📍 Lanzarote
 🗓 23 May 2025

Last Friday, RedPROMAR participated in the "Portal Anquialino" Congress, a scientific event organised by the UNESCO Global Geopark Lanzarote and Chinijo Archipelago and the Regional Government of Lanzarote, led by Cristina Camacho and the scientific director of the event, Dr. Alejandro Martínez.

During the conference, the latest advances in the study of anchialine ecosystems, unique spaces where fresh water and saltwater mix in coastal subterranean systems, were discussed. These "portals" to the subterranean world constitute veritable treasure troves of biodiversity, with extreme environmental conditions harbouring highly specialised species.

RedPROMAR had the opportunity to share experiences on the role of marine citizen science in the knowledge and conservation of this type of habitat, as well as to exchange ideas with experts from this country and abroad, technicians from the Regional Government of Lanzarote and students from secondary schools on the island, who presented scientific posters on these unique cavities.

What is an anchialine ecosystem?

These are underground aquatic systems, geologically isolated but indirectly connected to the sea. In these areas, seawater mixes with inland waters, creating unique environments that only exist in certain parts of the world. Lanzarote is home to some of the most biologically diverse anchialine ecosystems in the world, with emblematic sites such as the Túnel de la Atlántida and the Jameos del Agua, with at least 38 known endemic species.

RedPROMAR would like to thank the organising team for our participation. We continue to work to bring scientific knowledge closer to the public and to promote care for the marine environment also from the subsoil.

This project is co-funded by the European Union as part of the Canary Islands ERDF Programme 2021-2027.