Doñana National Park

Toxic flow from a mine holding pool

Previous deliberations:
Twenty-third session of the Committee – paragraph X.26.
Twenty-third ordinary session of the Bureau – paragraph IV.39.

New information: IUCN has received a copy of a report (January, 2000) from the Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) which notes an improved situation since the start of clean up operations in relation to pollution of air, soil and water. It is noted that clean up operations in affected areas of the Guadiamar Basin, and efforts associated with the Green Corridor project, have continued. IUCN notes, however, that thousands of tons of mining sludge are still widely distributed in the area and enter slowly into the trophic chain, affecting plants, invertebrates, fish and water birds. IUCN also reiterates the following concerns:

• The extent to which an impact study was undertaken to ensure that the toxic wastes, which will now be dumped into the old mine-pit will remain there and not percolate into the surrounding aquifer.
• How the various authorities at the state and regional level intend to co-ordinate the activities undertaken to ensure that the integrity of Doñana is maintained.
• How resolution of conflicts between users of the watershed will be undertaken on a regular basis, and how regular monitoring of progress of the implementation of various activities will be carried out.

IUCN has received a WWF report on the conservation of the Doñana World Heritage site and the implementation of the Doñana 2005 Restoration Project dated September 2000. The report notes that the major concern for the conservation of the Doñana World Heritage site still relates to the mining disaster from 1998 and its consequences. The regional authority – Junta de Andalucía – has made significant efforts since 1998 to clean the polluted area and restore the river basin, covering more than 60 km, to a dynamic ecosystem and a regional “Green Corridor” that supports mammal migrations. Although major cleaning operations have been carried out by the authorities and the mining company, the pollution will have long-term effects in the area and requires an adaptation of management schemes. The mining activities are still of major concern, and it is important that Boliden-Apirsa develops projects for the decommissioning of the old tailings dam and the enlargement of the mine, including a higher storing capacity of mining waste in the old open mining pit. In a recent meeting in September 2000, the mining company expressed to WWF their commitment to long-term environmental restoration of the area and during a field trip, relevant activities carried out by the company aimed at environmental protection were observed. However, WWF notes that better follow-up actions should be taken now and that in due course an international expert meeting should be held to evaluate the situation of the mining site in order to develop proposals for the future. A meeting on the 12 September, 2000, between WWF and the national and regional authorities concluded with commitments from the authorities to:

·         Establish an Executive Commission for co-ordination between the national and regional authorities;

·         Establish a joint research committee for the Doñana 2005 and the Green Corridor projects;

·         Develop a proposal for the delimitation of the public riverine domain in all Doñana watersheds by the Guadalquivir Water Authority before end of October 2000; and

·         Develop a report on the water quality and water treatment systems in the Doñana watershed by the Guadalquivir Water Authority before end of October 2000.