Charco del Tamujo: example and enhancement of an artificial wetland in Ciudad Real

Artificial wetlands are a valuable solution to the current water and climate crisis. They play an important role as freshwater reservoirs and provide refuge for wildlife. One example is the Charco del Tamujo. Located between Cabañeros and the Tablas de Daimiel, this wetland in La Mancha is a 25-hectare former gravel pit converted into a natural space with great potential for biodiversity conservation, water resource protection and climate change mitigation.

Owned by Holcim, the company carried out restoration actions when it closed the gravel pit. Now, Fundación Global Nature is taking over the reins of the conservation of Charco del Tamujo with the aim of continuing its restoration, including revegetation and the recovery of native species.

Global Nature's project aims to enhance the biodiversity of this wetland through a management plan that encompasses research, conservation of the area and public use for nature tourism. To this end, it has the support of the Montemadrid Foundation and CaixaBank's Call for Environment and Sustainable Development.

The first actions of the project are aimed at changing the use of the land and the implementation of works to adapt the wetland. Work is also being done on monitoring key species, birds and invertebrates, which will enable the environmental value of the wetland to be understood and promoted, creating channels of communication, talks and forums, to achieve the involvement of citizens and key entities linked to the area, such as the Fuente del Fresno town council. Other localities where actions will be carried out due to their links and proximity to the wetland are Los Cortijos, Malagón and Villarrubia de los Ojos.