Nature protection at Cartagena

José Pedro Vindel Muñiz, CEO of the Port of Cartagena told ESPO that over the last five years, the port authority has been upping its game on the environmental front, particularly when it comes to nature protection.

It has been monitoring air and water quality to help ensure the growth stabilisation of the yellow-legged gull and support reforestation activities in the Fausilla Mountains.

Mr Muñiz said: “Our port does not have a specific project to take care of our natural environment. Our goal is more complex than the development of a single project, our goal is to make our people and our port community change their minds and get conscious of the relevance and importance of caring for our rich natural surroundings.”

Cartagena’s concept that the integration of ecosystem conservation is a key element in the port activity and its sustainable development, has been shortlisted for this year’s ESPO award.

The port’s vision includes an innovative element – considering the nature conservation strategy as a voluntary project, shared with the port community and society. This approach covers not only the activities themselves, but also the challenge of bringing society and port users closer together in an effort to share responsibility for the local environment.

The five projects shortlisted for this year’s ESPO award are the projects of Bremen, Cartagena, Dunkirk, Guadeloupe and Riga.

The winner will be announced during the official Award Ceremony at the Egmont Palace in Brussels on 9 November.