Castelló d’Empúries

Castelló d’Empúries is located near the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, a significant natural park in Catalonia, Spain. The park is newsworthy due to its recent recovery from a severe drought that plagued the area for several years, impacting its ecosystems. The drought, which was the worst in the park's 40+ year history, led to the drying up of lagoons like Vilaüt. Recent rainfall has revitalized the area, leading to a resurgence of flora and fauna, including a target population of 10,000 ducks. Furthermore, the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà is the site of a reintroduction program for the critically endangered northern bald ibis (ibis eremita). This program, supported by the Fundació Alive and the Generalitat, aims to establish a new population of this species, which had previously only survived in the wild in Morocco and parts of Syria. The park's recovery and the ibis reintroduction highlight the importance of conservation efforts and the resilience of natural ecosystems.