Oualidia’s lagoon is an exceptional site of ecological importance for bird conservation that extends over 12km. Protected by the RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, the lagoon is a stopover haven for most water bird species that migrate the east-Atlantic route between Spain and sub-Saharan Africa in Spring and Autumn. Rare bird species including pink flamingos, grey herons, great cormorants, storks and spatulas visit the lagoon during these times.
Overlooking the lagoon lies La Sultana Oualidia, a beguiling Moorish fortress surrounded by orange, olive and jacaranda trees, a hidden gem with 12 individually designed rooms and suites. The team at La Sultana Oualidia feel passionately about protecting the lagoon and in particular safeguarding the life of the birds by banishing plastic pollution. This is why, on 2 February 2021, to honour World Wetland Day the entire team at La Sultana Oualidia will spend a whole day cleaning up the lagoon.
As part of La Sultana Hotels’ Sustainability & Conservation activities, La Sultana Oualidia team spend time each day clearing the lagoon beach near the hotel, and every Thursday with the help of the local fishermen, bring any litter to the shore.
Twice a year, every member of the La Sultana Oualidia team take part in a ‘Lagoon Clean Up Day’ in order to have a more significant impact on reducing the litter in the lagoon. This year, to help raise awareness of the lagoon’s important ecosystem, La Sultana Oualidia will host it’s ‘Lagoon Clean Up Day’ on World Wetland Day, which celebrates the date of the Convention on Wetlands date of inauguration – 2 February 1971.
How can you participate?
La Sultana Oualidia are pleased to work with the local community to ensure the local lagoon, beaches and town are clean and free of rubbish. The team invite volunteers to partake and will be delighted to provide a bag for them to put any discarded rubbish inside. Once finished, the bag can be returned to La Sultana Oualidia’s concierge who will ensure it is recycled or disposed of appropriately. Volunteers are then invited to enjoy a cup of Moroccan Mint tea as a thank you for helping to keep Oualidia clean.
Why are wetlands important?
Wetlands are areas of land that are saturated or flooded with water, either permanently or seasonally. Inland wetlands include marshes, ponds, lakes, fens, rivers, floodplains and swamps. Coastal wetlands, like Oualidia include saltwater marshes, estuaries, mangroves, lagoons and even coral reefs. The teem with biodiversity providing homes for many endangered species and people. They are part of our natural infrastructure and provide essential protection against environmental issues such as flooding and drought.
La Sultana Oualidia’s 2021 campaign wishes to highlight the contribution of wetlands to the quantity and quality of freshwater on our planet. Water and wetlands are connected in an inseparable co-existence that is vital to wildlife, our wellbeing and the health of our planet.
