Córdoba, Spain
City population: 329259
Duration: pre-1990 – unknown
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Project area: unknown
Type of area: Cultural Heritage Area
Last updated: October 2021

The rain gardens of the Great Mosque give an example of a sustainable urban drainage system built 1000 years ago (Ref.1,8,9). The Great Mosque is a world heritage site by UNESCO (Ref. 1); therefore the rain gardens are protected and will continue to provide a sustainable irrigation system needed for the arid climate of Andalusia (Ref. 8,9).

Historical Rain Gardens 1
Source: Ref. 11

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Green areas for water management
  • Rain gardens

Key challenges

  • Water management (SDG 6)
  • Flood protection
  • Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
  • Improvements to water quality
  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Habitat and biodiversity conservation
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
  • Preservation of natural heritage
  • Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure

Focus

Maintenance and management of urban nature, Other

Project objectives

- Historical heritage preservation (Ref. 1,7) - Water management (Ref. 8) - Sustainable urban drainage (Ref. 7)

Implementation activities

In the design of the rain garden, ‘water is channeled through a series of gullies to each orange tree set within the cobbled patio’ (Ref. 8,9); ‘When the rain comes each circle collects rain and filters it through the sand. Once the circle reaches capacity it flows onto the next circle and so on. Only when all are full does the rain water enter the modern drainage system’ (Ref. 11) Activities are implemented in general for the monument site. As part of the Great Mosque and being a National but also a "World Heritage Site", the rain gardens are protected by laws and many conservation programs towards the Great Mosque are undertaken. For instance: "The Cabildo Cathedral maintains the commitment to watch over the conservation of the Monumental Complex, in collaboration with the competent administrations. In this way, it works tirelessly to maintain the building, spread its heritage values ​​and facilitate its historical interpretation. For this, it counts on multidisciplinary teams of experts who work in accordance with the scientific criteria and the current regulations" (Ref. 7) There is a National of Cultural Conservation Plan to protect cultural property in Spain (Ref.3) , but also a regional "Heritage conservation and restoration programs" through the Strategic Plan for Culture in Andalusia (PECA). (Ref. 4).

Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities

Biodiversity conservation:

  • Protect species
  • Undertake specific measures to protect species
  • Undertake specific measures to protect valued species

Main beneficiaries

  • National-level government
  • Local government/Municipality
  • Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

  • Government-led

Type of initiating organisation

  • Regional government
  • Local government/municipality

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Unknown

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The Law 14/2007, of 26 November, the Historical Heritage of Andalusia (BOJA no. 248 of 19 December) provides in Article 14 that "persons owning, rights holders and members possessing simple estate assets Historic Andalusian, whether or not cataloged, have the duty to preserve, maintain and guard them in a way that guarantees the safeguard of their values. To these effects, the Ministry competent in matter of historical patrimony will be able to advise on those works and actions precise for the fulfillment of the duty of conservation ." (Ref. 2) "Attributions in the conservation and enhancement of the historical heritage of Andalusia correspond to the Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums . Through this governing body and the territorial delegations, the Ministry of Culture promotes actions in the historical Andalusian heritage." (Ref. 2) "The Ministry of Culture also provides services in the field of intervention, research, conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage" (Ref. 2) National Government: site protection through National Cultural Heritage Plans (Government of Spain) (Ref. 3) UN/ EU: site protection through UNESCO European Heritage (Ref. 1)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown
... a national policy or strategy? Yes (Sustainable Tourism Plan of Andalucia and Conservation of Cultural Heritage (Ref. 5) National Cultural Heritage Plans (Goverment of Spain) (Ref. 3) Strategic Plan for Culture in Andalusia (PECA) (Ref. 4))
... a local policy or strategy? Yes (Law concerning the protection the Historical Heritage of Andalusia (Ref. 2))

Financing

Total cost

Unknown

Source(s) of funding

  • Public regional budget
  • Unknown

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Climate change
  • Lowered local temperature
  • Water management and blue areas
  • Improved water quality
  • Increased protection against flooding
  • Reduced risk of damages by drought
  • Green space and habitat
  • Increase in protected green space areas

Economic impacts

  • Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Cultural heritage and sense of place
  • Protection of natural heritage
  • Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure

Type of reported impacts

Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Yes

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

Yes

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

Yes

References

1. Source link. The History. Mezqueta-Catedral de Córdoba. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 16 September 2020].
2. (Law) 14/2007, de 26 de noviembre, del Patrimonio Histórico de Andalucía: Available at: Source link [Accessed: 16 September 2020].
3. Anon. (n.d). National Plans. Gobierno de España. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 16 September 2020].
4. Anon (n.d). Heritage conservation and restoration programs. Source link Available at: Source link [Accessed: 16 September 2020].
5. Anon. (2013). General Plan for Sustainable Tourism in Andalusia 2014-2020. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 16 September 2020].
6. Junta de Andalucia (n.d). "Indicators for the evaluation of the conservation status of historic cities". Source link. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 16 September 2020].
7. Cabildo Catedral de Córdoba. (2020). CONSERVACIÓN. Source link. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 16 September 2020].
8. Georgia. (2008). Runnels in Cordoba, Sevilla, and Madrid. Source link. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 16 September 2020].
9. Dunnett, N. and Clayden, A. (2007). Rain Gardens: Managing Water Sustainably in the Garden and Designed Landscape. Portland: Timber Press, Inc.
10. Cabildo Catedral de Córdoba. (2020). Patio de los Naranjos. Source link. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 16 September 2020].
11. Gedge, D. (2010). Cordoba, Spain – Rain Gardens. Source link. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 16 September 2020].
12. Pommelhouse (2004). Patio de las Naranjas. Source link. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 16 September 2020].
Historical Rain Gardens 1
Source: Ref. 11