Wetland conservation success: Spain's marbled duck population recovers

Spain has recorded a substantial increase in its marbled duck breeding population following years of dedicated wetland restoration work, with 172 females confirmed breeding in 2025. The marbled duck, a species once facing severe population decline across its Mediterranean and Asian range, has benefited from coordinated habitat preservation and management initiatives across Spanish wetlands.

The restoration programmes have focused on protecting and rehabilitating critical breeding habitats, including shallow water ecosystems and marshland areas essential for the species' survival. These interventions have created favourable conditions for nesting and feeding, directly contributing to improved breeding success rates among the population.

Conservationists attribute the recovery to multi-year commitment from Spanish environmental authorities and international wildlife organisations working in partnership. The marbled duck's vulnerability to habitat loss, water management changes, and environmental pressures had previously pushed populations to critically low levels across Europe.

The 2025 figures represent encouraging progress for the species, which remains classified as vulnerable by international conservation bodies. Experts emphasise that sustained funding and continued habitat protection will be essential to maintain and build upon these gains in coming years, with implications for broader Mediterranean wetland conservation strategies.