Box 9O Doñana National Park (Spain)

Wild boars in Doñana National Park, Spain

Source: E Kemf, WWF


The marshes at the mouth of the River Guadalquivir in southern Spain comprise some 180 000 ha of diverse wetland ecosystems. That part protected within the Doñana National Park (Site 154 on Map 9.8), a designated Biosphere Reserve and holder of a European Diploma (Council of Europe), includes a Ramsar site of almost 80 000 ha, forming the largest natural wetland ecosystem in southwest Europe. The marshes are fed by the Madre des Marismas and contain old branches of the Guadalquivir River which form canal-like depressions. There is extensive spring flooding and also several shallow lakes which persist even during the dry summer period.

Outside the National Park to the north and east considerable areas have been converted to rice fields or reclaimed by drainage and used for irrigated cultivation. Fish farms and saltworks have also been established, while other activities involve cattle grazing, hunting, fishing and tourism.

Agricultural use of pesticides has caused serious contamination of waters leading to the poisoning of birds. There has been an increasing demand for groundwater for horticultural irrigation and adjacent tourist developments. This already has seriously depleted the freshwater aquifer supporting the marshes, thereby increasing the risk of saline incursion from the sea. Managing within the National Park includes the digging of wells for freshwater to attract birds away from those shallow contaminated pools which have been sources of botulism. Facilities have also been provided for bird-watchers and access has been regulated in order to minimise visitor disturbance.

Together with the adjacent habitats of scrub, woodland and dune systems of the Doñana National Park, the area is a major wildlife habitat of international importance.