The Junta de Andalucía shields Doñana with the purchase of 7,500 hectares for 70 million euros

2023-09-12 13:47:00

The Junta de Andalucía will increase the Doñana land with the acquisition of 7,500 hectares of the ‘Veta La Palma’ farm, located in La Puebla del Río, Seville. This is key land for the biodiversity of the Doñana National Park due to its ecological value and will increase the surface of the park by 14%, the greatest environmental milestone since the 1978 expansion.

Of the 7,500 hectares, the Andalusian Government aims to keep 3,500 flooded, avoiding negative repercussions on habitats and animal species that are home to more than 50% of the birds on the land.

With the purchase of this surface – with an investment of 70 million euros in the absence of the latest reports – a scientific research process will be opened by both universities and technicians from the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment to carry out carry out projects that lead to improvements in environmental conditions.

A commitment by the Board to enhance the National Park

This initiative of the Junta de Andalucía – announced by its president, Juanma Moreno, this morning – is a commitment to improve the values ​​and enhance the unique ecosystem of Doñana. For this reason, the Andalusian Government itself insists that short-term actions will be carried out, such as improving the environmental functionality of several pikes and reinforcing the connection of the systems at the end of summer or the beginning of dry autumns. On the other hand, the area will also be reconditioned for the reproduction of waterfowl as well as the improvement of the two extensive ponds of 70 hectares.

The ‘Veta La Palma’ farm occupies almost half of the Isla Mayor del Guadalquivir and is considered a Ramsar Zone for being a wetland of international relevance. It is part of the Natura 2000 Network, considered of special conservation, and a Special Protection Zone for Birds. .

In the words of Juanma Moreno, this purchase “guarantees water in an area at risk of drying out.” The Doñana National Park is one of the most important protected areas in Spanish geography and the largest ecological reserve in Europe.