On the occasion of World Wetlands Day, OurMED highlights the Albufera demo-site (Spain), showcasing how wetlands can act as effective nature-based solutions to protect water quality, support biodiversity and strengthen climate resilience.
Wetlands are among the most valuable ecosystems worldwide. They play a key role in improving water quality, regulating water flows, supporting wildlife habitats and contributing to climate adaptation.
At Albufera Lake, OurMED is monitoring a constructed wetland located around the lake, designed to naturally treat water before it reaches this sensitive ecosystem. This wetland receives water from different sources, including irrigation canals linked to agricultural activities, sewer overflow discharges during heavy rainfall events, and a small groundwater spring contaminated with nitrates.
Thanks to natural processes involving vegetation, soils and microorganisms, the constructed wetland helps reduce nitrate concentrations, limit pollution, improve water quality and support biodiversity around the lake.
In parallel, monitoring data are combined with a data-informed modelling tool (AQUATOOL) to explore different water management scenarios. This approach allows researchers and decision-makers to assess how similar wetlands could be replicated in other strategic areas, further improving water quality and strengthening climate resilience across the Albufera system and beyond.
Through this demo-site, OurMED demonstrates how wetlands can deliver environmental, social and economic co-benefits, while contributing to key European and global policy objectives such as the EU Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 6, 13 and 15).
Discover the full focus document on the Albufera demo-site here.
