The director of the Biodiversity Foundation, a public foundation of the Government of Spain, under the Ministry of the Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs, Ana Leiva; the mayor of Calahorra, Francisco Javier Pagola; the manager of the Riojan Employment Service of the Government of La Rioja, Carlos Gonzalo, and the Councilor for Employment and Environment of the City of Calahorra, Óscar Eguizábal, today presented the comprehensive environmental education program “Ambientum III. Get closer to the middle.”

Within the Local Agenda 21, the City Council of Calahorra has been developing this program that, supported by the Biodiversity Foundation – with more than 35,000 euros – the Rioja Employment Service and the European Social Fund reaches its third edition. “Ambientum III” is launched in the municipality of Calahorra, in La Rioja, both in the urban area and in the nearest natural environment.

With this environmental education initiative – which is developed in collaboration with the students of the Calagurris Employment Workshop – the City Council aims to transmit environmental knowledge and values that lead to the adoption of good practices with society and the environment. More than 265 activities have been programmed with the direct participation of nearly 3,000 people, as well as the publication of informative material on the biological diversity of the area and with guidelines for the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

The aim is to raise awareness among the population and thus promote the creation of eco-tourism companies. In addition, four unemployed people will be trained who will become the environmental education and tourism monitors who will develop the activities proposed in schools and representative entities of Calahorra society.