Tablas de Daimiel National Park
Encyclopedia
Tablas de Daimiel National Park (Parque Nacional de las Tablas de Daimiel) 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 (TDNP) is the smallest of Spain's fourteen national parks. It covers an area of 19.28 km².
As well as having national park status, it enjoys international recognition as a wetland on the list of the Ramsar Convention
. It is the core of the Biosphere reserve
Mancha Húmeda
and is a Special Protection Area
for birds.
TDNP is a floodplain wetland created where the Gigüela river joins the Guadiana
river. It is home to many bird species, some year-round residents, some migratory.
The National Park takes its name from the town of Daimiel
,
although 70% of the park's territory belongs to the municipality of Villarrubia de los Ojos
and only 30% to Daimiel.
ordered the compilation of the Topographic Relations
which commanded that the Tablas be well looked after. The value of the ecosystem for hunting continued to give the Tablas a certain amount of protection into the twentieth century. Although in the 1950s the government promoted land reclamation projects in La Mancha
with the aim of reducing the amount of wetland, Franco
shot duck in the area and in 1966 the Tablas became a National Hunting Reserve.
In 1963 the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) launched a project to conserve and manage wetlands, the MAR Project, which drew up a list of wetlands of international importance as a foundation for an international convention on wetlands. The draft called for the protection of wetlands habitats rather than species. The Tablas de Damiel were declared a National Park in 1973.
In 1980 the national park was extended and UNESCO included Las Tablas in a biosphere reserve.
In 1982 Las Tablas were included on the list of the Ramsar Convention
(an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands).
In 1987 Las Tablas were declared a Special Protection Area
for birds (Zona de Especial Protección para las Aves in Spanish) under the European Union's Birds Directive
.
The wetland landscape is characterized by recurrent seasonal inundation which until recently was maintained by both river flooding and groundwater discharges.
The park's surface is 19.28 km², and the highest inundation comprises around 17 km2. TDNP is one of the most important aquatic ecosystems of Spain and was probably the main inland wetland. It is important too because of the great amount of migratory birds that pass by the zone, like ducks
and geese
.
Las Tablas de Daimiel are provided with two types of water making an unusual ecosystem: the Guadiana
contributes fresh water, while its tributary the Gigüela is brackish.
, Phragmites communis
), and the briny water of the Gigüela favors the growth of the marshy vegetation, principally the Great Fen-sedge (Cladium mariscus
).
The Great Fen-sedge abounded extraordinarily, and it was one of the most extensive zones in Occidental Europe.
There were groups of Bulrushes (g. Typha
, Scirpus lacustris, Scirpus maritimus
) and Rush (g. Juncus
) in the least deep areas.
Charophytes
' grasslands are one of the most characteristic formations of the National Park formed by different sorts of Chara genus (Chara hispida
, Chara major
, Chara canescens
), also known locally as "ovas", and were able to form an almost continuous tapestry. The only trees present are the Tamarisk (Tamarix gallica, Tamarix canariensis
).
), that it was in the past abundant and
an important source of income for Daimiel's families, today almost extinguished in these waters.
After the introduction of the great predator that the Northern pike (Esox lucius) is, other autochthonous species like the Barbus (Barbus barbus
), the Common carp (Cyprinus carpio), or the Chub (Leuciscus cephalus) are now endangered species.
In the spring and the summer we may find amphibians and reptiles like the European tree frog (Hyla arborea), the Marsh Frog (Rana ridibunda), the Common Toad (Bufo bufo), the Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra), the Grass Snake (Natrix natrix) or the water snake Natrix maura
.
Also we may find mammals like the European Polecat (Mustela putorius), the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), the European Otter (Lutra lutra), the Water Vole (Arvicola amphibius), as well as the ones that live in proximities of the wetlands: the European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), the Cape Hare (Lepus capensis), the Least Weasel (Mustela nivalis) or the Boar (Sus scrofa).
of water resources has caused the water-table to drop. The key aquifer
("aquifer 23") has not been able to refill because of illegal wells and canalisation of the rivers.
Various ecological groups have suggested that the national park's designation as a biosphere reserve (within Mancha Húmeda
) should be withdrawn as its eco-system has been broken. In June 2008, a UNESCO
report recommended that the national park lose its biosphere status or, alternatively, that Spain be given an ultimatum to reverse the degradation. In the event, Spain was given time to reverse the degradation.
The Spanish authorities expressed confidence that the situation would improve. Among measures taken was the acquisition of farmland with water rights so that well-water could be used for the benefit of the park rather than agriculture. In May 2009 a plan was announced to reverse the decline in the wetland area using recycled water. However, some scepticism was shown by environmentalists who noted that the aquifer was not going to be replenished. It has been suggested that a long-term solution would be to reduce the water demands of agriculture by replacing irrigated crops with agriculture suited to arid conditions (agricultura de secano in Spanish).
In the hot summer of 2009 smouldering fires of the dry peat
broke out in the area. Such fires were not a new phenomenon in the region; they had affected the peatlands alongside the Guadiana in previous years, but by reappearing in the National Park, the fires represented another symptom of the wetland's degradation.
Faced with a possible fine from the EU, the Spanish government organised an emergency transfer of water from the Tagus
.
However, various conservation groups expressed the view that the solution should be found within the Guadiana basin.
Early in 2010 the situation was improved by heavier rainfall than had been experienced for several years.
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
in south-central Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
on 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...
plain in the province of Ciudad Real
Ciudad Real (province)
The province of Ciudad Real is a province of South-central Spain, in the southwestern part of the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. It is bordered by the provinces of Cuenca, Albacete, Jaén, Córdoba, Badajoz, and Toledo. Its extent is effectively that of the old province of La Mancha...
. It is a wetland
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....
in an arid part of Spain. Tablas de Daimiel (TDNP) is the smallest of Spain's fourteen national parks. It covers an area of 19.28 km².
As well as having national park status, it enjoys international recognition as a wetland on the list of the Ramsar Convention
Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
. It is the core of the 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:...
Mancha Húmeda
Mancha Húmeda
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...
and is a Special Protection Area
Special Protection Area
A Special Protection Area or SPA is a designation under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds.Under the Directive, Member States of the European Union have a duty to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds and certain particularly threatened birds.Together with Special...
for birds.
TDNP is a floodplain wetland created where the Gigüela river joins 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...
river. It is home to many bird species, some year-round residents, some migratory.
The National Park takes its name from the town of Daimiel
Daimiel
Daimiel is a municipality in Ciudad Real, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It has a population of 17,342. The Tablas de Daimiel National Park, a well-known natural reserve, lies partly within the boundaries of the town.-Spanish Civil War:...
,
although 70% of the park's territory belongs to the municipality of Villarrubia de los Ojos
Villarrubia de los Ojos
Villarrubia de los Ojos is a municipality in Ciudad Real, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. According to the 2010 census the municipality has a population of 11,119 inhabitants....
and only 30% to Daimiel.
History
Like other Spanish wetlands, the Tablas de Daimiel had a long tradition of waterfowl hunting. As early as 1325 the infante Don Juan Manuel, in his hunting book (Libro de la caza), publicised the attributes of the banks of the river Gigüela for falconry. The water resources of the area also provided fishing and power for mills. In 1575, Philip IIPhilip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
ordered the compilation of the Topographic Relations
Topographic Relations of Philip II
Topographic Relations of the towns from Spain, made under the command of Philip II is the name which commonly is known the statistical work supported and encouraged by Philip II of Spain to offer a detailed description of all the settlements of the kingdoms under his command....
which commanded that the Tablas be well looked after. The value of the ecosystem for hunting continued to give the Tablas a certain amount of protection into the twentieth century. Although in the 1950s the government promoted land reclamation projects in 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...
with the aim of reducing the amount of wetland, Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
shot duck in the area and in 1966 the Tablas became a National Hunting Reserve.
In 1963 the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) launched a project to conserve and manage wetlands, the MAR Project, which drew up a list of wetlands of international importance as a foundation for an international convention on wetlands. The draft called for the protection of wetlands habitats rather than species. The Tablas de Damiel were declared a National Park in 1973.
In 1980 the national park was extended and UNESCO included Las Tablas in a biosphere reserve.
In 1982 Las Tablas were included on the list of the Ramsar Convention
Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
(an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands).
In 1987 Las Tablas were declared a Special Protection Area
Special Protection Area
A Special Protection Area or SPA is a designation under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds.Under the Directive, Member States of the European Union have a duty to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds and certain particularly threatened birds.Together with Special...
for birds (Zona de Especial Protección para las Aves in Spanish) under the European Union's Birds Directive
Birds Directive
The Birds Directive is a European Union directive adopted in 2009. It replaces Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds which was modified several times and had become very unclear...
.
Characteristics
The park is the last surviving example of floodplain wetlands located in the arid central part of the Iberian peninsula. Being located downstream from the Upper Guadiana Basin, TDNP play an important role in nutrient biogeochemistry.The wetland landscape is characterized by recurrent seasonal inundation which until recently was maintained by both river flooding and groundwater discharges.
The park's surface is 19.28 km², and the highest inundation comprises around 17 km2. TDNP is one of the most important aquatic ecosystems of Spain and was probably the main inland wetland. It is important too because of the great amount of migratory birds that pass by the zone, like ducks
Anatidae
Anatidae is the biological family of birds that includes ducks, geese and swans. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on all the world's continents except Antarctica and on most of the world's islands and island groups...
and geese
Anserinae
The Anserinae is a subfamily in the waterfowl family Anatidae. It includes the swans and true geese. Under alternative systematical concepts , it is split into two subfamilies, the Anserinae containing the geese , while the Cygninae contain the swans.A number of other waterbirds, mainly related to...
.
Biological patrimony
Guadiana
The Guadiana , or Odiana, is an international river located on the Portuguese–Spanish border, separating Extremadura and Andalucia from Alentejo and Algarve...
contributes fresh water, while its tributary the Gigüela is brackish.
Flora
The fresh water of the Guadiana favors the growth of the Common Reed (Phragmites australisPhragmites
Phragmites, the Common reed, is a large perennial grass found in wetlands throughout temperate and tropical regions of the world. Phragmites australis is sometimes regarded as the sole species of the genus Phragmites, though some botanists divide Phragmites australis into three or four species...
, Phragmites communis
Phragmites
Phragmites, the Common reed, is a large perennial grass found in wetlands throughout temperate and tropical regions of the world. Phragmites australis is sometimes regarded as the sole species of the genus Phragmites, though some botanists divide Phragmites australis into three or four species...
), and the briny water of the Gigüela favors the growth of the marshy vegetation, principally the Great Fen-sedge (Cladium mariscus
Cladium
Cladium is a genus of large sedges, with a worldwide distribution in tropical and temperate regions...
).
The Great Fen-sedge abounded extraordinarily, and it was one of the most extensive zones in Occidental Europe.
There were groups of Bulrushes (g. Typha
Typha
Typha is a genus of about eleven species of monocotyledonous flowering plants in the family Typhaceae. The genus has a largely Northern Hemisphere distribution, but is essentially cosmopolitan, being found in a variety of wetland habitats...
, Scirpus lacustris, Scirpus maritimus
Scirpus
The plant genus Scirpus consists of a large number of aquatic, grass-like species in the family Cyperaceae , many with the common names club-rush or bulrush . Other common names are deergrass or grassweed.The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution, and grows in wetlands and moist soil...
) and Rush (g. Juncus
Juncus
Juncus is a genus in the plant family Juncaceae. It consists of some 200 to 300 or more species of grassy plants commonly called rushes...
) in the least deep areas.
Charophytes
Charophyta
The Charophyta are a division of green algae, including the closest relatives of the embryophyte plants. In some groups, such as conjugating green algae, flagellate cells do not occur. The latter group does engage in sexual reproduction, and motility does not involve flagella, since they are...
' grasslands are one of the most characteristic formations of the National Park formed by different sorts of Chara genus (Chara hispida
Charales
Charales is an order of pondweeds, freshwater algae in the division Charophyta. They are green plants believed to be the closest relatives of the green land plants. Linnaeus established the genus Chara in 1753.-Description:...
, Chara major
Charales
Charales is an order of pondweeds, freshwater algae in the division Charophyta. They are green plants believed to be the closest relatives of the green land plants. Linnaeus established the genus Chara in 1753.-Description:...
, Chara canescens
Charales
Charales is an order of pondweeds, freshwater algae in the division Charophyta. They are green plants believed to be the closest relatives of the green land plants. Linnaeus established the genus Chara in 1753.-Description:...
), also known locally as "ovas", and were able to form an almost continuous tapestry. The only trees present are the Tamarisk (Tamarix gallica, Tamarix canariensis
Tamarix
The genus Tamarix is composed of about 50-60 species of flowering plants in the family Tamaricaceae, native to drier areas of Eurasia and Africa...
).
Migratory fauna
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea), Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris), Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina), Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata), Wigeon (Anas penelope), Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), Common Teal (Anas crecca), Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo), Slavonian Grebe (Podiceps auritus), Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis), Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis), Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus)...Resident fauna
We may find the European freshwater crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipesAustropotamobius pallipes
Austropotamobius pallipes is an endangered European freshwater crayfish, and the only species of crayfish native to the British Isles. Its common names include white-clawed crayfish and Atlantic stream crayfish.-Distribution and ecology:...
), that it was in the past abundant and
an important source of income for Daimiel's families, today almost extinguished in these waters.
After the introduction of the great predator that the Northern pike (Esox lucius) is, other autochthonous species like the Barbus (Barbus barbus
Barbus barbus
Barbus barbus is a species of freshwater fish in the Cyprinidae family of minnows and carps. It shares the common name "barbel" with its many relatives in the genus Barbus and is properly known as the Common Barbel.B...
), the Common carp (Cyprinus carpio), or the Chub (Leuciscus cephalus) are now endangered species.
In the spring and the summer we may find amphibians and reptiles like the European tree frog (Hyla arborea), the Marsh Frog (Rana ridibunda), the Common Toad (Bufo bufo), the Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra), the Grass Snake (Natrix natrix) or the water snake Natrix maura
Natrix maura
Natrix maura is a natricine water snake of the genus Natrix. Its common name is viperine water snake or viperine snake. Despite its common names, it is not a member of the Subfamily Viperinae...
.
Also we may find mammals like the European Polecat (Mustela putorius), the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), the European Otter (Lutra lutra), the Water Vole (Arvicola amphibius), as well as the ones that live in proximities of the wetlands: the European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), the Cape Hare (Lepus capensis), the Least Weasel (Mustela nivalis) or the Boar (Sus scrofa).
Conservation issues
In recent years demand for water for agriculture in the area surrounding the park has reduced the amount of wetland. OverexploitationOverexploitation
Overexploitation, also called overharvesting, refers to harvesting a renewable resource to the point of diminishing returns. Sustained overexploitation can lead to the destruction of the resource...
of water resources has caused the water-table to drop. The key aquifer
Aquifer
An aquifer is a wet underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology...
("aquifer 23") has not been able to refill because of illegal wells and canalisation of the rivers.
Various ecological groups have suggested that the national park's designation as a biosphere reserve (within Mancha Húmeda
Mancha Húmeda
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...
) should be withdrawn as its eco-system has been broken. In June 2008, a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
report recommended that the national park lose its biosphere status or, alternatively, that Spain be given an ultimatum to reverse the degradation. In the event, Spain was given time to reverse the degradation.
The Spanish authorities expressed confidence that the situation would improve. Among measures taken was the acquisition of farmland with water rights so that well-water could be used for the benefit of the park rather than agriculture. In May 2009 a plan was announced to reverse the decline in the wetland area using recycled water. However, some scepticism was shown by environmentalists who noted that the aquifer was not going to be replenished. It has been suggested that a long-term solution would be to reduce the water demands of agriculture by replacing irrigated crops with agriculture suited to arid conditions (agricultura de secano in Spanish).
In the hot summer of 2009 smouldering fires of the dry 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...
broke out in the area. Such fires were not a new phenomenon in the region; they had affected the peatlands alongside the Guadiana in previous years, but by reappearing in the National Park, the fires represented another symptom of the wetland's degradation.
Faced with a possible fine from the EU, the Spanish government organised an emergency transfer of water from the Tagus
Tagus
The Tagus is the longest river on the Iberian Peninsula. It is long, in Spain, along the border between Portugal and Spain and in Portugal, where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Lisbon. It drains an area of . The Tagus is highly utilized for most of its course...
.
However, various conservation groups expressed the view that the solution should be found within the Guadiana basin.
Early in 2010 the situation was improved by heavier rainfall than had been experienced for several years.
External links
- Ministry of the Environment - official website in Spanish
- Tablas de Daimiel site
- UNESCO - Biosphere Reserve Information
- A good page about the Park
Further reading
- Guía de las Aves de O Caurel, Jose Guitian et al. 152 pages. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, 2004. ISBN 84-87334-68-7