Forty years ago, UNESCO Urdaibai stated as a biosphere reserve. Four decades later His situation went from delicate to alarmingNot to say, dramatic. On that, the worst dangers that a natural landscape can wear: the impact of one Solid tourism on the basis of a project such as the Guggenheim Museum that is intended to be built in the most sensitive area.
Few people have noticed it That day of December 6, 1984 of the transcendence that would have for the future that the UNESCO will declare Urdaibai as a new biosphere reserve. It is even difficult to find someone to remember that date. JULEN Rekondo, Environmental Specialist and National Environment AwardIt is one of them.
I remember that those who were militated in environmental organizations received that news received with great joy. Four decades later, to the Loss of biodiversity And other ailments (Permit for the forestry sector, involvement of invasive plants, industrial pollution and waste water, drag, over -exploitation of Aquifers) A new threat has been merged: the plan that the Basque government and the Bizkaia Diputación They want to implement to install Two more locations (One in Gernika and another in Murueta) of the Museo Guggenheim.
If Guggenheim were to be built, Urdaibai would be the only biosphere reserve, under 759 existing everywhere that would have a museum. This It has no logic from the point of view of the protection of nature and the environment And would rather respond to Provide economic benefits to certain elites and to visit an area of which the current capacity has already been overcome.
Nature is not a capital that we have to extract surplus value to understand it as a company, but as a public interest in society. In addition, What BusturibialDea needs is an ecosocial extensive plan that returns its decline situation, according to the protection of that nature” Defent Rekondo.
There are several reasons why this project should not be implemented and exposed since it was announced. But today, environmental activists have wanted that this space is habitat and the place of passage of many living things that are not taken into account when proposing The new Guggenheim Museum in Urdaibai.
This activity is not against the museum, it is against the expansion of work that would endanger the European vision.
The most conflicting points in terms of their situation for biodiversity are the headquarters that would be where the shipyards of Murueta and the catwalk that would unite the two head office are currently, because both facilities would cross the center of the Wetland of UrdaibaiThat is cataloged as a leg country of international importancebreaking all the criteria for the protection of that ecosystem and the species that depend.
Wetlands are original ecosystems that, in addition to helping protecting biodiversity, are also the key to dealing with the effects of climate emergency. It must be reminded of the Guggenheim Foundationall Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challengeall Basque government And Diputación de Bizkaia and the Pilón del PNV Hamer What This project is harmful to biodiversity and that should not be carried out.
Species that would be affected:
The European Nerts
It is a small mammal that always lives near waterways and one of the most endangered mammals in Europe. It is assumed that the number of Nink individuals present in Spain is currently not far from 100, which means that the species is seriously the danger of extinction. The main reason for its decline is the threat of American mink. However, having enough habitats for recovery can make the problem worse.
The fisherman -offsperer
It is a Rapaz bird that is closely linked to aquatic ecosystems to feed and reproduce. After decades, in 2021, two chickens of fisheries were first born in Urdaibai. It is a species that is in a critical situation in the Spanish state, largely because of the destruction of its habitat (construction of urbanizations and/or tourist and recreational facilities in coastal areas) and discomfort in nesting areas (traffic of walkers and fishermen, opening up Paths, vegetation salas, nautical activities …). It is clear that the construction of this new museum, as well as the transfer of the hundreds of thousands of passers -by will make a thin favor for this species.
The Avetoro
It is also a bird that is closely linked to marshes and wetlands and threatens, largely because of the demolition of its habitat.
The Avetoro is closely related to another of which the organization has represented: The reed. Together with others, these plants create a special and characteristic environment of the Wetlands that are known as Juncales of CarrizalesImportant places for these birds that look for, shelter and rest and where they sometimes even nest. That is not the only bird that benefits from these environments.
The Cejudo Carricerín
It is also present in Urdaibai already and CarrizalesAnd can be seriously affected by the project. This small bird also runs the danger of extinction and the most important threat factors are the destruction of wet areas, the changes in the use of habitats or the loss of the water quality of the Wetlands as a result of spilling agricultural or industrial origin.
The common spatula
According to the reserve website and documents of the Basque government, it is the species that has the most value from the point of view of preservation in Urdaibai. The species is classified as vulnerable and there are obligations that have been acquired for conservation. However, this does not seem to have been taken into account when proposing the museum Guggenheim’s UrdaibaiBecause the most important threats of this species are related to the discomfort produced by tourists and the reduction in the expansion of useful areas for their lives.
The Imperial Garza
It is a large bird associated with water spaces and specifically to Wetlands. Although this species is relatively abundant and is not considered a danger of extinction, the population in the recess and the distribution in the Humedal de Urdaibai It’s scarce. Again, this species is mainly influenced by the demolition of its habitat.
Others:
Although birds are the most striking species of this type of wetlands, environmental activists also want to remember other species or groups of living creatures.
That is why the last three characters that complete the list are: the dragonflies, That can be very diverse and some of them are also in danger of extinction; The plant shouted Salicornia, typical for damp areas and that contributes to generating adequate habitats and algae such as such as Zostera, Those underwater grasslands that are essential for the habitat of insects and fish and also serve as food from multiple organisms.