Bird protection declaration celebrated
THE RECENT decision to extend the Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds around El Hondo natural park has been praised by Elche city hall.
Environment councillor Esther Díez reminded that, as of March 6, the SPA now also includes the wetlands known as Los Carrizales de Elche and El Hondo de Amorós, where more than 50 species come to feed while nesting or wintering in El Hondo and Santa Pola salt lagoons.
The president of El Hondo natural park’s governing body, Vicent Sansano explained that this increases the area by around 1,500 hectares to 4,000 hectares.
He pointed out that it encompasses technology and nature, ‘with sustainable agriculture and a unique catalogue of flora and fauna’.
Sra Díez said this decision by the regional department for ecological transition makes El Hondo even more important, having been declared a nature reserve in 1988 and a natural park in 1994.
It is also considered a wetthere land of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
A total of 172 species of birds have been recorded including marbled teals, white-headed ducks, herons, flamingos and all sorts of ducks and wading birds.