Merigar extends for about 60 hectares of land in an area ranging from 600 to 930 meters in altitude, in a valley that faces Monte Labbro with Monte Amiata situated behind it. The care of its greenery, fields, woodlands, the regimentation of water in such a vast area requires constant intervention and maintenance. In recent years, during the conception of and surveys useful for the realization of the project Path of Awareness, a difficult clearing of the land was started in Merigar including weeding of vegetation, clearing undergrowth and reestablishing woodlands with the maintenance and augmentation of significant tree specimens.
The clearing allowed first of all to proceed with a topographic survey of the landscape and its changes in the more difficult stretches of the path, indispensable findings in carrying out an effective design of the route.
The woodlands maintenance work undertaken, duly authorized, also revealed the hydraulic problems on the land. The very old system of regulating and collecting springwater for agricultural use, through intercepting and lifting pipes, and accumulation basins, had by now greatly deteriorated with the consequent spreading of rainwater through the soil, already weakened overtime by agricultural and pastoral use; that, and its clay strata, has compromised the already sparse grass surface and has greatly altered the practicability of the area especially in the stretch downstream of the path.
The increase in the intensity of the rains in recent years has also caused various landslides, one of considerable size that has affected the area south of the Gönpa, above the wood grove (boschetto), that has caused rocks and earth to fall in the torrent reservoir beneath. The tracks of the mountain trenches that cross the land, going down from the hills to the valley were found to be cluttered with fallen trunks and vegetation.
The uncontrollable undergrowth of weeds (brambles and creepers) had taken over the land making places and paths impassable; not only did it block the use of those areas, but it also had changed the perception itself of the land one was crossing.
The clearing and maintaining of the woods area uncovered two basins fed by spring water which had been hidden under all the vegetation; the largest, a good size pond, sits in the valley in front of the Golden House (la Casa Gialla) and the smaller basin is in front of the new road below the Casa Gialla near the sauna building. The two ponds now represent important points in the landscape, having a potential symbolic value both for the presence of water and for its reference to the old agricultural management of the farm.
The urgency of Merigar’s environmental situation is now evident and large-scale interventions are necessary, with adequate means, with the necessary permits and respect of its timing and deadlines imposed by the region of Tuscany.
If you wish you can participate with a donation.
Bank account:
Merigar Dzogchen Community - Loc. Merigar 58031 Arcidosso Grosseto Italy
Banca: INTESA SAN PAOLO SpA Filiale di Arcidosso - GR
C/C 3503
IT35E0306972163100000003503
Codice BIC o SWIFT: BCITITMM
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