Asignan 7 millones para mejorar y conservar humedales en Castilla-La Mancha

Wetlands are those areas with a good water retention capacity, which can vary in size and flow depending on the seasons and precipitation cycles. There are marshes and swamps that can be permanent, while other spaces have a high water variability.

Each wetland is an ecosystem in itself and has its own associated biodiversity, sometimes with a large number of endemic species. They are a source of resources for people, excellent carbon sinks, water filtration and purification spaces, and more.

Protecting the Wetland Areas in Castellanomano

The regional government is making a significant investment effort of seven million euros between 2022 and 2026 to address numerous actions to improve, conserve, and restore the wetlands in Castilla-La Mancha, as part of the recovery, transformation, and resilience funds.

«These initiatives reflect a continued commitment from President García-Page’s government to preserve these valuable ecosystems for future generations,» explained Minister of Sustainable Development, Mercedes Gómez, during her visit on Monday in Villacañas on the occasion of World Wetlands Day, February 2, José Almodóvar;

As the counselor recalled, this year’s chosen motto was «protecting wetlands for our common future» and the goals «that citizens contribute to the preservation and protection of wetlands as fundamental ecosystems that support life, but also as the regulatory authorities of the water cycle, natural treatment players, providers of food and livelihoods, climate regulators, and important carbon sinks.»

In this context, the counselor emphasized that the protection of wetlands is essential not only to preserve biodiversity but also to ensure the planet’s strength against global challenges as climate changes. «The loss of these ecosystems implies the extinction of species and an ecological imbalance that directly affects the quality of human life.» And, of course, Gómez did not want to overlook «their cultural and recreational value, being the inspiration for local traditions and activities like ecotourism, offering significant economic benefits in the territories.»

Working Beyond Villacañas

The action that the counselor extensively visited in Villacañas will have an investment of 442,329 euros for the rehabilitation of the green filter. This project involves building a green macrophyte filter at the outlet of the Villacañas treatment plant, carrying out the necessary corrective actions to get it back in operation, remedying the defects found in the water adjustment, and establishing criteria for subsequent maintenance. «This way, the water characteristics reaching Laguna Long will be improved, contributing to the conservation of environmental biodiversity,» said Mercedes Gómez.

Additionally, there are two complementary actions associated with this lagoon that will be carried out in 2025. On one hand, conservation work must be done, such as creating islands for the preservation of different species of waterfowl, improving paths, or preparing the plant associated with the green filter, for an amount of 48,327 euros and in collaboration with the Global Nature Foundation.

On the other hand, an action will be carried out for the installation of a flow towards water control and ensuring the complete purification of all waters in the ditch leading to the construction of an unresolved water problem within the ditch, with a total budget of 315,857 euros.

«Therefore, a significant investment exceeding 806,000 euros, which Gómez underscored.

Projects to Improve Wetlands

Other relevant projects being carried out in the region with MRR funds are the karst valley in the hacadillas, in the Laguna Natural Park in Ridera (between Ciudad Real and Albacete), for an amount of 467,333 euros; restoration of numerous wetlands in municipal terms such as Pedro Muñoz, Pozol de Calatrava, Alcazar de

Also in the province of Cuenca, restoration of the Nail Lagon table barrier in the Serranía de Cuenca Natural Park, which involves the restoration of the waterfall, recovery of the geological processes of carbonate deposition on that barrier, with an amount of 209,582 euros; and the habitat restoration project for plants, in volantes and tables, with waste removal for an amount of 229,128 euros.

Additionally, improvement of the road in the La Sal La La Natural Reserve in Villafranca de los Caballeros; and performances in the Lillo Lagoon, both in the province of Toledo; or the restoration of the Salado River basin in Guadalajara.

Daimiel Tables and Other Shows

Gómez recalled the work already underway on the Recovery of the Daimiel National Park by implementing measures aimed at restoring the functionality of the ecosystem and the conservation of biodiversity.

«Since last year, the regional government has been working with the aim of agreeing on future solutions for the National Park and the socio-economic development of the area. Measures that will be agreed upon with environmental users, to ensure that all environmental, economic, and social actions applied allow for the recovery of the underground aquifer and guarantee development.» Currently, the flooding is at 11.65 percent of the lagoon basin, with an area flooded of approximately 200 hectares.

Furthermore, another project is being launched, together with the Ministry of Ecological Transition, the Biodiversity Foundation, and several autonomous communities. «We are in the first phase to implement an interesting European project Integrated Life to restore wetlands at the national level,» said the counselor.

Finally, Mercedes Gómez referred to the project monitoring threatened aquatic bird populations in Castilla-La Mancha subject to national coordinated census, such as Cabeciblanca Headwalches, Pardilla RESEGA in this category. The project is aimed at providing technical assistance on monitoring species, detecting possible conservation issues, and proposing measures that favor the definitive settlement of these species in the region.

Castilla-La Mancha hosts a large group of wetlands in its territory, around 500, of varied typology and high environmental value, and among them, eight wetlands like La Laguna de Manjavacas, Laguna del Prado, the Laguna de Alcázar de San Juan complex, Daimiel tables, Laguna de Puebla de Beleña, Laguna por él . Él Mile and Ridera Lagoon, which are internationally recognized as wetlands of importance, according to the Ramsar Convention.