7ES016 Salinas de Santa Pola
Coordinates: 38º08'N - 000º37'W Elevation: 1-6 m Area:2,496 ha
Location:
The site is located on the Mediterranean coast, about 13 km southeast of the city of Elx, Alicante province, in the autonomous region of Comunidad Valencia (Valencia), in southeastern Spain. It lies approximately 23 km north-northeast of the Salinas de La Mata y Torrevieja Ramsar site.
Criteria:
1a, 2a, 2c, 2d, 3b, (3c)
The following endemic plant communities are found inside the reserve: the Halimiono - Salicornietum alpini, Cistancho lutae - Arthrocnemetum fruticosi, Frankenio corymbosae - Arthrocnemetum macrostachyi, Limonio caesii - Lygeetum sparti, Gasouletum cristallino - nodiflori and Atriplici glaucae - Suaedetum pruinosae. The area supports a rich faunal diversity, including invertebrates, reptiles and fish (notably the endemic fish Aphanius iberus), but the most important feature of the site is its importance as a habitat for nesting, staging and wintering birds. Breeding species include the severely threatened Marmaronetta angustirostris (2-4 pairs in 1992), Podiceps nigricollis, Ixobrychus minutus, Tadorna tadorna, Netta rufina, Aythya ferina, Himantopus himantopus, Recurvirostra avosetta (500 pairs), Charadrius alexandrinus, Larus genei, Chlidonias hybridus, Sterna albifrons, Acrocephalus melanopogon and Panurus biarmicus. Phoenicopterus ruber occurs throughout the year, with peak numbers (more than 2,000) occurring in November/December. Wintering species include many Anatidae (especially Anas clypeata and Netta rufina), Charadriidae and Scolopacidae.
Wetland Types:
5, E, Q, Sp, Tp (dominant type listed first)
The site comprises an extensive complex of salt pans (salinas) that are in use, and seasonal saline pools, bordered by sand dunes and sandy beaches.
Biological/
Ecological notes
The vegetation varies considerably according to the salinity. In the salt pans the vegetation varies from phanerogams to extremely halophylic bacteria, which are the main food of the flamingos and shorebirds that use the site. The margins of the salinas are colonised by plant species able to tolerate hyper-saline conditions (e.g. Salicornia europaea), giving way to other communities as levels of salinity and humidity decrease. The saline vegetation has an interesting insect and lizard fauna. In seasonal ponds with brackish water there are reed beds and canelike vegetations, which are used by ducks, herons, terns, grebes, etc. The northwestern part of the site is characterised by the presence of freshwater which supports stands of Carex and Juncus, interspersed with the halophytic plants mentioned above. There are three rows of dunes. The outer one is mobile, the other two are vegetated. The dunes support plant species like Ammophila sp. and pine woods. The dunes and the beach have an interesting insect fauna and harbour shorebirds, terns and gulls.
Hydrological/
Physical notes
 The water quality is good, although there is a runoff of polluted water from agricultural fields, and leakage from the separate channel carrying untreated waste water from the surrounding irrigated agricultural fields to the sea.
Human uses
The site is privately owned. The company Salinas del Braç del Port S.A. owns 35% of the land. The main human activity within the site is the production of salt. The salinas are filled with water that is pumped in from the sea via an artificial canal. Land uses also include hunting, fishing and, to a lesser extent, agriculture and transportation (the main road from Santa Pola to La Marina passes through the site). In the surrounding area there is agriculture, industry and urbanisation. The reserve contains an important archaeological site, the 16th century Tamarit Tower, which is a ruin now.

Conservation
Measures

The site has been designated a Natural Park (Paraje Natural). It is also an EU Special Protection Area for wild birds. A management plan has been approved and is being implemented.
Adverse
Factors 		There are a number of management difficulties, including the adverse impact of insufficiently controlled hunting, coastal development pressures, conversion of salt pans into fish farming ponds, and water pollution. The surrounding areas are subject to intensive development pressures. There are plans for the construction of a motorway (autopista) from Alicante to Cartagena, which would pass close to the site and cause disturbance.
References {a16}