lot of differing opinions about how to preserve the environment and the ecosystems and avoid this situations. But, what should we really do? How make people be aware of the importance of animal’s existence?


Main Sources:

• https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserva_de_la_biosfera_de_Urdaibai
• http://pacma.es/cazadores-disparan-a-uzelai-la-ciguena-mas-famosa-del-pais-vasco/
• http://pacma.es/
• http://www.eitb.eus/es/radio/radio-euskadi/programas/boulevard/audios/detalle/3742690/han-matado-ciguena-uzelairadio-euskadi

Ainhoa Bermejo, Nuria Llousas, Markel Mendibe and Irati Urizar

Group number: 1B

A6

HST: HIGH SPEED TRAIN  (ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES)
Despite having made a brief introduction on the HST, we decided to dig deeper into the subject by mentioning the advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, HST´s construction has a big effect in biodiversity. In addiction, the construction of HST has made a grave impact on the desforestation. In other words we have less oxigen. Moreover, it pollutes less, because it works with electricity.
On the other hand, we also have to agree that, as it is faster, this make people use it to move from places and thanks to this we will pollute less than using a car.



https://yerayone.wordpress.com/2014/12/18/ventajas-y-desventajas-del-ave/

5A SMURFIT KAPPA IN IURRETA

SMURFIT KAPPA IN IURRETA

Smurfit Kappa Nervion, advancing in its investment process, has launched a central renewable energy from forest biomass, along with a number of other environmental improvements designed for the treatment of gases.

The aim of the investment is to increase the generation of thermal and electric energy of the plant from renewable sources, increasing the efficiency of the equipment installed and boosting the capacity of treatment and management of forest residues. So it has installed a new steam turbine with three extractions of steam at different pressures, to feed thermal energy in the different processes for the production of pulp and paper. Previously, installing produced 80,000 MW h per year of renewable electric energy from biomass, using the black liquor as fuels and crusts generated both in the plant itself as in the sawmills.

The main objective of the project is to increase the consumption of biomass residual forestry from forest holdings, which, until now, remained as residue in the mountains, so that the investment will allow, in addition, to generate clean energy, contribute to keep clean the mountains, supporting the sustainability of forest resources.

Primary forest biomass will proceed in silviculture* (group of activities related to forest exploitation) operations, such as, pruning* (trimming of plants)  and selection of outbreaks.Its Valorisation has advantages such as the reduction in 34% of the indirect emissions of CO2.It will also reduce emissions of SO2*(Sulphur dioxide) and promote greater sustainable forest management.

This project will increase the consumption of forest biomass in more than 40,000 t per year, reaching a consumption of more than 100,000 t annually, with which will increase the generation of electric energy in more than 40%.


-http://www.smurfitkappa.com/vHome/es/Nervion/Paginas/Medio-Ambiente.aspx
-https://www.google.es/search?q=SMURFIT+KAPPA+IURRETA&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=643&site=webhp&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjUz5qjhb3KAhVJVhoKHT1kBuMQ_AUICCgD&dpr=1#imgrc=XAMDNRfEoTHowM%3A

zenbakia? Zebra mussel: Problems and solutions (3A)

ZEBRA MUSSEL: PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

This problem started in the Basque Country in 2006 but this year, it has become more dangerous. Last year it was founded in Ibaizabal, in Bedia and in Usansolo.

The main cause of the zebra mussel invasion is that they stick in the lower part of the boats and that lead to the displacement of the mussel and their larvas. They dont affect to the human health but they affect in the acuatic ecosystem in a severe way. In other words, the zebra mussel feeds of plankton and that fact is bad because it reduces the amount of food for other species (fishes) and that indirectly affect us.

One solution that we have thought about it is that the government should send reports to the fishermen to warn and teach them how to fish in a responsible way. Some people thought about using pestices, but in our opinion, that’s very harmful, due to the fact that it can damage other species and also us.  

Sources:

http://www.macalester.edu/academics/environmentalstudies/threerivers/studentprojects/ENVI_133_Spr_08/Invasive_species/Zebra%20Mussels.html

http://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/v/20131017/vizcaya/mejillon-cebra-comienza-colonizar-20131017.html

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticanimals/zebramussel/index.html

1A ASIATIC WASP

"ASIATIC WASP 1A"

The asiatic wasp it is a problem for biodiversity because they kill bees. You will think that if the bees are killed nothing happens, but it isn't like this.  If the bees don't pick up the pollen,they wouldn’t have babies, which leads to the decline of the population, being able to manage to eliminate the hive.

If we keep in mind that the bees pollinate the 80% of the plants, the dangers that this new specie could cause, the consequences would be terrible,affecting to all biodiversity.

Here in Durangaldea, the local specie is disappearing and the production of honey is decreasing, due to the fact that the invasion of this specie. In a long period of time could affect terribly.

Moreover,if the plants are not pollinated, plants could not be reproduced. This would affect to the food chain of some other species.

Nowadays, experts say that the eradication of this specie is practically impossible because it is very expensive and there is not a specific treatment to eliminate this specie respecting the other ones.

Information sources:

http://www.durangon.com/de-la-avispa-asiatica-a-la-abeja-iberica_es_14_25_467.html 

http://mugalari.info/2015/10/27/la-diputacion-tarda-cinco-dias-en-enviar-a-los-bomberos-de-iurreta-a-eliminar-un-nido-de-avispas-a-un-colegio-infantil-de-durango/

http://www.higieneambiental.com/control-de-plagas/avispa-asiatica-amenaza-apicultura-agricultura-biodiversidad 

       (GROUP 3B) ARTXONDO´S QUARRY  

       A quarry is a place from which we obtain a lot of different materials. Once not in use, it causes a lot of environmental damages, mainly related to the destruction of the landscape.

      We just think this is a problem that it is not affecting us, but we have just need to look around us to realise that we are wrong. Let's talk about Bilbao. What it was once a quarry in Artxondo, it is now being filled with the discharge of surplus from other exploitations by “Cementos Rezola de Arrigorriaga”. Artxondo (Bolintxu), is the area with the highest natural values of Bilbao and it is protected by the special plan of the Pagasarri´s mountain (PEMP). 

      The PEMP requires the renaturalization and the regeneration of wetlands and ponds located at the bottom of the old exploitation area, where different species of amphibians live. But, with the discharges, is not only that the land is not regenerated, but also the habitats are destroying. This is happening because trucks are pouring tons of debris on wetlands. 

      In addition, the quarry also requires the conservation of its walls, because some of the protected birds live there, such us the peregrine falcon and the common kestrel. This animals are also being affected because trucks pour the debris from the highest point. 

      Knowing this consequences, Bilbao´s city council gave the building authorization to the company Cementos Rezola. 

    So, if we don´t stop it before it's too late, we will be living in the year 2031, year when the constructions are supposed to be finished, and all the damage directly related to the biodiversity will be caused.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8vfqR7LTss&feature=youtu.be

Resources:
http://www.ekologistakmartxan.org/2015/05/19/el-ayuntamiento-de-bilbo-permite-a-cementos-rezola-una-pista-en-el-pagasarri/

http://www.ekologistakmartxan.org/2015/10/15/el-ayuntamiento-de-bilbao-permite-que-se-danen-ecosistemas-protegidos/

4.B HST PROBLEM IN BISCAY

HST PROBLEM IN BISCAY

It is a well known fact that HST, high speed train, is a common problem in The Basque Country. It is the railway project that pretends to join together different capitals. In addition, this public transport is one of the faster trains that no one have ever invented, this is to say, the train arrives until 250 km/h.

It cross the south zone of Durango, one of the landscapes more relevant ecologically, and from the north limit of Urkiola Natural Park. In that area there are many endangered species, such as, the european mink and sand martin.

The implantation of this transport demand the construction of expensive infrastructures that involves deep environmental impacts and social problems like destroying a lot of forests. It’s a very big problem also, because the habitat and the biodiversity of the area is affected too and all the animals that used to live there have had to go away or maybe they have disappeared. Another important fact caused by the creation of the train on the environment is the visual and noise pollution, this means, that this problem may harm the activity or balance of human or animal life. As well as the movement of the lands, that can destroy a lot of trees.

Besides, HST is affecting directly to the %17 townships of The Basque Country. This public transport has 4 stops during his way, in Bilbao, Donosti, Iruña and another one in Gasteiz. So it consumes six times more than an usual train, for this reason it brings more pollution to our atmosphere.

How could we reduce the destruction caused by this train in order to achieve the biodiversity that we used to have in this area?

Give your ideas!!!!

RESOURCES:

http://www.ahtgelditu.org/zerdaaht/?Hizk=es

http://sindominio.net/ahtez/?q=es/node/1249

6B Traffic and urban waste in the Basque country

• TRAFFIC IS THE MAIN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY

• Vizcaya produces 65 % of pollutants emissions in the Basque Country

The traffic and the gas emission that carries with it are the principal environmental problems of the Basque Country. According to some reports, Biscay is the responsible of the 65% of the atmospheric contamination that haves the Basque Country. The worst gas emissions of Biscay are the sulfur dioxide (SO2), which the manufacture industry mainly produces(for example the industry” Smurfit Kappa Nervión” located in Iurreta, generally known as “La Papelera”), and the carbon monoxide (CO), that it’s emitted by the traffic. 

Probably you already know that the gases emitted by traffic or by the industries are not good for any living organism. However, we have investigated more deeply and these are some of the consequences that, at some point, the emission of SO2 or CO could have in us:

• IN HUMANS: Deterioration in human health , cardiovascular problems , conjunctivitis, bronchial diseases, lung cancer, skin cancer, vision problems, blood diseases , problems in mental development of the unborn, among others.
• IN PLANTS: Great repercussions in the evolutionary process of plants , preventing photosynthesis in many cases, with serious consequences for the purification of air that we need to breathe.
• IN THE ATMOSPHERE: These gases causes the known environmental problems and their consequences in each individual case, such as smog, acid rain, reducing the ozone layer, global warming, the greenhouse effect, etc ..

We have found some solutions to reduce these gas emissions. On the one hand, you have to control you speed at the time of driving because the faster we drive, the more CO2 we emit into the atmosphere. In fact, a study by researchers from the Netherlands argues that if the speed limit to 80 km/h on motorways were reduced, decreasing CO would be 30%. On the other hand, we have to try to use the car less, and go walking, cycling or traveling in public transport.

With this information, we want you to think about more solutions to control those unnecessary and harmful emissions, that are affecting our province and in the future, it could affect you and the people that you have around. So think about it!

SOURCES:

• http://elpais.com/diario/1998/06/06/paisvasco/897162008_850215.html 
• http://en.eustat.eus/idioma_i/indice.html#axzz3xoVTGvmY 
• http://en.eustat.eus/ci_ci/elementos/ele0009300/tbl0009368_i.html#axzz3xoVTGvmY 

5.D THERMAL POWER STATION OF BOROA

THERMAL POWER STATION OF BOROA

Boroa´s thermal power station called Bizkaia Energia, it's a combined cycle power plant located in the township of Amorebieta-Etxano (Vizcaya), from 2,5 km from the town center, and  it´s an thermoelectric station whose principal fuel is natural gas.

This thermal power plant produces 20% of the total energy of Euskadi, so you can see that it´s a big amount. But, as you can see in this picture, most of the energy produced contaminates the air.

They don´t know the causes of these emissions or if they are polluting smokes or not, but, apparently it seems that some compounds with sulfur are burned, or perhaps with hydrochloric or nitric acid. The central insisted that the smoke always occurs in the starter motor and that doesn't pollute. “Everybody knows that the combined cycle does not produce sulfur.” said.

The responsible of the station said that due to the crisis, they were forced to stop and start up more often, and is in that moment when the smoke turns yellow. In addition, the Basque government verify that the quality of the air is not affected because of the presence of the station.  

Apart from the problem of the emissions of “yellow smoke”, is said that this central pollutes more than 568.000 cars, so as a result, Amorebieta´s inhabitants have organized more than 10 protests to close the thermal power station

Furthermore, apart from causing air pollution, they also cause water pollution due to the fact that the station poured 50,000 liters of sodium nitrite to the rivers, causing that the river network have five black holes in the Ibaizabal river, between Boroa and Elorrio, Oka and Barbadun.

4D taldea: 

Fourteen beaches in Vizcaya drag this summer pollution problems

     Fourteen Biscay beaches are suffering problems of water pollution in summer. In two of them, in Toña beach (Sukarrieta) and in Las Arenas beach, the rescues have banned the bath according to the Department of Health controls. In addition, this summer there have been days when these two beaches and ten more have suffered minor pollution problems. 

        These ten beaches are: Ereaga, Bakio, Ea, Lekeitio, Mendexa, Ondarroa, San Antonio (Sukarrieta), Muskiz, Plentzia, Gorliz and Mundaka. In its waters it is very easy to see plastic waste, hydrocarbon residues and gasoline residues caused by boats. Environmental organizations warn of the evils of this pollution, which may affect human health.

      Thousands of species of marine animals and plants that live nearby the beach see their natural habitat destroyed, due to, water pollution. Of course, this affects the quality of food that we eat and the activity of fishing industries, which are drastically reduced its turnover.

         References:

• http://www.deia.com/2015/09/25/bizkaia/margen-izquierda-encartaciones/prohibido-el-bano-en-la-arena-por-una-fuga-de-aguas-residuales
• http://www.irekia.euskadi.eus/es/news/6576-playa-vizcaina-ereaga-escenario-simulacro-basado-contaminacion-hidrocarburos?track=1
• http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/490015/0/playa/contaminacion/mar/

1D HST (High Speed Trains)

It has never been built anything as big as this in the basque country. The infrastructure that will change not only the communications, but also the social and economic structure of the Basque Country is now called the HST. (High speed trains)

But, what’s the high speed train? This new way of transport  is designed to join big cities in competitive times with the plane. The idea consists of doing a design of route combined with the reduction of stops on the stations in order that trains could  circulate to speeds superior to 250 km/h. This implantation, logically, demands the construction of costly infrastructures designed only for this specific project, which  brings serious social, environmental impacts and high costs of construction.

If we focus on the environmental problems, we will  see that this affects strongly on the biodiversity, for example:

Physical barrier: The high-speed train's road and constructions turns into an impregnable barrier  between the fauna and  people. This effect  provokes the isolation of species and the increase of the probability of extinction and plagues.

Erosion: The route has to be straight due to the high announced speeds, which forces to realize big tunnels and bridges. But this routes generate millions cubic meters of rubbles and this will suppose an environmental serious and decisive impact for animals and, apart from that, these rubbles will need near 300.000 trucks to be transported.

Electromagnetic pollution: This High-velocity projects makes the system of electrification grow  25.000V and  they ignore the pollution of electromagnetic type that take place in the environment. This causes repercussions in the health, for example, cancer, immunological syste, alterations in the production of hormones and proteins…

http://www.cntvalladolid.es/IMG/pdf/Tren_de_Alta_Velocidad_y_sus_consecuencias.pdf

http://www.ahtgelditu.org/norgara/index.php

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tren_de_alta_velocidad

http://www.euskonews.com/0080zbk/gaia8007es.html

3.D ASIAN WASP

ASIAN WASP

    The Asian wasp is an invasive species characterized by his black thorax and  abdomen with some yellow segments and brown legs. It's easy to difference it because of his measure of  3'5cm.

 It came from Eastern Asia to Europe through the port of Burdeaux (France) in 2004. It quickly spread and, in 2010, it arrived to Gipuzkoa. In these 6 years it has been constantly expanding around the Basque Country. In the case of Biscay there are many hives, so firemen’s receive advises of where are they every day and they are working to finish with them using special suits and tools. Most of these hives had been found high places, such as in the top of the trees, that's why most of them had been found near forests.

  The problem of this invasion might become more serious than it initially appears and it affects more aspects than the production of honey. Autochthonous bees represent an important part of the diet of the Asian wasp, but they are not their only food, Asian wasps also eat other pollinating insects and they kill our native insects, which has negative consequences for fauna. Some scientist affirm that the greatest danger is not the number of wasps that they capture, it is that autochthonous bees don't come out from the hive, which means that they don't collect pollen and don't have offspring, leading to the declining of population.

  Considering that bees pollinate 80% of wild and cultivated plants, the potential dangers that this new invasive species could be disastrous, threatening not only the beekeeping industry but also all the biodiversity.

Information sources:

http://www.elcorreo.com/vizcaya/v/20110115/pvasco-espana/avispa-asesina-coloniza-euskadi-20110115.html

http://www.elcorreo.com/bizkaia/201409/12/avispa-asesina-llega-bizkaia-20140912181439.html

2D - AMERICAN CRAB

RED SWAMP CRAWFISH

(American Crab)

  In the 70s, the native crab species in our rivers was starting to disappear because of a disease called “ Afanomicosis” . In order to repopulate the rivers, they introduced a new species: the red swamp crawfish, also known as the “American Crab”.  

  But three years ago they discovered that the solution was worse than the starting problem, especially in the "Ibaizabal" river and Urrunaga's reservoir. This kind of crab is really aggressive and it’s stopping the repopulation of the native one. Whereas the native one only eats “detritus”, the invasive one eats everything that they find (eggs, algae, tadpoles…). This doesn’t help biodiversity. Apart from that, the native one helps to keep the rivers clean, however, the American one doesn’t.

    Trying to solve this massive problem, the government has removed the limit on the amount of crabs you can fish, but there is still a limit on the amount of them you can take home. What other solutions can you think about to solve this issue?

References:

EL CORREO

MACIZODELGORBEA