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27 May 2009

Diploma of the Living Lakes Network. Press release ...

Albufera Lake lies approx. 12 km south of the city Valencia, the third greatest Spanish city with approx. 700,000 inhabitants. The shallow lake is separated by a sand barrier from the Mediterranean Sea. The fresh water lake covers a surface of 27 sq. km, its maximum depth measures 1.5 metres. Six small islands are lying in the Albufera Lake.

Other important ecosystems with a high ecological value that we can find in the surroundings of the lake are the beach, the dunes, the malladas (temporary small lagoons between the fringes of dunes), the wetland and the Mediterranean forest.

In 1986, an area around the lake with a size of 211 sq. km was declared a Natural Park (Parque Natural de l´Albufera de Valencia) by the regional authority. In December 1989, Albufera Lake and its surrounding wetlands were nominated as Ramsar site. Furthermore, the area was declared as a bird protection area, because till 250 different bird species have been living here.

Many migratory birds use the Natural Park as resting and also as nesting place, such as Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus), Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) and Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria). Many rare bird species live in the region: Eurasian Bittern (Botaurus stellaris), Marbled Teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris), White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) or Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus). Many of the birds are listened in the Red Book Birds of Spain.

Two endemic and three threatened plant species are found in the area, also 11 endemic and 33 threatened animal species.

There are 13 municipalities with part of their areas inside of the Natural Park of l´Albufera. Some of the villages are traditionally linked to Albufera Lake, many inhabitants work as fishermen, farmers or are dedicated to host services for the visitors of the Natural Park, such as restaurants or camping sites.

Agricultural land, mostly used for rice fields (as a typical Valencian crop) and a small part for citrus fruits and vegetables, lies around the lake and the wetlands. The rice fields cover a surface of overall 145 sq. km. Some farmers use illegal products such as fertilizers or pesticides on their fields, which also cause the water pollution of Albufera Lake and the wetlands. Furthermore, great problems are caused by illegal hunting and fishing as well as the settlements at the borders of the Natural Park.

Our partner organisation Fundación Global Nature (FGN) will contribute to the improvement of the water quality with the management of green filters around the lake and its catchment area. Green filters will be constructed by ACUAMED in its program to re-use waste water of waste water treatment plants.

FGN will also be active to reduce the illegal pollution by an education program for companies and join all agents involved in the Natural Park, such as fishermen, hunters, farmers and innkeepers, in order to preserve the lake and its ecosysteme.

The City Council of Valencia is the local authority managing the area. Its goal is the conservation of the natural values. Many projects have been developed, e. g. monitoring of the water quality and biodiversity, regulation of the use of the lake for fishing and boats, recovery of the dune ecosystem and the Mediterranean forest.

More information about

City Valencia:

http://www.increibleperocierta.com/spot_en/increible.html

Parque Natural de L´Albufera de Valencia (in Spanish):

http://www.cma.gva.es/contenido_ParquesNaturales/montarparques.asp?nodo=2976&idioma=C

ACUAMED (in Spanish):

http://www.programaaguaalbufera.es/lineasActuaciones.shtml

Partner organisations

Fundación Global Nature (FGN)

Contact person: Antonio Guillem Avivar

C/. Juan Ramón Jiménez 38 ptaº23

46026 Valencia, Spain

E-mail: antonioguillem@fundacionglobalnature.org

Website: http://www.fundacionglobalnature.org/

City Council of Valencia / Ayuntamiento de Valencia

Contact person: Antonio Vizcaino Matarredona

CV500 KM. 8,5 (Viveros Municipales)

46012 Valencia, Spain

E-mail: odevesa@valencia.es

Website: www.valencia.es/ayuntamiento/albufera_accesible.nsf