Publications
Un oasis de vida: la cultura y el paisaje del agua en Elche
Water has been the cornerstone of Elche's cultural identity and landscape, shaping its heritage through centuries. This study reveals how historical hydraulic infrastructures from Roman and Andalusian periods have left a lasting imprint on local traditions, topography, and even gastronomy. The research identifies water as a defining element in the city's toponymy, festivals, and agricultural practices, with the UNESCO-listed Palmeral of Elche serving as a prime example of its enduring influence. By analyzing primary sources and specialized literature through a cultural and social history lens, the study underscores the need to preserve not only physical structures but also the intangible knowledge and collective memory tied to water, ensuring its role in sustaining both heritage and identity.
Plantaciones de Palmeras de Elche: Arte, Agricultura, Sociedad
Despite decades of legislative protection, the historic date palm plantations (Palmeral) of Elche, Spain, face severe decline due to urban encroachment and loss of traditional agricultural practices. A century-long corpus of laws—from 1933’s prohibition on felling living palms to UNESCO’s 2000 World Heritage designation—has failed to preserve the site's ecological and cultural integrity. While these measures aimed to safeguard the palm groves, urban development, including infrastructure like schools and hospitals, fragmented the landscape, eroding its structure without adequate enforcement. The study reveals that bureaucratic plans and symbolic recognition, such as UNESCO’s status, have had minimal practical impact on conservation, leaving the Palmeral in a state of ruin. Key challenges include the loss of traditional irrigation methods and the lack of effective urban planning to balance development with heritage preservation.
Traditional agroecosystems for urban temperature regulation: a remote sensing analysis of an historical palm grove
A historical date palm grove, the UNESCO World Heritage Palm Grove of Elche (Spain), demonstrates significant thermal regulation capacity, effectively mitigating urban heat island effects. Remote sensing analysis revealed that this traditional agroecosystem, characterized by its unique irrigation system, maintains lower land surface temperatures compared to surrounding urban areas, with cooling effects extending several hectares. The study highlights the potential of conserving or regenerating such traditional agroecosystems within cities to improve natural temperature regulation and provide essential ecosystem services, particularly in semi-arid regions with limited water resources.
Comportamiento de dátiles (phoenix dactylifera l.) de Elche a diferentes tratamientos de maduración exógena en postcosecha
Researchers found that acetic acid and freezing treatments effectively accelerated the ripening of dates from two out of three studied orchards (Caqui and Los Olmos) in Elche, Europe's largest date palm grove, without compromising organoleptic quality. This breakthrough could address key challenges in date production, including variability due to traditional seed reproduction, heterogeneous ripening within clusters, and seasonal rainfall risks. The study evaluated three post-harvest treatments—acetic acid, freezing, and vaporization—on dates during the khalal stage, measuring parameters like weight, firmness, soluble solids, acidity, ripeness index, color, and sensory quality. While acetic acid and freezing proved successful for certain orchards, vaporization failed to produce high-quality dates across all samples. The findings suggest potential for increasing date yield, reducing costs, and extending market availability by enabling whole-cluster harvests before rainy seasons.
Social Perspective about the Evolution of a Cultural Asset as a World Heritage Site. Case Study: The Palmeral of Elche
The Palmeral of Elche, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, exemplifies how cultural heritage can drive sustainable tourism growth while preserving its historical significance. This study identifies responsible and sustainable actions that balance the demands of tourism with the conservation of this Al-Andalus-era oasis landscape. Researchers employed qualitative methods—participant observation, thematic mapping, and in-depth interviews—to analyze interactions between social agents, heritage preservation, and tourism dynamics. The findings underscore the need for integrated strategies to safeguard cultural assets while maximizing their economic and societal benefits.
Soil Sealing and Hydrological Changes during the Development of the University Campus of Elche (Spain)
A 25-year study reveals significant soil sealing and hydrological changes around the University Miguel Hernández of Elche, Spain, following rapid urbanization. The research analyzed aerial orthophotography data to track land cover transformations from periurban agricultural areas to dense university infrastructure, impacting ancient irrigation systems near the UNESCO-listed Palmeral of Elche. Findings highlight increased surface runoff risks due to soil sealing, with proposals for green infrastructure and landscape recovery to mitigate environmental impacts.
The Palmeral of Elche: an urban irrigation landscape
The Palmeral of Elche, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Southeast Spain, exemplifies the ingenious integration of Arab agricultural techniques to create a sustainable urban oasis. This study reveals that the 10th-century palm grove was designed not only for aesthetic beauty but as a functional system to stabilize soil, reduce water evaporation through shading, and shield crops from wind, thereby enhancing irrigation efficiency—a critical innovation for local agriculture and urban development. The research reexamines the grove's evolution, from its Arab origins through Christian conquest in the 13th century to modern transformations that shifted its focus away from agriculture. It also addresses contemporary challenges in preserving this unique landscape, particularly since its UNESCO designation in 2000, highlighting the need for adaptive conservation strategies to balance heritage protection with ecological and cultural sustainability.
Watermills in the historic irrigation system ‘Palmeral de Elche’, Spain: an example of early hydropower exploitation
A technical survey of 11 watermills in the UNESCO-listed Palmeral de Elche, Spain, reveals early hydropower exploitation within a historic Islamic-era irrigation system. These mills, operational until the last century, featured horizontal turbine-type waterwheels with hydraulic heads ranging from 2 to over 15 meters, demonstrating sophisticated engineering for flour production and energy dissipation in a multipurpose canal network. The study provides dimensions and technical parameters, offering insights into mill operation, power yield, and flour production within this unique European palm grove.
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