A Spanish wetland home to 2,000 species of wildlife – including around 6 million migratory birds – is on track to join a Unesco world heritage danger list, according to a new report. Spain now has until 1 December to declare Doñana permanently off limits for dredging and industrial activity in a report to Unesco, or face becoming the first EU country to have a national park classified as being “in danger”. Mechtild Rössler, the director of Unesco’s world heritage centre, and a veteran of the clean-up operation following that disaster, said that reopening the mine would be “not at all” compatible with world heritage site status, in her view. The European commission has also launched an infringement case against Spain, which could end up in the European court. Unesco describes the reserve as a key bird resting location, connecting other world heritage sites in a chain linking as far away as Mauritania.

Source: The Guardian September 15, 2016 05:00 UTC