The Odiel marshes form a natural coastal zone and part of a biosphere reserve. These tidal wetlands are among the Iberian Peninsula’s most vital habitats, attracting migratory birds from the Western Palearctic. Like many Mediterranean wetlands, these ecosystems face threats from human activity and climate change, resulting in biodiversity losses that demand careful protection.
To safeguard biodiversity, SEO/BirdLife has launched a project titled Conserving biodiversity in Odiel Biosphere Reserve. This initiative was selected from hundreds of projects worldwide and receives funding from the European Outdoor Conservation Association, a charity dedicated to outdoor conservation.
According to a SEO/BirdLife technician, the project centers on a broad set of wildlife conservation and habitat restoration activities with active participation from local residents.
The plan relies on building a volunteer network focused on residents of municipalities within the Biosphere Reserve, including Huelva, Gibraleón, Punta Umbría, and Aljaraque. Ongoing cooperation will be pursued with local associations and the University of Huelva.
With EOCA support, three years of work are ahead, aiming to preserve this distinctive European landscape through the help of dozens of volunteers.
The project will run over the next three years, focusing on environmental education, ecosystem enhancement, bird protection, and monitoring activities.
An extremely important wetland
SEO/BirdLife has long collaborated with the Odiel Marshes Nature Park management, and this project extends that cooperative effort. The Odiel marshes rank as one of the most important wetlands for biodiversity in southern Europe, particularly for waterfowl. Community involvement through practical conservation actions is essential for their preservation and appreciation.
Located in the southern part of Huelva province at the confluence of the Tinto and Odiel rivers, this estuarine system blends fresh and saltwater through tidal channels that carry nutrient-rich sediments outward. These nutrients are a primary food source for the birds that rely on this natural area.
The continual sediment supply and tidal forces create island groups separated by broad waterways, such as Isla de Enmedio, Isla de Saltés, and Isla de Bacuta, situated to the south of the reserve.
Halophytic plants dominate the salty landscape, with species like salicornia and espartina shaping the ecology and scenery of these vast marshlands.
various landscapes
The ecological richness emerges as the territory transitions from tidal marshes to lagoons such as Batán and Taraje, along the Espigón coast, or through woodlands like El Almendral, El Acebuchal, and La Cascajera.
Among the notable habitats is the middle island designated as a Nature Reserve, home to one of Europe’s largest spoonbill breeding colonies. These wading birds nest using mud and plant materials, all safeguarded by the surrounding flora, including almajos and espartinas.
Visitors can observe grebes, cormorants, flamingos, various gulls, and waders such as redfish, snipe, and stilt, as highlighted by the regional government in materials about the Odiel marshes.
Traditional uses of the landscape include salt production, with the Bacuta salt flats cited as a prime example of historical practices, while the Aragonesas area reflects more industrial activity.
Benign livelihoods such as pine nut gathering, beekeeping, animal husbandry, fishing, and shellfishing are all part of the long-standing human relationship with this natural setting.