Mancha Húmeda
Encyclopedia
Mancha Húmeda is a Spanish wetland
area which was designated a Biosphere reserve
in 1980.
"Húmeda" means damp in Spanish and "Mancha Húmeda" refers to the wetlands of La Mancha
, a predominantly arid part of central Spain. The core area of the reserve is the Tablas de Daimiel National Park
, which has been important for its bird population. The buffer zone of Mancha Húmeda includes a natural park
, the Lagunas de Ruidera Natural Park
. The natural park, which is larger than the national park, is administered by the regional government of Castile-La Mancha
.
UNESCO
has given Spain given until 2011 to reverse the degradation of Tablas de Daimiel. At that time a decision may be taken to withdraw the park's biosphere status if sufficient progress has not been made in restoration.
Whether Mancheda Húmeda could exist as a biosphere reserve independently of the Tablas de Daimiel is not clear. Lagunas de Ruidera are at a higher altitude and therefore do not share the same water table
.
In 2009 subterranean fires broke out after a hot summer. The phenomenon of peat
igniting had occurred in the basin of the Guadiana
in previous years, but this was the first time it had affected the core area of the biosphere reserve.
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
area which was designated a Biosphere reserve
Biosphere reserve
The Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:...
in 1980.
"Húmeda" means damp in Spanish and "Mancha Húmeda" refers to the wetlands of La Mancha
La Mancha
La Mancha is a natural and historical region or greater comarca located on an arid, fertile, elevated plateau of central Spain, south of Madrid, stretching between the Montes de Toledo and the western spurs of the Serrania de Cuenca. It is bounded on the south by the Sierra Morena and on the north...
, a predominantly arid part of central Spain. The core area of the reserve is the Tablas de Daimiel National Park
Tablas de Daimiel National Park
Tablas de Daimiel National Park is a nature reserve in south-central Spain on La Mancha plain in the province of Ciudad Real. It is a wetland in an arid part of Spain. Tablas de Daimiel is the smallest of Spain's fourteen national parks...
, which has been important for its bird population. The buffer zone of Mancha Húmeda includes a natural park
Natural park (Spain)
In Spain, a natural park is a natural space protected for its biology, geology, or landscape, with ecological, aesthetic, educational, or scientific value whose preservation merits preferential attention on the part of public administration. The regulation of the activities that may occur there...
, the Lagunas de Ruidera Natural Park
Lagunas de Ruidera Natural Park
Lagunas de Ruidera Natural Park is a natural park in Spain, containing 15 small lakes, the Lagunas de Ruidera that are located in the La Mancha plain. Its area is more than...
. The natural park, which is larger than the national park, is administered by the regional government of Castile-La Mancha
Castile-La Mancha
Castile-La Mancha is an autonomous community of Spain. Castile-La Mancha is bordered by Castile and León, Madrid, Aragon, Valencia, Murcia, Andalusia, and Extremadura. It is one of the most sparsely populated of Spain's autonomous communities...
.
Conservation issues
Some conservationists have questioned the future of Tablas de Daimiel as a biosphere reserve because the eco-system has been damaged by over-use of water resources in the area.UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
has given Spain given until 2011 to reverse the degradation of Tablas de Daimiel. At that time a decision may be taken to withdraw the park's biosphere status if sufficient progress has not been made in restoration.
Whether Mancheda Húmeda could exist as a biosphere reserve independently of the Tablas de Daimiel is not clear. Lagunas de Ruidera are at a higher altitude and therefore do not share the same water table
Water table
The water table is the level at which the submarine pressure is far from atmospheric pressure. It may be conveniently visualized as the 'surface' of the subsurface materials that are saturated with groundwater in a given vicinity. However, saturated conditions may extend above the water table as...
.
In 2009 subterranean fires broke out after a hot summer. The phenomenon of peat
Peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
igniting had occurred in the basin of the Guadiana
Guadiana
The Guadiana , or Odiana, is an international river located on the Portuguese–Spanish border, separating Extremadura and Andalucia from Alentejo and Algarve...
in previous years, but this was the first time it had affected the core area of the biosphere reserve.