Summary: The history of Godesa, a former nature conservation group from Cordoba has been strongly linked with the protection of the “Sotos de la Albolafia”. This papers reminds shortly the bulk of activity carried out in the 80s and 90s by the group. Godesa members were most importantly bird enthusiasts and started to figure out the importance of the bird community along the Guadalquivir in the city of Cordoba. Bird richness and threats to them are discussed here with special reference to urban schemes which undermined Nightheron’s breeding colony in various moments. Godesa was active in three fields: legal pursue since threat was permanent, environmental education for locals who lived with “their back to the river” and constant appeal for legal protection. It took 12 years (plus 7 of previous activities) to declare the “Sotos de la Albolafia” as a Natural Monument. Despite this and other educative programes, environmental education is still much in need along the river.
(Antonio Leiva y Miguel Carrasco)