Biodiversity

Plants

More than 800 different species of plants can be found in the Natural Park. You do not need to know all the names in order to enjoy them.

But think that if you pull them up, the only person that gets to enjoy them is you!

Dunes

Only a few plant species have adapted to surviving in harsh, windy and dry living conditions that are characteristic of dune environments. Some have become creeping plants such as the seashore false bindweed and others, such as the European Marram Grass, which grow in height while they are flexible enough to decrease resistance to wind. The further you are from the sea, the larger and larger plants become, as is the case of the maritime juniper.

Seashore False Bindweed (Calystegia soldanella)
European Marram Grass (Ammophila arenaria)
Shrubby Everlasting (Helychrisum stoechas)
Maritime Juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. macrocarpa)
Sea Daffodil (Pancratium maritimum)
Cottonweed (Othantus maritimus)

Malladas

The vegetation on these Mediterranean temporary ponds are characterised by their adaptability to waterlogged conditions in winter and dry saline soils in summer.

Glasswort (Salicornia sp.)
French Tamarisk (Tamarix gallica)
Marsh Grass (Spartina versicolor)
Spanish Iris (Iris xiphium)

Lake and the Marsh

On l’Albufera Lake and the marsh surrounding it there are numerous plant species native to the wetlands. These are only a few examples:

Common Reed (Phragmites australis)
Narrow-leaf Cattail (Typha angustifolia)
Saw-sedge (Cladium mariscus)
Rice (Oryza sativa)

The devesa Forest

In the Mediterranean coastal forest of the Devesa, trees and shrubs grow wild, while sarsaparilla forms an impenetrable tangle around them, meaning sunlight hardly reaches the sandy soil.

The Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis)
Mastic Tree (Pistacia lentiscus) )
Dwarf Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis)
Common Myrtle (Myrtus communis)
Kermes Oak (Quercus coccifera)
Sarsaparilla (Smilax aspera)

Would you like to know more? Check the table of plant species in the Natural Park

Tabla de especies de plantas

If you want more information, go to:

Animals

In L’Albufera de Valencia, more than 350 bird species gather throughout the year. Some birds live in the wetlands all year round, while others visit it regularly as a stop on their migratory routes.

One of the most compelling features of the Natural Park can be found through birdwatching. Take some binoculars, sit back and relax, while you enjoy yourself spotting them and “prying into” their behaviour. If you wish to explore the best birdwatching spots or learn more about the behaviour of these animals, what are you waiting for? Go to www.birdingalbufera.es

If you fancy a preview of the birds that are waiting for you in the Natural Park… here you have a few: