Jandía Salt Marsh in Fuerteventura to Restore 9,000 sqm of Degraded Land
The actions include dismantling the wastewater treatment plant, creating a protective slope, and planting more than a hundred native Saladar species.
The Councilor of Tourism and Employment of the Canary Islands Government, Jéssica de León, the President of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura, Lola García, and the Island Councilor of Tourism, Marlene Figueroa, visited the site this morning where the “Naturalization of the Saladar de Jandía” project will be carried out, part of the regional Department’s cohesion actions for destinations.
The initiative is funded with €249,815 contributed by the Canary Islands’ Tourism and Employment Council from the Next Generation EU funds. This budget will allow work on more than 9,000 m² of area degraded by human activity, restoring a significant portion of one of the largest wetlands in the Canary Islands.
Key interventions involve the ecological recovery of the protected area by removing obsolete infrastructure—such as the former wastewater treatment plant—and restoring the original geomorphology of the terrain.
“Our vision of tourism has evolved; we no longer adhere to the classic sun‑and‑beach model. We champion a vision where the natural environment and local identity take centre stage. In this context, intervening in unique spaces like the Saladar de Jandía, a symbol of our natural heritage, is an absolute priority,” said Councilor Jéssica de León.
“With this intervention we not only renew an emblematic zone, but we also restore its original value and beauty to this area declared a Site of Scientific Interest,” she added.
President Lola García emphasized the Cabildo’s commitment:
“When the Cabildo of Fuerteventura launched this project, we did so with a clear goal: to improve a space of extremely high environmental value such as the Saladar de Jandía. This action reflects the island model we defend, where tourism development coexists with environmental protection.”
“The financial support from the Canary Government, together with joint work with the municipality, shows how administrations can collaborate to recover natural spaces and move toward more sustainable tourism,” she affirmed.
Tourism Councilor Marlene Figueroa highlighted the broader strategy:
“These actions demonstrate that the tourism of the future depends on caring for what makes us unique. Through the ‘Fuerte por naturaleza’ programme, we are promoting projects that not only enhance the destination’s image but also generate a direct positive impact on the environment and the quality of life of island residents.”
Mayor of Pájara, Alejandro Jorge, praised the multi‑institutional cooperation:
“The collaboration between the municipality, the Canary Government, and the Cabildo of Fuerteventura enables us to undertake actions that benefit our neighbours. The naturalization of the Saladar de Jandía, a project long envisioned, not only restores the environment but also improves the image and beautification of our urban surroundings.”
Project Phases
- Dismantling the old treatment plant – removal of the deteriorated, buried tank, which no longer complies with conservation regulations.
- Excavating the existing fill – lowering the platform from the current 3.40 m to the original 2.50 m to restore the natural elevation of the saladar, while carefully preserving the roots of existing vegetation beneath the fill.
- Rehabilitating the area – using screened demolition earth to re‑profile the terrain and construct a protective slope.
- Landscape integration – random planting at the base of the slope with native Saladar species. A total of 104 indigenous plants will be introduced, including Chenoleoides tomentosa (algoera), Salsola vermiculata (matabrusca), Tetraena fontanesii (sea grape), and three specimens of Tamarix canariensis (tarajal).