Coastal preserve
Doñana National Park
Spain
Marshes, lagoons and moving dunes at the mouth of the Guadalquivir make Doñana one of Europe's most important wetlands, at the crossroads between Europe and Africa.
A crossroads for migrants
Doñana sits close to the Strait of Gibraltar, the shortest crossing between Europe and Africa. Huge numbers of birds pass through on migration, and the marshes host hundreds of thousands of waterbirds in winter.
Rich in wildlife
Around 360 bird species have been recorded, and more than 120 breed. The park is also home to the endangered Iberian lynx and Spanish imperial eagle, alongside flamingos, spoonbills and many kinds of herons and ducks.
Water is the threat
Doñana depends on water. Drainage of the marshes, irrigation for farming, illegal wells and upstream pollution have lowered the water table. In January 2024 the winter bird count was the lowest on record. UNESCO has raised concern about the site's future.
A conservation landmark
Doñana's protection began in the 1960s, when conservationists and the World Wildlife Fund helped purchase land for a reserve. It became a national park in 1969.
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