Assessing the Conservation Viability of the Easternmost Wetland of the Mancha Húmeda Biosphere Reserve (Spain)

Groundwater is an important resource around the world, even more so in semiarid countries. Some ecosystems are entirely dependent on groundwater for their sustainability. Droughts and intensive pumping have a detrimental effect on their welfare. In spite of some corrective actions and efforts applied to the wetland conservation, the facts show that awareness is a must to establish an efficient and accurate protection. A better understanding of the wetland-aquifer relationships is possible in the long term. This paper examines the hydrogeological data that explains the long-term dynamic of the water table and the interaction with the El Taray wetland. The results show the notable impact of the groundwater extraction on wetlands inputs. This kind of characterization allows managers to select a set of strategies to implement the hydrological, environmental, agricultural, political, and social initiatives necessary to improve the deteriorated nature heritage.