Invaluable wetlands in Spain's Coto Doñana National Park

"Located where the Guadalquivir River reaches the Atlantic Ocean, Spain’s Coto Doñana is considered one of the most valuable wetlands in Europe. The region is a sanctuary for millions of migratory birds and endangered species, including the imperial eagle and Iberian lynx . . . For centuries, Doñana was famous for its rich wildlife habitat, but more recently the marshes were thought to be an origin of disease. Plans to dry out Doñana along with other Spanish wetlands caught the attention of WWF during the first days of the organization’s existence. On December 30, 1963, after two years of negotiation, [The World Wildlife Fund] agreed to the purchase of 6,794 hectares of Coto Doñana. The sale saved Doñana from destruction and transformed the region into the first biological reserve of Spain. Two years later, the land was handed over to the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), which established Doñana’s Biological Station. Doñana and another region purchased by WWF, Guadiamar Biological Reserve, were transformed into the Coto Doñana National Park in 1969. While Doñana remains protected, the area is still under threat. Mining, farming, tourism and infrastructure development all pose serious dangers to the area."