Sostenibilidad invierte un millón de euros en mejoras para la Albufera de Adra

The Minister of Sustainability and Environment, Catalina García, accompanied by the Mayor of Adra, Manuel Cortés, visited the urgent actions being carried out to improve the Albufera de Adra Nature Reserve in Almería. This intervention represents a strong commitment from the Andalusian Government to the conservation of one of the most valuable spaces in the Natura 2000 Network in the province, with a budget close to a million euros (997,673 euros).

During the visit, Catalina García emphasized «the enormous ecological value of the Albufera de Adra, a true natural lung and biodiversity refuge in an environment heavily transformed by intensive agriculture.» In this sense, she stressed that «the actions we are undertaking will allow us to recover former agricultural lands to integrate them into the wetland ecosystem, improve public facilities for bird watching, and strengthen the fencing that protects fauna from predators.»

The project includes the environmental rehabilitation of a 3.7-hectare area, distributed among six publicly owned parcels located in the immediate vicinity of the Honda and Nueva lagoons. These lands, which were used for agricultural purposes in the past, are being restored through the elimination of exotic and invasive plant species, the removal of debris, the creation of shelters for fauna and flood areas, all with the aim of facilitating their integration into the marsh ecosystem of the wetland.

The Minister pointed out that «we are not dealing with an abandoned space, quite the contrary, the Andalusian Government takes care of it, protects it, and acts on it in a planned and responsible manner.» Catalina García emphasized the need to «address with a comprehensive vision the complex problems affecting the Albufera, such as eutrophication or salinization, which require collaboration between administrations, researchers, farmers, and citizens.»

In addition to environmental restoration, substantial improvements are being made to public facilities, especially bird observatories, both for scientific use and for visitors. The observation towers of the Nueva and Honda lagoons are being completely renovated, as well as the Lorenzo García ornithological station hut and the Biodiversity Turret Observatory, which also includes the installation of nest boxes for insect-eating birds and pollinators. These enhancements increase the attractiveness of the reserve for nature tourism and also reinforce its scientific and conservation functionality.

A key element of this project is the renovation of the perimeter fencing of the Albufera, severely deteriorated by humidity and salinity. Its improvement will help prevent access by predators such as wild boars, dogs, or cats, which is essential to protect the most vulnerable species inhabiting this enclave, including the Aphanius iberus, Hyla meridionalis, and Oxyura leucocephala, all with varying levels of threat.

The Albufera de Adra has a high level of environmental protection recognized nationally and internationally. Apart from being declared a Natural Reserve by Law 2/1989, they are part of the List of Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention since 1994. They have also been designated as a Site of Community Importance (SCI) and a Special Conservation Area (SPA) under the Habitats Directive, as well as a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA) under the Birds Directive. These protection figures, along with their integration into the European Ecological Network Natura 2000, highlight their value as an essential enclave for biodiversity conservation.

51.8 million investment in Almería in 2025

Catalina García stated that «the Government is acting where it should be: in the territory, listening to experts, addressing real environmental needs, and committing with actions.» In this context, she recalled that «the budget of the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment for the province of Almería in 2025 amounts to 51.8 million euros, demonstrating the firm support of the Andalusian Government for sustainability in this region.»

For his part, Manuel Cortés thanked the Minister for «the actions taken in our wetlands,» highlighting «their importance within the ecosystem.» «Our Albufera contributes to biological diversity, mitigates climate change, and promotes water supply, not to mention the historical, cultural, and ecological values it holds.» Furthermore, Cortés emphasized that «in Adra, we are fortunate to have this place rich in biodiversity, habitat of many species, from amphibians to birds, and it is essential to protect and preserve it,» thus recognizing the valuable contribution of the Andalusian Government in maintaining and enhancing this emblematic corner.

Other actions in Adra

In addition to the project being carried out in the Albufera, the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment has been carrying out other relevant actions in the municipality of Adra in terms of conservation, waste management, and rural infrastructure improvement. In this regard, 35,822 euros have been invested in improving the surface and signaling of the livestock routes «Colada de la Marina» and «Colada de las Hoyas del Barranco», actions carried out between 2022 and 2023 that reinforce the role of these routes as ecological corridors and nature-friendly transit spaces.

Furthermore, in September 2023, the construction of the new Clean Point in the municipality was completed, a key facility for the proper management of domestic waste and to promote a more environmentally conscious culture of recycling. This facility had a budget of 621,398 euros.

As part of the Waste Regulations Implementation Support Plan, the Andalusian Government granted the Adra Town Council a grant of 75,828 euros for the implementation of selective collection of household biowaste. This grant, from the 2021 call, was awarded in December 2022.

Similarly, the Consortium for the Management of Urban Solid Waste of the Western Almeria—comprising the municipalities of Adra, Balanegra, Berja, Dalias, El Ejido, La Mojonera, Roquetas de Mar, and Vícar—has received several grants totaling 7,199,807 euros. Among them, 1,049,430 euros were allocated for the implementation of a specific line for the treatment of separately collected biowaste and 4 million euros for the improvement of mechanical biological treatment facilities, both from the 2021 call. Additionally, in the 2023 call, resolved in May 2024, a grant of 715,911 euros was allocated for the maturation and compost storage shed, and for a new line for selectively collected waste treatment, as well as another 1,434,466 euros to implement an automated glass sorting system in the refining line.

García highly praised the scope of these investments, stating that «these actions demonstrate that the commitment of the Andalusian Government to sustainability in Adra is real and translates into specific resources that improve quality of life, preserve the environment, and strengthen the circular economy.»

During the tour of the ongoing work, Catalina García was accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Sustainability and Environment, Sergio Arjona; the Government Delegate of the Junta de Andalucía in Almería, Aránzazu Martín; the Director-General of Protected Natural Areas, José Enrique Borrallo; and the Territorial Delegate for Sustainability and Environment in Almería, Manuel de la Torre, among other attendees.