Mas de Melons Reserve Opens Botanical Route Highlighting Dryland Flora for Education

The Mas de Melons natural reserve in Spain has inaugurated its first educational botanical route, designed to showcase the unique flora of the Garrigues and Segrià regions. This route, which is less than 500 meters long, features informative signs that detail approximately twenty native plant species, including rosemary, gorse, and almond trees. Students from the Mollerussa Institute collaborated on the project, contributing to the planting of 300 native plants and the installation of signage along the path. This initiative is part of the European LIFE Connect Ricotí program, which aims to restore the natural habitat of the Dupont's lark, a bird species that is endangered in Catalonia. The project began in September 2021 and is expected to last until December 2026. The route starts at the Pou de la Figuera and leads to a viewpoint, offering visitors an opportunity to appreciate the dryland environment while learning about its distinctive plant life.