Unanimity in plenary session of Doñana’s participation advice meeting this Monday in Huelva, the first chaired by scientist Enrique Mateos as president after the resignation of Miguel Delibes in July.
The Plenary Council unanimously approved Annual work plan 2025, with more than 300 measures and which, as explained by the Minister of Sustainable Development and Environment of the Junta de Andalucía, Catalina Garciais “a key tool to guarantee the conservation and sustainability of this unique space”.
This plan includes measures to respond to most pressing environmental challenges of this natural space and “reinforces the commitment of the Andalusian government to the preservation of the exceptional values of Doñana, a national and global reference in terms of biodiversity and natural heritage”, added the advisor.
Among them, the “special emphasis” that García maintains has been placed on the conservation of emblematic species such as the Iberian lynx, imperial eagle, red kite and teal gray, a reflection of the natural richness that defines a Doñana.
THE restoration of areas affected by the 2017 fire, “an essential task” to “recover the resilience of the ecosystem and mitigate the impacts of past events”, as has been declared and the implementation of projects financed by the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, which have Included in the measures are habitat improvements, environmental restoration and optimization of facilities intended for public use.
THE management of the Veta la Palma estate It also occupied a prominent place in the advisor’s speech. Acquired by the Andalusian government in December 2023 for 72.6 million euros, this 7,600 hectare estate represents “a challenge and an opportunity to consolidate its functionality within the ecological balance of Doñana”.
In plenary session, the Ministry recorded the constitution of a Specific Works Commission for Veta la Palmathe next session of which is scheduled for the first quarter of 2025 with the aim of making sustainable progress in its public management.
The 2025 work plan also includes declaration of peripheral areas of the National Park, the definition of a buffer zone recognized by UNESCO and the development of a specific program for adaptation to climate change in Doñana.
The councilor’s intervention ended with a reflection on the symbolic value of Doñana, which she considers “not only as a place, but as a symbol of the collective capacity of preserve the natural heritage and transmit it improved to future generations.
“This effort required rigor, enthusiasm and commitment from all parties involved. The Junta de Andalucía has reaffirmed its desire to continue working since the consensus and collaboration to ensure that Doñana continues to be a source of pride for Andalusia and a world reference in nature conservation”, he concluded.
The plenary session counted with the participation of the Deputy Minister of Sustainable Development and Environment, Sergio Arjona; the Secretary General of Environment and Climate Change, María López Sanchís; the general director of Protected Natural Areas, José Enrique Borrallo; of the director of the Doñana Natural SpaceJuan Pedro Castellano; and the park curator, Miguel Ángel Bravo.
The participation of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Hugo Morán, was expected, but in the end no one represented the executive. The plenary session coincided with the appointment by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, of Sarah Aagesen as new Minister of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, who will replace Therese Riberawho becomes European Commissioner.
Also present were Jaime Mora, commissioner of the Framework of Actions in Doñana of the Junta de Andalucía; Eloy Revilla, director of the Doñana Biological Station, and Joaquín Páez, president of the Guadalquivir Hydrographic Confederationamong other authorities.
