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| 7ES010 |
Laguna
de Villafáfila |
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| Coordinates: |
41º49'N
005º37'W |
Elevation:
680 m |
Area:2,854
ha |
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| Location:
|
The
area is situated immediately east of the village of Villafáfila, about
20 km south-southeast of the town of Benavente, Zamora province, in the
autonomous region of Castilla-León, in northwestern Spain. |
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| Criteria:
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1a,
2c, 3a, 3b, 3c
The site consists of a characteristic example of a complex of saline lagoons,
occupying an enclosed drainage basin in a gently rolling steppe landscape.
The area's nesting birds include Ciconia ciconia, Anas querquedula,
Circus spp., Falco naumanii, Otis tarda, Tetrax tetrax, Himantopus himantopus,
Recurvirostra avosetta and Pterocles orientalis. Large numbers of
waterbirds winter here, notably Anser anser (23,000) and Anas spp.
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| Wetland
Types:
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R,
(Q), Ss
In the enclosed drainage basin there are saline lakes, pools and flats
surrounded by saline grasslands. |
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Biological/
Ecological notes
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The
complex supports extensive beds of emergent vegetation dominated by Scirpus
maritimus and S. pungens, with smaller areas of Typha angustifolia. The
lagoons are surrounded by saline grasslands with Suaeda and Aeluropus,
and cultivated fields. |
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Hydrological/
Physical notes
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The
three larger lagoons (Laguna Barillos, Laguna Grande and Laguna de Salinas)
are linked by the River Saldo. The water levels are subject to marked
seasonal variations. The underlying aquifer is saline, and is therefore
not used for irrigation of the surrounding fields. |
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| Human
uses
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Of
the site, 58% is private property. The remaining area is owned the different
governmental bodies. Occasionally shepherds may take their livestock to
the lagoons. The banks are either heavily grazed, or cultivated with cereals.
The area is being promoted for tourism. There are a number of archaeological
sites close to the reserve. In the surrounding area there is intensive
agriculture. |
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Conservation
Measures
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The
site is a National Refuge from Hunting (Refugio Nacional de Caza) and
has been proposed as a Nature Reserve (Reserva Natural) under the regional
law concerning Natural Areas. It is also a part of the EU Special Protection
Area for wild birds, named Villaf filla SPA, which comprises a total area
of 32,682 ha. |
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Adverse
Factors |
The
natural vegetation of the grasslands suffers from overgrazing. A marked
increase in the numbers of wintering geese has also caused a decline in
the extent of the Scirpus beds. The underground parts of Scirpus plants
form their principal food supply. Ongoing and increasing sedimentation,
as a result of soil erosion in the catchment, poses a significant management
challenge too. The intensive agriculture in the surrounding area may cause
pollution problems. |
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| References |
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