Urdaibai RED ALERT. The Guggenheim Museum project threatens the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve — Urdaibai, a protected estuary in the Basque Country.
The Guggenheim Museum project threatens the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, a protected estuary in the Basque Country, as it is under threat from a project to expand the Guggenheim Museum within its boundaries. Representatives from 77 organizations across 35 countries, members of the Mediterranean Wetlands Alliance, BirdLife partners, WWF, and other organizations have signed three letters addressed to the Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition, UNESCO Secretariat, and Ramsar Secretariat, requesting measures to halt the project.
After years of controversy, the project to expand the Guggenheim Museum has re-emerged, involving the creation of two new museum sites, one of which is located within the town itself. However, this area holds numerous international and European designations: UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Ramsar site, and Natura 2000 zones.
In Urdaibai, over 250 bird species have been recorded, including 118 protected under the EU Birds Directive, representing 44% of the bird species within the Natura 2000 network. The area also hosts 65 threatened species listed on the IUCN Red List, including six critically endangered species such as the European mink (Mustela lutreola).
The international conservation community is particularly concerned that this significant project could cause habitat imbalance and degradation. Scientific research has clearly shown that human disturbances pose a high risk to the survival of waterbirds, especially at key stopover sites like Urdaibai. Building and operating new facilities for the museum expansion would increase environmental pressure and could have serious impacts on migratory species, affecting international efforts to conserve them.
“We call on decision-makers to prioritize the protection and transparency of the Urdaibai wetlands and to amplify the voices of the local community in future development plans. This irreplaceable ecosystem deserves our strongest conservation commitment.” – Alexis Katsaros, Executive Director of MedINA.
International mobilizations support the local opposition to the project, as recent public protests and increasing demands demonstrate.
The signatories urge local and international authorities to reconsider the project, taking into account Spain’s environmental commitments, including the recently adopted EU Biodiversity Strategy and the Nature Restoration Law. Alternative options should be prioritized—those that respect cultural and economic development while safeguarding the ecosystems, laws, and social values that protect the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve.
“We ask Spain to stand up for nature! With a governance model that can serve as an example worldwide—respecting the rights of nature—first and foremost, it must ensure the protection of its wetlands. The first step towards climate justice is to safeguard the well-being and regenerative capacity of critical ecosystems, such as the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve in Spain.” – Dicle Tuba Kılıç, President of DOGA (BirdLife partner in Turkey).
