The recovery of the old lake landscapes of the Empordà
The Empordà was covered until the Middle Ages by hundreds of lakes and lagoons. It is estimated that the old ponds covered an area of more than 2,800 ha . The following centuries suffered a relentless process of drainage and desiccation down to a few coastal lagoons.
Currently, only the coastal lagoons are preserved, a few protected and restored wetlands in the Aiguamolls and Baix Ter Parks, some temporary ponds in Albera heavily affected by drainage works and the remains of the Riumors lake that ‘floods when the river Sirvent rises in level.
The remains of these old ponds plus the newly created wetlands add up to around 430 ha. Only 15% of the original surface.
The recovery of these ponds is possible with the elimination of the drains from the Albera ponds, the management of the water from the important sources in the Siurana area and its ponds, the management of the Sirvent reservoir, the Fluvià river and the Daró River or the creation of coastal salt flats.
The new habitat restoration directive and the global and European 30×30 programs to protect 30% of natural spaces by 2030 must lead us to a collaboration of private initiative and public administrations to recover as at least 450 hectares of new ponds in the Empordà .
Why do we need to recover ponds?
Ponds and wetlands are ecosystems with a lot of biodiversity, often threatened, and they provide us with functions and ecosystem services such as:
- Water regulation: They act as natural sponges, absorbing rain and gradually releasing water into rivers and aquifers. This helps moderate water flows, reducing the effects of floods and droughts.
- Water purification: By filtering pollutants and particles, wetlands improve water quality. The plants and microorganisms present in these ecosystems break down and remove pollutants, such as excess nutrients, heavy metals and other toxins.
- Support for biodiversity: Wetlands provide habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal species, including many threatened and endangered species. They are particularly important as resting and feeding areas for many migratory bird species.
- Carbon storage: They are important carbon sinks, capturing CO2 from the atmosphere and storing it in vegetation and soils, thus helping to mitigate climate change.
- Support for human communities: Many human communities depend on wetlands for their livelihoods, including agriculture, fishing, tourism and obtaining fresh water.
- Recreation and tourism: They offer unique spaces for leisure, environmental education and eco-tourism, contributing to the local economy and human well-being.
