It is not only Doñana who is in grave danger. Other wetlands of Andalusia, The salt pans of Cabo de Gata in AlmeríaThey share the same fate. But in this case, the main reason is: seawater inlet channel is blocked and flow does not reach salt flatsthus threatening the future of many bird species.
The Mediterranean salt flats form a crucial area for the survival of thousands of migratory birds, due to the stability of water levels and the corresponding food availability. One of the most important in Europe is the salt flats of Cabo de Gata (Almería). They are home to more than a hundred bird species. Also, its geographical location makes it a stopping point for migrations on the African-European route and also serves as a wintering ground for many species.
This coastal wetland holds several bodyguard figures: Ramsar Convention, Biosphere Reserve, Red Natura 2000 (Special Conservation Area for Birds, ZEPA and Special Conservation Area, ZEC), Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park and Important Areas for Conservation of Birds (IBA 216 and marine IBA ES406).
When the saltwater runs out of water, as is currently the case in Cabo de Gata, their ecological function is greatly interrupted. Not only because of the temporary effect of lack of water on birds, but also because Their ability to produce food, which is what birds are basically looking for in these wetlands, is lagging exponentially with each passing day. human origin.
Not just a temporary problem
Heavy rains last spring in the state of Almería caused landslides and displacements in the area around Cabo de Gata, washing away sediment that clogs the gallery that feeds the symbolic salt flats with seawater. As a result of this blockage, sea water does not reach the salt flats, which have been dry for weeks.As reported by the Spanish Ornithological Society (SEO/BirdLife).
“However, aside from blocking the channel, these salt flats need a structural remodeling that provides guarantees for the preservation of their ecological function, as well as improving their salt use,” says Varlık.
However The French company Salins, the operator of this industry, and the inaction of the Junta de Andalucía “had fatal consequences. For the biodiversity of this wetland. An act that only aggravates the situation the place is in because of years of abandonment,” says SEO.
Enrique López Carrique, professor at the University of Almería and partner in SEO/BirdLife, confirms that the French company Salins and the previous owners “have no interest in preserving industrial facilities and their associated heritage. Part of the church and industrial buildings in the salt flats have been sold. The administration building is also in disrepair. Damage to its structure caused the offices to be moved to one of the industrial buildings. The workforce has been reduced and the water engines are not being repaired. As a result, Torrential rains only helped the rock roof, which had not been maintained in years, to fall into the canal. While the French salt mines enjoy museums and tourist trains, the Spaniards are deserted and the national performance is much higher than the French”.
As a result, The drying up of the salt mines has caused a lack of water and food for the traditional birds of this region. Teresa Martínez, spokesperson for the local SEO/BirdLife group in Almería, “Once the water returns to the wetland, we will have to wait for the entire community of microorganisms on which the birds feed to be replenished. It is a very complex process that requires not only time but also action and political and commercial commitment”.
That’s why Martínez argues that any measure or solution decided to be implemented other than to comply with all technical, legal and environmental specifications should be “designed for the long term.” “Weather events that appear to be the source of the problem are becoming more frequent and extreme in the region,” he emphasizes.
“urgent measures”
SEO/BirdLife, Unión Salinera and its parent company Salins, whose corporate advertisements include a clear commitment to act in favor of biodiversity conservation, and the Ministry of Sustainable Development of the Junta de Andalucía, to take urgent measures to restore the integrity of the water circuit of the saltpans.
“The abandonment and drying up of these salt flats will not only have a devastating effect on biodiversity conservation, but will also affect the natural, landscape and cultural values that are Cabo de Gata’s treasures and represent its tourist attraction. It complements the good conservation status and great ecological value of its shores and seabeds, as well as other values of the natural park, such as saltpans, geological and botanical values”, add entity.
This adds to the severe hydrological situation that has engulfed other Andalusian wetlands, starting with those in Doñana National Park. But neither are the Sierra Nevada rivers or the Jaén lagoons threatened. Conservationists point out that these are wetlands that perform a fundamental environmental function beyond the avifauna they house, but are subject to the effects of both global warming and poor planning by the Administration.
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