Draft:Clot de Galvany

Clot de Galvany
Location	Elche, Valencian Community, Spain
Area	336.31 ha
Established	21st January 2005
Website	https://clotdegalvany.es/

The Clot de Galvany is a protected natural park and wetland located in the municipality of Elche, in the province of Alicante, Spain. Covering approximately 366 hectares, it lies between the coastal settlements of Arenales del Sol and Gran Alacant, near the Mediterranean Sea. The area features a mosaic of ecosystems, including salt and freshwater wetlands, coastal dunes, Mediterranean scrubland, and pine woodlands.

Declared a Paraje Natural Municipal in 2005, Clot de Galvany is part of the EU's Natura 2000 network as a Special Protection Area (SPA) and Site of Community Importance (SCI). It is recognized for its rich biodiversity, serving as a key habitat for rare and endangered species such as the marbled teal and white-headed duck. The park is also notable for its successful ecological restoration and environmental education programs, attracting both scientists and ecotourists.

Today, the Elche City Council’s Department of Environment, in partnership with the municipal water company (Aigües d’Elx), manages Clot de Galvany with a dedicated plan to guarantee its protection and ecological restoration. Ongoing efforts such as habitat restoration, water management, and species reintroductions have transformed the once-threatened marsh into a well-preserved natural park.

Geography

Clot de Galvany is located on the southeast coast of Spain, in the municipality of Elche (province of Alicante, Valencian Community). Geographically, it lies in the rural districts of El Altet and Los Balsares (Elche), near the coastal residential area of Los Arenales del Sol, and adjacent to Gran Alacant (a district of the neighboring town Santa Pola). The park’s coordinates are approximately 38.24° N, 0.52° W, placing it a few hundred meters inland from the Mediterranean Sea.

Clot de Galvany sits in a natural depression just behind the Carabassí sand dunes and beach, which separate it from the open sea. This depression is an endorheic basin, meaning water drains into the wetland but has no outlet to the sea – a rare feature for a coastal area. Several small hills and ridges (locally called lomas or seamounts) surround the basin, forming a bowl that encloses the wetlands and creates a variety of microhabitats.

The coastal dune system on its seaward side is considered one of the best preserved in Alicante province and among the finest in the Valencian region, comprising mobile dunes, semi-fixed dunes, and fixed dunes that have persisted despite urbanization pressure. These dunes, made of fine sands blown inland from the beach, form a natural barrier that protects the interior marsh from direct marine influence. Behind the dunes, the central lowland of the Clot contains shallow lagoons and seasonal marshes (locally called charcas and saladares), which collect rainwater and runoff. Surrounding these wetlands are bands of salt-tolerant flats and a gradient into drier soils at the base of the hills. The encircling limestone hills (such as the Cabeço Carabassí) reach modest elevations but harbor dense Mediterranean pine woodlands and shrublands. This varied topography and soil composition has also yielded fossil outcrops and interesting geological formations in the area, adding to the site’s natural heritage.

Overall, the juxtaposition of dunes, water, and rocky hills in a short distance creates pronounced ecotones (transition zones) that underpin the park’s rich biodiversity. The climate is semi-arid thermo-mediterranean, with hot dry summers and mild winters; however, the presence of wetlands and coastal humidity moderates conditions and supports species not found in the surrounding dry plains.

Biodiversity

Clot de Galvany is renowned for its biodiversity, harboring a wide range of flora and fauna – including numerous protected and endemic species – within its mosaic of habitats.

Flora

The park’s plant life reflects the blend of wetland and dry coastal ecosystems. In and around the saline lagoons and marshes, one finds classic saltmarsh and aquatic vegetation. Reeds and rushes fringe the water’s edge, along with stands of southern cattail and other marsh plants. Stands of salt cedar (Tamarix shrubs) give way to open water areas that host submerged and floating plants like pondweeds (Potamogeton) and wigeongrass, indicating good water quality.

The salinity gradient supports specialized halophytic (salt-loving) plants – notably several species of sea lavender . Clot de Galvany is a hotspot for these endemic saltmarsh plants: Limonium furfuraceum, Limonium parvibracteatum, and Limonium santapolense (all rare endemics of Alicante’s coast) thrive in its saline flats.

The name “Galvany” may derive from old salt flats in the area, and these saladar zones are botanically significant. Moving to slightly higher ground, the former cultivation terraces now host grassland and scrub. Here one can see wild grasses dotted with Inula and bufalaga marina, as well as relic fruit trees like hardy carob and olive trees that hint at past agriculture.

On the drier slopes and hillocks surrounding the wetland, Mediterranean scrub and woodland dominates. There are groves of Aleppo pine – some planted decades ago to stabilize dunes, others naturally regenerated – mixed with native shrubs. Notably, Clot de Galvany contains a community locally called “espinar alicantino”, a type of coastal thorny scrub including species like black hawthorn which is characteristic of this region.

Other common shrubs and trees in the uplands include lentiscus (mastic tree), palmetto palm (Europe’s only native palm, here at its eastern limit), Ephedra, and wild olive.

The underbrush and open areas are rich in aromatic Mediterranean herbs – one can smell and see wild thyme, rosemary, and lavender carpeting the sunnier slopes.

Remarkably, the Clot’s varied plant habitats even support some orchids: visitors have recorded two of the five wild orchid species known in the Valencian Community blooming here.

This diverse flora includes several protected and rare species, making the park a botanical treasure. To conserve these plant communities, park managers maintain a nursery and seed plot on-site, where they cultivate native plants for use in reforestation and dune stabilization projects. This nursery also serves educational purposes by displaying live specimens of native plants near the visitor center for people to learn about them.

Fauna

Birds

Clot de Galvany’s wetlands and woodlands provide habitat for a rich array of wildlife, especially birds. The reserve is particularly famous among birdwatchers for its waterfowl and wading birds.

Several endangered bird species find refuge here, most notably the Marbled Teal and the White-headed Duck. These two duck species are among the rarest in Europe, classified as globally threatened, and Clot de Galvany is one of the few places in Spain where they breed.

Scopoli's Shearwaters in the Clot de Galvany

Alongside them, the park hosts populations of the Ferruginous Duck, another threatened species, and more common ducks like Mallards and Common Pochards. The shallow pools and reedy margins attract many wading birds, such as Black-winged Stilts, Little Ringed Plovers, Common Sandpipers, and snipes, especially during migration seasons.

In spring and summer, herons and egrets visit the wetland: one might spot small herons like the Squacco Heron and Little Bittern, or larger species such as Little Egret and occasionally Purple Heron and Great Egret, feeding in the marsh. The reeds conceal secretive birds like the Purple Swamphen and various warblers as well.

Beyond water birds, the reserve’s diverse habitats support many other animals. In spring and autumn, flocks of migratory swallows, martins, and bee-eaters swoop over the lagoons catching insects. The pinewoods and scrub around the wetland harbor typical Mediterranean birds such as the Hoopoe (with its distinctive crest), Sardinian warbler, goldfinches, and even Booted Eagles and Montagu’s Harriers which have been observed seasonally hunting above the reserve.

Reptiles

Reptiles are well represented: the wetlands host the native Spanish pond turtle in its ponds, and the surrounding dry areas have reptiles like the Viperine water snake, Iberian wall lizards, and various geckos.

Released pet turtles have led to an invasive population of Red-eared Slider in the ponds, which park authorities are monitoring.

Amphibians

Amphibians include the Natterjack toad and the Mediterranean tree frog, which breed in seasonal pools.

Mammals

Mammals in the Clot are mostly small or nocturnal, with common sightings of rabbits grazing at dawn or dusk and wild boar that occasionally wander from nearby orchards. Bats can also be seen in the evenings across the area.

Insects and Arachnids

Invertebrate life is also abundant – from dragonflies to rare butterflies and a variety of spiders (the yellow-and-black Argiope or wasp spider are some of the examples recorded).

History

Historically, Clot de Galvany would have functioned as a small coastal marsh that flooded during rains and perhaps occasionally received seawater spray or seepage.

Beyond natural features, the the site is home to cultural and historical points of interest. Notably, scattered throughout the park is a system of Spanish Civil War-era defensive bunkers and trenches. During the conflict, this area was fortified as part of the defensive line protecting the city of Alicante.

Along the park's trails are four concrete bunkers in varying states of preservation. One large bunker sits on a small island in the middle of the central pond, now surrounded completely by water. Its inaccessibility has resulted in its reclamation by wildlife.

Other man-made heritage features in the Clot include the ruins of a small Roman farmhouse (believed to be an ancient agricultural settlement), old irrigation ponds and canals, and terraced fields built by past farmers.

In the late 1970s, during a boom in coastal development, a property developer attempted to drain the natural marsh and create a recreational saltwater lake as part of an urbanization project (the proposed “Lake of Elche”).

These destructive works began altering the wetland’s landscape, but strong public opposition and environmental awareness intervened. Concerned citizens and conservation groups rallied to save the Clot de Galvany, ultimately halting the drainage project. In response, the Elche City Council took charge of the area’s protection and began restoration efforts, preventing its destruction and preserving the remaining habitats.

Urban Pressure

These natural coastal formations have been affected by periods of human activity linked to damage and erosion. In particular, the intensive urban development of Los Arenales del Sol from the 1960s and later of Gran Alacant in the 1990s and 2000s, prompted an increased wave of illicit tourist activity along the coastline.

Conservation

Water Management

A primary focus of conservation has been on water management. Due to the wetland’s natural water sources having been altered by previous drainage attempts, the city implemented measures to ensure the lagoons have adequate water year-round. In collaboration with Aigües d’Elx (the local water company), a system was put in place to use treated wastewater (tertiary-treated water) from a nearby treatment plant (EDAR Arenales) to maintain water levels in the ponds during dry periods.

This innovative solution provides a sustainable water supply for the marsh, preventing it from drying out completely in summer and thus supporting aquatic life and breeding birds even in drought years. The result has been a stabilization of the wetland environment – indeed, birdwatchers noted that around 2019–2020 the lagoons became more permanently filled, which coincided with an increase in bird diversity and numbers.

Habitat restoration

The park has undertaken habitat improvement projects such as reshaping pond edges to create shallows for waders, and planting native vegetation (from the on-site nursery) to restore degraded dune and marsh areas. For instance, dunes have been replanted with marram grass and other sand-binding plants to recover areas damaged by off-road vehicles in the past. Invasive alien plants are controlled – periodic volunteer days are organized to remove species like Hottentot fig from the dunes.

Re-introduction

One of the flagship conservation programs at Clot de Galvany is the reintroduction and recovery of the Marbled Teal. This small brown-speckled duck is the most endangered waterfowl in Europe, and the Valencian region launched a LIFE conservation project to boost its population.

Since 2020, Clot de Galvany has served as a release site for captive-bred Marbled Teals. The park’s safe, managed environment made it an ideal “sanctuary” for these ducks.

As of 2025, a total of 156 Marbled Teals bred in captivity (at the Santa Faz Wildlife Recovery Center) have been released into the Clot’s ponds to reinforce the wild population. Small groups of juveniles are periodically brought in, kept in an acclimatization aviary on-site for about a week, then freed once they’ve adjusted to the surroundings. Supplemental feeding is provided initially to ensure the ducks thrive after release. Additionally, nesting boxes (artificial nest cavities) have been installed in quiet, sheltered parts of the marsh to encourage the Marbled Teal to breed in the wild.

Observers have reported several Marbled Teals taking up residence year-round, and breeding has been recorded. The reintroduced birds are monitored via ringing (banding) and GPS transmitters, allowing scientists to track their movements and survival. The hope is that Clot de Galvany can host a stable breeding nucleus of this species which can also disperse to other wetlands in the region, bolstering the overall population. The park’s staff, along with the LIFE Cerceta Pardilla project team, have been very involved in this program, which signifies Elche’s commitment to saving this critically endangered duck.

Measures such as maintaining water quality are also in place to improve the local habitats to support the settlement of the White-Headed Duck during breeding season.

Conservation efforts also target other fauna: for example, the park works to control the invasive Red-eared Slider turtles by removing them when possible to reduce competition with the native turtles. Breeding platforms for Common Terns and other birds have been tried on the lagoon, and bat boxes were installed in the pinewoods to support bat populations that help with insect control.

External Links

• Clot de Galvany
• La destrucción del Clot de Galvany