Natural areas in the vicinity of the port of Huelva (A_26)
The Port of Huelva is located in an environment of great environmental and biological richness, and adjacent to it, and even within the Service Area, there are different protected natural spaces that occupy a surface area of approximately 12,000 hectares, of which 560 are included in the Port of Huelva Service Area.
These areas are protected in several ways, including the following: Natural Site, Nature Reserve, Biosphere Reserve (MAB Programme), Wetlands of International Importance included in the RAMSAR List, Special Protection Areas for Birds (SPAs) and Sites of Community Interest (SCIs), and are as follows:
| Name | Type of space9 | Distance to the port10 |
|---|---|---|
| Marismas del Odiel Natural Site | MAB, RAMSAR, ZEPA, LIC | Partially included |
| Paraje Natural Estero Domingo Rubio | ZEPA, LIC | 0 Km |
| Laguna de Palos and Las Madres Natural Site | RAMSAR, LIC | 3.2 Km |
| Isla de Enmedio Nature Reserve | MAB, RAMSAR, ZEPA, LIC | 1 Km |
| Marismas del Burro Nature Reserve | MAB, RAMSAR, ZEPA, LIC | 0 Km |
9) SCI, ZEPA, RAMSAR Wetland, Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC), etc.
10) Means the distance to the physical port, i.e. land area and I-zone. When wholly or partly within, indicate: included or partly included, as appropriate. Where it is adjacent, this shall be indicated: 0 km.
Among these areas, the Marismas del Odiel Natural Park stands out for its environmental value and surface area (6,631 hectares), it has been declared a Biosphere Reserve, SPA, SCI and is included in the RAMSAR List.
This site is partially included in the Port Service Area, occupying an area of 562 hectares, specifically on the right bank of the Odiel estuary, where there are practically no port operations. There is, therefore, a close link between the management of this natural area and the Port Authority, which forms part of its Board of Trustees.
The ecological value of the Marismas del Odiel natural area lies in the fact that they are ecosystems of estuarine, tidal and continentalised marshes, as well as highly productive coastal sandy ecosystems, which constitute a strategic point for nesting and breeding migratory birds and are home to a wide variety of habitats and landscapes.
Declared a Biosphere Reserve since 1983, the Paraje Natural Marismas del Odiel is home to protected species including the spoonbill, grey heron, purple heron, marsh harrier, osprey, flamingo, black stork and otter, among others.
Schematic description of projects for the regeneration of the natural environment undertaken by the Port Authority, and valuation in euros of the cost of these actions (A_28)
| Landscape improvement actions | |
|---|---|
| Name | Demolition of old ice factory in Muelle de Levante |
| Place | Muelle de Levante, Huelva. |
| State | Development status during the year 2024: under implementation |
| Year | 2024-2025 |
| Reason | Dismantling of obsolete buildings for the integral remodelling of the Muelle de Levante. |
| Description | The urbanisation of the Muelle de Levante is one of the key projects for the port-city integration for the two identities to become one for urban planning purposes. To this end, the Port Authority of Huelva is carrying out the integral remodelling of the Muelle de Levante. The first phase is the dismantling of the obsolete buildings, including the old building that once housed the installations of the Expofrisa company (cold stores, offices, ice factory, etc.), currently out of use and abandoned. |
| Investment and expenditure in € | 32,188.51 € |
| Landscape improvement actions | |
|---|---|
| Name | Refurbishment of the Muelle Tharsis |
| Place | Muelle Tharsis |
| Status | Development status during the year 2024: under implementation |
| Year | 2022-2025 |
| Reason | From the Port of Huelva we continue to work to maintain and recover our architectural heritage. |
| Description | The project consists of the structural rehabilitation of the property known as the Muelle de Carga de la Compañía Española de Minas de Tharsis in the Port of Huelva, in the General Catalogue of Andalusian Historical Heritage, with specific character and category of Monument. This Wharf has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, establishing its protection regime under the Spanish Historical Heritage Law 16/1985 of 25 June 1985. The Muelle de Carga de la Compañía Española de Minas de Tharsis belongs to the group of civil and industrial engineering works that were carried out in the second half of the 19th century in the province of Huelva as a consequence of the development of mining activity due to the boom in the exploitation of the mines located in the Cuenca Minera and Andévalo. |
| Investment and expenditure in € | 1,786,981.48 euros |