Date Published: 15/02/2021
ARCHIVED - Murcia region buys three new areas of wetlands and salt marshes to guarantee their conservation
ARCHIVED ARTICLE
80 per cent of the money came through EU funding
The regional government has purchased three rustic properties in the municipalities of Abanilla, Alhama de Murcia and Fortuna, to a value of around 80,000 euros, 80 per cent of which has been co-financed by the European ERDF fund.
The three fincas are located in spaces containing protected natural resources, specifically wetlands and salt marshes and general director of Natural Environment, Fulgencio Perona, explained that with this new step "the network of wetlands and salt marshes owned by the regional government has been expanded, fulfilling the objective of the regional government of guaranteeing the protection and conservation of these protected natural spaces and their biodiversity".
In this way, and by becoming public property, "the Ministry will be able to carry out management actions aimed at restoring habitats of community interest and protected species of flora and fauna, as well as maintaining the set of ecosystem values and services that these sustain or generate, thus contributing to fulfill the commitments of declaration and protection of areas of community interest of the directives of habitats and birds ”, explained Perona.
The largest of the acquired spaces is a farm in the area of 'El Sanel', of 39,206 square meters of surface, located within the Protected Natural Area (ENP), Site of Community Interest (SCI) and Special Protection Area for Birds (ZEPA) of the 'Wetland of Ajauque and Rambla Salada', in the municipality of Abanilla, acquired for 30,590 euros. Another of the farms has 55,814 square meters and is located in the Lozorra area, close to the aforementioned protected natural space of the ‘Ajauque Wetland and Rambla Salada’, in the municipality of Fortuna; 43,165 euros have been allocated to its acquisition. The third farm has an area of 11,029 square meters and is located in the area 'La Alcanara', within the Protected Natural Area (ENP), Site of Community Interest (LIC) and Special Protection Area for Birds (ZEPA) , called 'Saladares del Guadalentín', in the municipality of Alhama de Murcia, acquired for 3,300 euros.
NB: Walkers may enjoy exploring routes through the wetlands and salt marshes of the region. Abanilla mentioned above has several such routes, two of which ahve been written up in more detail below.
The source of the river Chícamo; a three km. walk in Abanilla. Click to read
Walking routes in Abanilla: Click to read