Revitalizing Alcúdia’s Wetlands
Restoring the wetlands of Alcúdia to their natural splendour.
Over the last century, many Mediterranean wetlands have been destroyed and degraded, resulting in the loss of important wildlife habitats and the depletion of natural resources. However, there is hope for these areas, as the time has come for their renaturation and restoration.
Since 2021, we have been supporting WWF Spain, which is working with the Alcúdia Town Council to restore the Maristany and Estany des Ponts wetlands to their former splendour. The first step in the restoration process was to remove tyres, plastics and invasive alien plants that had accumulated in the area.
To ensure that the restoration was carried out in a collaborative and participatory manner, several workshops were organised to design the restoration actions. In addition to removing the materials that had clogged the lagoons, students from Alcúdia’s secondary schools and experts from the University of the Balearic Islands carried out water quality monitoring. The results of these analyses were used to guide the restoration process and ensure that the wetlands returned to their natural state.
The ultimate goal of the restoration project is not only to restore the wetlands to their natural beauty, but also to educate and raise awareness about the importance of wetlands and the role they play in the conservation of our planet’s biodiversity. High schools and colleges are the main targets of the environmental education actions, and it is hoped that students will become ambassadors of the restoration project and continue to spread the message of conservation and preservation.
In conclusion, the restoration of the Alcúdia wetlands is an important step towards the conservation of our planet’s natural resources and wildlife. With the support of WWF Spain and the Alcúdia Town Council, and other foundations we are rewinding the sequences of destruction and degradation and returning these wetlands to their natural splendour.