Basque Coast (III): Marshes of Bizkaia

1995/04/01 Estonba Mintxero, Mikel Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Biologia
• Ekologia
• Hidrologia

Before conducting an individualized analysis of the marine marshes of Bizkaia, it is interesting to mention the peculiarities of the hydrographic network of this territory that directly affect the rías.

In the case of Gipuzkoa, while all the rivers have south-north direction; in Bizkaia, because the geological structure has synclinorio in south-northwest direction, the peculiarities are that the rivers that flow to the east of this territory, with south-north direction and while they are of short length, the river Ibaizabal that sheds the channel following the direction of the sinclinorio, has a dicular direction.

The rest do not have significant differences with Gipuzkoa, since the Nerbioi, Agú and Barbadun rivers can be compared with any Cantabrian river that is born in the dividing between the Atlantic and Mediterranean slopes. Let us now analyze each of these rías.

Artibai

This river, only 20 kilometers long, which is born on the northern slopes of Mount Oitz, flows into the town of Ondarroa, one of the main fishing ports of the Basque Country.

Due to the narrowness of the mouth, from the beginning the man settled on marshes and dunes, due to the spectacular growth of the port and the village during the last years, the dunes have been completely destroyed and reduced to the minimum marshes. These last vestiges are also threatened because they want to pass the new variant of Ondarroa.

As in the case of Deba, conservation and, as far as possible, the recovery of these last remains should be a priority, as they are an important part of our ecological heritage.

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Like the previous one, the Lea River is born on the northern slopes of Mount Oitz and, after traveling about 20 kilometers, flows into the wonderful bay of Lekeitio, after crossing the imposing ridge that forms Mount Lumentxa, full of holm oaks.

Despite the similarity between the birth and the travel of the Artibai and Lea rivers, they are quite different in the rías, since in the case of the Lea the estuary has not undergone sudden changes. As a result, we can affirm that his marsma is one of the most beautiful and at the same time unknown of Euskal Herria.

However, although this marsh is included in the Catalogue of Natural Enclaves of the Basque Country prepared by the Deputy Minister of Environment of the Basque Government and that according to the Territorial Sectoral Plans of Wetlands is a wetland of protection, the Provincial Council of Bizkaia is building the Lekeitio Sanitation. Amazing!

Urdaibai

The Oka River, which rises on the slopes of the Bizkargi and Oitz mountains, creates between the villages of Gernika and Mundaka an extensive and wonderful estuary known as Urdaibai.

Surprisingly, this estuary, contrary to what has happened with the rest of the Basque Country, has maintained its natural structure, and its waters leave the sea without any channeling, forming great meanders in the silts and sands.

Due to the low human incidence, the Urdaibai marsh, at least to date, in addition to having the greatest representation of halophyte and bioverse plants, offers us a high density of birds and a great diversity, especially in times of migration.

But the ecological value of Urdaibai is not limited to its marsh, in the mountains surrounding the estuary (Atxerre, Ereñozar, etc.) The most widespread and best preserved holm oaks of the Atlantic slope of the Basque coast.

Thanks to all this, in Urdaibai, in an area of few square kilometers, there are numerous well-structured ecosystems: marsh, holm oak, campa, aliseda, marine cliffs, etc. ; this helps us to understand the causes of the immense biodiversity of the estuary.

All these values, as well as the work and pressure of the environmental groups against the wild project that the Provincial Council of Bizkaia prepared for the management of the estuary in the 70s, made that in 1984 UNESCO declared Urdaibai “Biosphere Reserve”, giving a great impetus to the conservation of this ecological treasure of Euskal Herria.

However, the declaration of the Biosphere Reserve did not involve the implementation of conservation measures, while numerous aggressions and threats threatened the reserve, such as the increase of cars and constructions, dredging, drying, uncontrolled marshaling, poaching, etc. It was easy to detect, therefore, the need for an ordination law to maintain this wonderful environment. However, it finally arrived.

Since UNESCO declared Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, the Basque Government had to spend five years in 1992 until the law of protection and management of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve was passed.

At this time, although not everyone likes it, the Plan of Use and Management that prescribes the law has been approved, in which the use of the resources of the reserve is regulated by different protection figures.

It should be noted that in 1992, the RAMSAR Convention, which aims to protect the most important wetlands on the planet, decided to include Urdaibai in its list, granting this wetland new international approval.

Butron

The main problem of the estuary that forms the Butron River in the areas of Gorliz, Barrika and Plentzia is its proximity to Urdaibai, whose fame has shaded the estuary of Plentzia, making its high ecological value almost unknown.

Thus, after Urdaibai, taking into account the situation of the rest of the rías of the Basque Country, that of Plentzia should be placed in front of Txingudi. The reduced population density of this region, although it has not prevented the last stretch of the mouth from being channeled, has maintained large areas of marsh (Junkera, Meandro de Isuskiza, etc.) and some areas that, despite having lost the influence of tides, have recovered the characteristics of halophyte wetlands, with the aim of being useful for agricultural exploitation.

Among the latter, the Txipio valley stands out. At present, the construction of the Plentzia-Barrika road, an extensive and wonderful wetland that lost its connection to the estuary, has, unfortunately, in recent months a great fame, as in Zumaia, for the construction of a sports pier.

It is not necessary to insist, but from an ecological point of view it would be barbaric to build such an infrastructure in Txipio. In addition, other socio-economic and sedimentological aspects question the feasibility of this project.

Also in this case, hope comes from the hand of the Deputy Minister of the Environment of the Basque Government, since in the Catalogue of Natural Barrenderías of the Basque Country prepared by it and in the Territorial Sectorial Plan of Humid Areas, especially the marsh of Plentzia and the valley of Txipio, appear as zones of strict protection. We want rationality to prevail on this issue and that Txipio does not disappear.

Estuary of Bilbao

After crossing the rivers Nervión, Álava and the west of Bizkaia and the river Ibaizabal from south to northwest of Bizkaia, converge in Basauri forming along 30 kilometers the estuary of Bilbao that constitutes the most important port and industry in the Basque Country.

The graphic testimonies provided by history show that the marsh originated by these two rivers, and to a lesser extent by the rivers and streams that flow into this estuary (Gobelas, Cadagua, Galindo,...) could only be compared to that of the Atturro, whose ornithological abundance and, in general, its ecological value was exceptional.

Unfortunately, of this peculiar ecology, today there is no trace, since the development of the steel industry linked to mining, in this last century, has generated a huge flow of population and self-feeding industry. Consequently, human occupation has been total, turning the estuary into a channel.

The massacres carried out in the Ría de Bilbao should show our respect for our ecological heritage, and especially for the rías of the Basque Country that to date have preserved their natural values.

Estuary of Pobeña

Barbadun is the westernmost river in the Basque Country. This river, born in the mountains of Artzentales, joins the river Kotorrio, coming from the mining mountains of Triano, forming the estuary of Pobeña.

These rivers, especially the second, cross the mining region of Bizkaia and the quality of its waters is very bad for some time.

As for the marsh, when in 1971 the company Petronor built its oil refinery in the marsh, it suffered a brutal beating. Therefore, its width is limited to a few square meters.

However, the wonderful conditions of the marshes located between Petronor and the variant of Cantabria, next to Pobeña, next to the end of the river without pipes and the extensive and charming dunes of the beach of La Arena, have turned this estuary into one of the few areas of great ecological importance.

These values have led to the inclusion of the marshes in the Territorial Sectorial Plan of Humid Areas and in the Catalogue of Natural Enclaves of the Basque Country, opening a window of hope for these last sections of marsh that have managed to overcome the violent aggressions of the human being.

In short, marine marshes are the most important ecosystems in the Basque Country from the point of view of biodiversity and productivity. Nor can it be denied that this wealth, especially the coast and the rias, along with their favorable conditions for life, has generated a human implantation.

As a result, man has long sought to adapt to his needs, paradoxically, leading to the practical disappearance of the values that have generated human attraction.

This phenomenon has increased dramatically in recent decades, so very few marshes have maintained a good state of conservation to date. Some have completely disappeared and the rest are in a very serious situation.

Undoubtedly, the time has come to move from the proposal of projects, plans and management that have repeatedly praised the enormous ecological values of these areas to actions of protection, since time goes against the survival of these ecological treasures.

Figures for the protection of rías and their use in the Basque Country INTERNATIONAL Ramsar agreement (February 2, 1971) This Treaty aims to conserve wetlands of international importance. Currently in the Basque Country we have three wetlands included in the RAMSAR list: the Mundaka-Gernika estuary, Urdaibai (1992); the Laguardia marshes (1994) and Lake Arreo (1994). The various institutions have requested inclusion in the RAMSAR list of the following wetlands: Txingudi Bay. Marsh of Urdazubi. Ria de Orio. Estuary of Zumaia. Ria del Lea. Ria de Plentzia. Ria de Pobeña. It should be noted that Txingudi could soon be accepted. The commissioners of the RAMSAR Convention have requested further information on this wetland and at the next meeting will decide whether or not it is listed. Biosphere reserves This network aims to protect the main representatives of the typical threatened ecosystems. It is included in the UNESCO.Man and Biosphere program. It is currently Biosphere Reserve: Mundaka-Ría de Gernika, Urdaibai (1984) Programmes Corine European Union The BIOTOPO project of these programs proposes an inventory of the main threatened and scarce species, associations or habitats for their subsequent protection. The areas of the Basque coast declared biotope CORINE are as follows: Cabo Barrika-Matxitxako (including the Ria de Plentzia) Ría de Mundaka-Gernika, Cabo Ogoño. STATE National water planning in Spain This planning proposes the protection of the most important wetlands. They are quoted: They are the Mundaka-Gernika Estuary and the Txingudi Bay. The planning of this planning “North Basin III” recognizes as of special relevance: Ria de Pobeña. The Basque Government has requested that the following rías be recognized as wetlands of special relevance in the planning “North Basin III”: Ria de Plentzia. Ria del Lea. Ria del Oria. Estuary of Zumaia. Coastal laws The determination and conservation of the maritime and land public domain in both Spain and France; the guarantee of the public use of maritime property, its banks and the rest of the land sea; the regulation of the rational use of these resources and the maintenance of an adequate level of water quality. All the rías of Euskal Herria are protected in principle by these coastal laws. “Biotope Arrêté” This type of protection that is used in the French state, both for its importance to biodiversity and for the existence of areas in a critical situation, includes several wetlands. Marsh of Belenia and bay of Txingudi (Hendaia). Marsh of Urdazubi (Ziburu). Natural means with ecology, flora and/or fauna of importance (ZNIEFF) It is the figure of protection of the French State. The environments of the Basque Country declared in this protection figure are: Marisma of Belenia. Marsh of Urdazubi. Important ornithological environments (ZICO) It is a figure created in the French State to protect environments of ornithological importance. The wetland so called is the marsh of Belenia. REGIONAL Catalogue of enclaves and natural spaces of importance of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country This catalogue includes: Marsh of Pobeña. Ria de Plentzia. Mundaka-Gernika Estuary (Urdaibai). Ria del Lea. Marisma de Xantixo (Zumaia). Ria del Urola. Marisma de Inurritza (Zarautz). Ria del Oria. Ria del Bidasoa (Txingudi). Sectoral territorial plan of wet areas of the Basque Country It is written in order to protect relevant environments. The classification with coastal wetlands of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country is as follows: Exceptional value Ría de Gernika-Mundaka (Urdaibai). Estuary of Plentzia Statistically appreciable values Ría de Pobeña.Ría de Lea. Ria del Oria. Estuary of Zumaia. Ria del Artibai of lesser value. Land Planning Law Project (DOT) The CAPV marshes have the following protection figures: Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve. Areas of special natural importance Txingudi Bay. Conservatories Figure of protection of environments that have maintained their natural characteristics well. Strict protection This would protect unique spaces of little ecological, cultural or landscape extension. As for the marshes, it would be protected like this: marsh of Santixo (Zumaia).