ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP, 27th April 2011

Today we visited the “Jardín Canario”, a botanical garden, in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. There we got an insight in the high vegetation diversity and the different types of associations. These four types are the coastal vegetation (Euphorbia canariensis, Euphorbia balsamifera, Euphorbia aphylla), thermophile vegetation (Phoenix canariensis, Dracaena draco, Pistacia lenstiscus, Olea europaea, Rumex lunaria), laurisilva (Laurus azorica, Apollonias barbujana, Persea indica, Arbutus canariensis, Erica arborea, Myrica faya) and pine forest (with Pinus canariensis). Also introduced plant species, like Agave americana, Opuntia ficus barbarica, Opuntia dillenii and Nicotiana glauca, are exhibited at the botanical garden.

SOCIAL GROUP, 27th April 2011

Our group met in the hotel lobby to discuss our feature research. The goal of the day was finding final hypothesis of our research. We went to Mogan where we started collecting data. At first we were in the statistical department of Municipality of Mogan. They gave us data about inhabitants and immigrants to Mogan municipality.

On the base of this data we tried to find how immigrants are integrated in the society of Mogan and surrounding. We were in the cemetery. We did an short visits to Cultural centre, police station, the school of Mogan and Puerto de Mogan.

In the afternoon we discussed about what we find out so far. We finally presented our ideas to our teachers. In next two days will focus on Norwegian community in municipality of Mogan and social life in different clubs.

SOCIAL GROUP, 26th April 2011

Visit to central-east side of Gran Canaria. Tamadaba’s pine forest and dams area.

Today we did a circle trip through central mauntains area of Gran Canaria. The first stops were dedicated to physical geography. From a social geography point of view we saw an cultivated valley with oasis. In the village Tunte we saw a large number of water-accumulating tanks for collecting rain water. In Tunte there were interesting terraces for agriculture.

On our way to Artenara we stopped at the accumulation lake with a dam. The water is used for production of electric energy. The power plant has a unique system of water circulation, that produces more energy. We have discussed issues regarding water distribution on the Islands.

In Artenara we discussed historical economic and identity crises in Spain. We continued to Tamadaba pine forest, where we had a beautiful view on port of Agaete and surrounding area. On the way back to Maspalomas we had a stop in Mogan and Playa de Mogan to get an idea about the research area on which we will be focusing in the incoming days.

RURAL GROUP, 27th of April, 2011

Our first day of field work has been decided to visiting some places around the city of Maspalomas which are linked to the rural areas and our domain of interest.
First, we wanted to go to the “Banana Park”, a Thematic Park made for tourist to learn more about the banana production of the Canary Island. Unfortunately it had been closed down a few years ago and today that place is a used as a farm cultivation of Mangos which offers also catering services for marriages and anniversaries.

In search of a local agriculture production we had visited the “Hortabell Canarias , S.L.”. The farm is very innovative example how a local farm can adjust to globalized economy. Instead of competing with the world market they are more focused on the local market on the island. They are trying to establish a new model of food supply. In addition to selling their products in shops and street markets, they also want to give the opportunity to the consumer to go there and collect the fruits (of every kind) by themselves.

The second stop was dedicated to a very important product in the past of the Canary Island. The Cochineal (Cochinilla) which is a small insect living on Cacti. It was collected to produce natural dye of red color, which is used for food coloring (like yoghurts without fruit, meat,…) or cosmetics (f.e. lipsticks). The farm we visited doesn´t collect Cochineals anymore. Instead they are selling the fruit of the cactus (called Tunos), which they sell on the local market. This seems to be a more lucrative business.

The last stop was the “Salobre Golf Resort”. A visit to a golf resort helped us to understand how tourism affects the rural area on the island. What used to be a tomato plantation was transformed into a luxury tourist resort, with a golf court as main attraction. Nowadays it provides jobs for the local community but in long term it could have negative environmental and social consequences such as the unsustainable water supply or soil degradation.

ECONOMY GROUP 27 TH APRIL

Today we divided our group in three pairs, each group has a topic of the general group of economy and we were looking for all the information necessary to make our presentation.

The first group went to Las Palmas to recopilate statistic information about the economy: industry, tourism,... they visited the ISTAC, the statistic institute of Canary island and they gave them some literature about the statistic history of tourism. Also they found some updated information about the global situation in the island.

The second group went to a tourist information point in Maspalomas to ask about the complemetary offer that people who come to the island need. We have found a big variety of complemetary offers for the different kinds of tourists: family tourists, retired tourists, homosexual tourists,... We brought some pamphlets and we divided them in different groups analizing the prices, the avaiability, and how they focus on the attraction of the final customers.

Finally the third group made different interviews of tourists around the golf course, the beach ... They made short questions about the frequence of their visits, if they travel alone or with family / friends / partner... why they chose Gran Canaria, what are their expectations or what they would like to change there.

The work doesn´t finish here, now we are looking for more information to support all our ideas and to make new hypothesis of the new ways of the local economy.