Ana Oregik Ramsar sareko Euskadiko 6 hezeguneek biodibertsitatea zaintzeko zer garrantzi duten nabarmendu du

• Otsailaren 2a, Hezeguneen Mundu Eguna 2016

Euskadiko sei hezegune nagusiek biodibertsitatea zaintzen zer garrantzi duten nabarmendu du Eusko Jaurlaritzako Ingurumen eta Lurralde Politikako sailburu Ana Oregik, bertako animalia- eta landare-espeziei eutsi eta ingurune pribilegiatua zaintzen baitute. Hezeguneen Mundu Eguna ospatuko dute bihar asteartean.

Sailburuak azaldu duenez, «Euskadik Ramsar zerrendan babestutako sei hezegune ditu (naturgune horien babesa arautzen duen nazioarteko hitzarmena da hori); zehazki, Urdaibai, Guardiako urmaelak, Txingudi, Salburua, Ulibarri-Ganboa eta Gesaltza Añana, eta barnean 1.685 hektarea hartzen dituzte guztira horiek».

Horietan handiena Ulibarri-Ganboako urtegia da (397 hektarea), Euskadiko barneko hezegune garrantzitsuena, hain zuzen. Txingudik, Hondarribia, Hendaia eta Irun artean, 127 hektarea ditu; Salburua, Gasteizko ipar-ekialdean (173,5 hektarea), lehentasunezko ekosistema da desagertzeko mehatxu larria duten espezientzat, eta Gesaltza Añanak (25 hektarea) Arreo/Caicedo de Yuso aintzira hartzen du barnean. Guardiako urmaelek (Carravalseca, Carralogroño, Musko eta La Paul) hegazti ugari erakartzen dituzte Toloñoko mendilerrotik, Arabako Errioxan. 

Hezeguneen Lurralde Plan Sektorialak 508 hezegune jasotzen ditu bere inbentarioan, eta horietatik 77k kudeaketa-neurriren bat dute. Horrez gain, 57 Naturgune Babestu izendatuta daude.

Hezeguneei buruzko Ramsar Nazioarteko Hitzarmena gobernuarteko ituna da, eta hezeguneak eta bertako baliabideak zaintzeko eta zentzuz erabiltzeko esparrua eskaintzen die herrialdeko jardunei eta nazioarteko lankidetzari. Alderdi kontratatzaileak 169 dira guztira; 2.225 hezegune daude Ramsar zerrendan, eta orotara 214.569.564 hektarea hartzen dituzte barnean.

Urdaibai

Mundaka-Gernika. 26/03/93; Bizkaia, Basque Country; 945 ha; 43°22'N 002°40'W. UNESCO Biosphere Reserve; Wildlife Refuge. A coastal wetland complex near the mouth and lower reaches of the Gernika and Mundaka rivers.The site includes beaches, regularly and intermittently inundated salt marshes supporting salt-resistant vegetation, intertidal mud and sand flats with Zostera beds, and small sedge and reedbeds. The area is notable for its rich fauna, which includes a diversity of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Various species of waterbirds use the site for nesting, staging or wintering. Significantly, it is the second most important staging area in Spain for the Dutch breeding population of Platalea leucorodia. Presently, increasing tourism and shellfish, crustacean, and annelid worm harvesting are major human activities. Ramsar site no. 600. Most recent RIS information: 1999

Txingudi

Txingudi. 24/10/02; Gipuzkoa, Basque Country; 128 ha; 43°20'N 001°47'W. Coastal marshes in the estuary of the Bidasoa river at the Spanish-French border next to the towns of Irún, Hondarribia and Hendaia. Where fresh and salt waters mix, much food is produced for over 20,000 migrating waterbirds, including 250 spoonbills Platalea leucorodia (2.5% of the flyway population) and many rare and threatened species. Part of the area was recently restored to create an "ecological park" with a visitor education centre. Ramsar site no. 1264. Most recent RIS information: 2002.

Salburua

Salburua. 24/10/02; Araba, Basque Country; 174 ha; 42°51'N 002°39'W. A complex of two shallow lakes at the edge of Vitoria-Gasteiz, the capital of the Basque autonomous region (220,000 inhabitants). The marshes were drained during the 20th century and subsequently restored in the 1990s. Arkaute lake fulfils a key hydrological function in preventing flooding of the nearby part of town. The site contains the most extensive Carex riparia reedbed of the Iberian peninsula and other priority habitats of the EC Habitats Directive. The population of the globally endangered European mink Mustela lutreola is noteworthy. The area is used for research and environmental education. Specific trails and picnic areas are designated for nature tourists. Controlled grazing with a herd of deer is managing the emergent aquatic vegetation. Ramsar site no. 1263. Most recent RIS information: 2002.

Lake Arreo/Caicedo-Yuso-Gesaltza

Lago de Arreo/Caicedo-Yuso y Salinas de Añana. 24/10/02; Araba, Basque Country; 26 ha; 42°48'N 002°59'W. Two wetlands situated in the geological Cantabrican deep with much salty resurgences. Lake Caicedo-Yuso (13 ha) receives salt groundwater, creating a particular water chemistry and inland saltmarshes Juncetalia maritimi, a natural habitat listed by the EC Directive. The dragonfly population of Coenagrion mercuriale is of international importance. The other wetland consists of the terraced brine panels of Añana (13 ha), located nearby in the geologically peculiar valley. The water terraces have been used since the 9th century, and still are today, to produce salt through solar evaporation, and they harbour an endemic variety of the brine shrimp Artemia parthenogenetica. Ramsar site no. 1258. Most recent RIS information: 2002.

Colas del Embalse de Ullibarri

Colas del Embalse de Ullibarri. 24/10/02; Araba, Basque Country; 397 ha; 42°54'N 002°33'W. Proposed Site of Community Importance EC Directive. Two parts of the extensive Ullibarri-Ganboako reservoir basin east of the regional capital Vitoria-Gasteiz. Since the creation of the reservoir in 1957, these two shallow bays have developed rich emergent vegetation that provides habitat for many species, including breeding and wintering waterbirds, and supports 2500 shoveler Anas clypeata (1% criterion). Threatened species occurring include the water plant Najas minor, the frog Rana dalmatina, and the European mink Mustela lutreola. Human uses include water sports, research and education activities, walking and nature observation along the long shorelines. Ramsar site no. 1255. Most recent RIS information: 2002.

Lagunas de Laguardia

Lagunas de Laguardia (Carralogroño, Carravalseca, Prao de la Paul and Musko). 09/12/96; Araba, Basque Country; 45 ha; 42°33'N 002°34'W. Protected Biotope. Proposed Site of Community Importance EC Directive. These are the northernmost meso-saline inland pools in Europe and represent the last examples of this characteristic ecosystem in the region. Of special interest is the aquatic flora, in particular the extremely rare Charophyte Tolypella salina. A variety of waterbirds (including nationally threatened Plegadis falcinellus and breeding birds Tachybaptus ruficollis and Podiceps cristatus) use the lagoons. The saline pools are not used by humans, but the lake of Prao de la Paul with some emergent vegetation is used for recreation. Area extended in October 2002. Ramsar site no. 880. Most recent RIS information: 2002.