Salt flats, tidal pools and ponds burst with rain on World Wetlands Day

The water‑catching cultivation structures—such as gavias and maretas—as well as natural features like charclas, lagoons and salinas, are being showcased to the world brimming with water, just as they did for centuries when the island of Fuerteventura was fully cultivated and known as the “Granary of the Canary Islands.”

On World Wetlands Day, celebrated each 2 February, the Environment Department of the Fuerteventura Cabildo highlighted the great natural heritage these spaces represent for the island, urging recognition of the essential value of these ecosystems and their close ties to traditional knowledge and cultural heritage.

“Wetlands and traditional knowledge: let’s celebrate cultural heritage” – this year’s World Wetlands Day slogan

In a statement released for the occasion, Fuerteventura Cabildo President Lola García said:

“Fuerteventura celebrates World Wetlands Day in a year when the rains recorded over the past months have had a clearly positive effect on the island’s wetlands, reactivating areas that had remained dry for years, promoting natural soil recharge and restoring life to ponds, salinas and temporary lagoons.”

The resurgence of water in the landscape, she added, “has once again highlighted the fundamental role of wetlands as spaces of ecological resilience and as a living memory of the territory.”

Environment Counselor Carlos Rodríguez reinforced the message:

“Preserving wetlands means preserving life, identity and the future of our islands. In the context of climate change, integrating traditional wisdom with current management emerges as a key tool to guarantee the sustainability of these unique spaces.”

The Jandía Salina – a jewel among Fuerteventura’s wetlands

Rodríguez also noted that the commemoration holds special significance for Fuerteventura because the island hosts the Jandía Salina, the only wetland in the archipelago listed under the Ramsar Convention. This international recognition underscores its importance for biodiversity, water regulation and climate‑change adaptation.

The Jandía Salina is a critical refuge for species adapted to extreme conditions and a testament to the historic balance between nature and traditional land uses. As Rodríguez concluded:

“For generations, the people of Fuerteventura have understood water cycles, used resources respectfully, and passed down knowledge linked to the land, livestock and water management—knowledge now recognized as essential for conserving these ecosystems.”