The Guadiana river, which separates Badajoz from the Portuguese border, is covered by the Mexican water lily, an invasive plant that transforms the water surface into a green carpet. This situation affects both the Spanish and Portuguese stretches of the river.
The river cleaning operation will involve the extraction of 600 thousand square meters of contaminated sludge from this invasive plant. The planned investment for this intervention is 33 million euros.
Spanish and Portuguese authorities are involved in coordinating efforts to combat this infestation that threatens the ecosystem of the Guadiana. The Mexican water lily, native to Central America, proliferates rapidly under favorable conditions and represents a significant environmental challenge for the cross-border management of the river.
