Amigos de los Humedales del Sur de Alicante has reported the dumping and levelling of inert waste near the southern shore of Torrevieja lagoon to SEPRONA, the Guardia Civil’s nature protection unit. The group says around 10,000 square metres of land have been compacted less than 150 metres from the water, destroying natural vegetation.

According to its president, Sergio Arroyo, part of the affected area is Mediterranean salt marsh, a protected habitat that supports species of high environmental value. The land lies within the buffer zone of La Mata and Torrevieja Natural Park and is covered by the South Alicante Wetlands Management Plan, approved in 2010.

The organisation has also submitted complaints to Torrevieja council and the regional Environment Department, asking whether a long-promised special plan for the Lago Sal area has ever been drafted. The area includes homes built on non-urbanisable land before the park was created.

The group warns that the wetlands are already under strong urban pressure and are frequented by protected birds including the black-winged stilt and marsh harriers. Council sources say the urban planning inspection team will visit the site once formal notice of the complaint is received.