In Nature We Trust

F.FF

Oct 24, 20242 min read

As I step into the wetlands, leaving schedules and screens behind, the natural world awakens the senses. My weekend walk was taking me through the Girona wetlands that morning, when suddenly, a subtle detail caught my eye: a nest perched high in a treetop, followed by another, and another. The silhouette of storks emerged against the sky. These nests, safe havens for eggs and young, symbolize the nurturing heart of nature.

This moment marked the beginning of a deeper encounter with the landscape. Since then, I have spent countless hours wandering through Girona’s protected areas, immersed in the diverse geography and geology of northeastern Catalonia and the Iberian Peninsula.

This photo essay is a visual journey through each of the eight parks of Girona’s protected areas presenting a rich landscape of natural elements found within a few kilometers from each other. From the magnificent peaks of the Pyrenees to the rugged coastline of the Costa Brava, these landscapes capture the essence of nature’s beauty and offer a unique journey through a diverse ecosystem.

This is a multisensory encounter with nature’s wisdom, where every element – the horses roaming the wetlands or the cliffs bracing against the sea – speaks to the interconnectedness of land, life, the human and nature spirit.

Walking through the wetlands stretching out toward the Mediterranean Sea, the vast open spaces are a reminder of nature’s rhythms. The sight of horses strolling under the clouds, and the rain, is a reflection that time is relative, and nature’s pace is slower. In places where small and big rocks meet the blue of the sea, I feel the power and resilience of nature’s elements, which also influence and are influenced by humans, as manifested in the village on the cliff.

As I trace the footprints left in the sand or follow the gentle curves of the rivers, each encounter becomes a dialogue with nature. I realize that progress unfolds gradually, yet persistently. Every move of leaves, every bird sound, every shift in the light shows that just as the landscape shapes itself over time, so do people, shaped by the moments and experiences that touch our hearts.

Join me on this visual journey through Girona’s protected areas, where landscapes blend with seascapes, and vibrant colors and shapes converse through eight distinct ecosystems.

[The pictures were taken by the author, Francesc Fusté-Forné, at the protected areas of the region of Girona: Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park, Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park, Cap de Creus Natural Park, Garrotxa Volcanic Area Natural Park, Montseny Natural Park, The Albera Natural Site, The Headwaters of the Rivers Ter and Freser Natural Park and The Montgrí, Medes Islands, and Baix Ter Natural Park.]