Concerted nature reserve La Charca de Suarez

 

La charca Suárez is the last refuge of a large wetland system related Guadalfeo River Delta which in the mid eighteenth century occupied more than 1000 hectares. This space has been obtained by the local Council , preserving his disappearance and letting this exceptional ecological territory with over 200 vertebrate species registered so far, 27 of them are considered rare species , and can be enjoyed by all citizens and passed on to future generations. This has become the most important wetland in the Granada Coast .

 

La charca de Suárez, is located in the town of Motril , near Poniente beach , in the field called "Pago de Suarez ," from where its name comes from. That covers an area of ​​14.65 hectares, surrounded by residentials and the industrial area of ​​Alborán.

 

These wetlands are part of an area between Nerja ( Málaga) and Adra (Almería ), where the addition of tectonic , lithologic , climatic and anthropic nature factors have favored the emergence of wetlands near the coast and linked with the deltas of major rivers .

 

La Charca de Suárez is one, though fluctuating, perennial open water zone , which takes both groundwater from the Motril and Salobreña , and the return water of irrigation from la Vega. This zone results from the Delta Guadalfeo river, due to increased sedimentation in the area was a retreat of the coastline leading to the Vega Motril- Salobreña, where finally the pressence of river sedimentation against the erosive action of coastal waters created a river system of interlocking canals, where frequent changes of position of the channel, leading to the appearance of flooded areas.

 

The wetlands of La Charca de Suárez is located on the southern part of the Motril- Salobreña aquifer , this hydrogeological unit has an area of ​​42 km2 , the reserve is about 181 hm3 and annual resources of 47.3 hm3 .

 

The importance of wetlands from an ecological point of view is remarkable, in the preservation of many species of birds and vegetation ( Aneales , rushes , reeds etc. ..) , are an ideal refuge for many species and strategic resting points in time of migration. In Andalusia eight of the nine species of birds listed endangered depend on these resources for their survival.

 

Such is the importance of these wetlands that in February 2009 was declared Concerted Nature Reserve, being the 5th space listed as such in Andalusia. It was also awarded by "Best Practice 2008 " price for ecological space preservation available to citizens.

 

It has a visitor center and Nature Interpretation, including visitors reception, environmental education classroom, observation room, exhibition and projection, plus a small botanical garden.