The basin where the Laguardia Lagoons are located constitutes a large, morphologically depressed area, influenced by winemaking and of great ecological value, drained by the Ebro River and its tributaries. It is composed primarily of detrital materials deposited under continental conditions. Virtually all the materials present in the area date back to the Tertiary (Lower-Middle Miocene), with the exception of the alluvial and lacustrine deposits, which date back to the Quaternary.
ZEC Guardiako aintzirak / Lagoas de Laguardia – ES2110021
OVERVIEW
Area (ha): 79,72 ha
Natura 2000 Code: ES2110021
Other protection statuses according to national or regional legislation:
Within the territorial scope of the SAC, other protection statuses are included in accordance with national or regional legislation, such as the declaration of the Protected Biotope of the Laguardia Lagoon Complex, its consideration by the Sectoral Territorial Plan (PTS) as a Group I wetland and, at the same time, of international importance, as well as its designation as the Laguardia Lagoons SAC (ES2110021) by Decree 34/2016. Decree 34/2015 approves the general regulations for the SAC and the SPA. Furthermore, the Laguardia Lagoons have been identified as Protected Areas by International Instruments, being included in the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance since 1996.
CURRENT SITUATION AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS OF THE PROJECT
In the lagoon area, the traditional use par excellence is agriculture, specifically viticulture. This activity has had a very significant influence on the lagoon ecosystem, as the hillside basins have very few patches of natural vegetation (currently, grasslands, marginal thickets, and shrubs on public plots or crop margins, where grazing is practically nonexistent, but which are home to some interesting bird species typical of open agroecosystems). Agricultural activity itself has reached most of the lagoon perimeter up to the very edge of the shores, preventing the existence of a strip of natural vegetation. Furthermore, the area is under significant pressure from recreational activity, concentrated in certain locations.
84.5% of the ZEC’s surface area corresponds to public land, owned by both the Laguardia City Council and the Álava Provincial Council.
The uniqueness of the Lagoas de Laguardia SAC in the Natura 2000 Network of the Basque Country is due to the presence of certain habitats of community interest, highlighting Habitats of Community Interest 1510* – Mediterranean saline steppes (Limonietalia) and 6220* – Sub-steppe areas of grasses and annuals of Thero-Brachypodietea on which the project will act, improving the structure and future prospects through their protection against anthropogenic conditions.