The Ayuntamiento of Orihuela is initiating the Refluye Mi Río project, aimed at collecting information regarding local citizens’ commitment to the environmental values of the river. The initiative includes a public consultation that seeks to assess the level of knowledge among citizens concerning the river’s environmental richness and biodiversity. The survey is accessible via the municipal website and is the springboard for a more extensive project running until the end of the year.

The culmination of this effort will be a set of recommendations reflecting the actions taken by the community, which will guide the Ayuntamiento in future interventions. Alongside the survey launch, a presentation event brought together local associations and groups linked to the river’s ecosystem to discuss the importance of raising awareness regarding its environmental significance.

Councillor for the Environment, Noelia Grao, welcomed attendees and emphasised the need for public participation. She noted that understanding the river’s ecological value is crucial for its preservation. The head of the Environment Service, Eduardo Rodríguez Carmona, outlined proposed interventions focusing on enhancing the river’s banks in several targeted areas around the city, which include efforts to remove invasive species and improve recreational spaces for the public.

The governance plan will be supplemented by a communication strategy that involves establishing social media profiles on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. These channels will provide information about the river, its history, and guidance on conservation efforts. The Refluye Mi Río project receives support from the Biodiversity Foundation under the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan funded by the European Union’s Next Generation EU programme.