Drought Crisis Threatens Spain’s Doñana National Park and Berry Farming Industry

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Spanish National Park Doñana is one of the most important wetland areas in Europe.

Now it’s just an area, because it’s not wet anymore.

Most of it has been dried up, and in the area that usually houses more than half a million migratory birds a year, there are now only 90,000.

In the worst case scenario, the formerly lush area of ​​southern Spain could become a desert.

From 2011 to 2022, Lake Zahillo has completely dried up.

Photo: NASA

99 percent is dried out

Much of the weather focus this summer has been about the extreme heat both permanent residents and tourists have experienced in southern Europe, and the subsequent forest fires. Another side of the drought is the consequences it has for nature, wildlife and farmers.

In Doñana, 99 percent of the land has dried up.

– The situation is dramatic. Doñana’s days are numbered, says Felipe Fuentelsaz, who is WWF’s agriculture and water coordinator in Spain.

Denmark’s radio have visited the national park, which is on the Unesco world heritage list.

Fuentelsaz has worked in the area for 20 years, including mapping illegal farms and well drilling. He says that the groundwater and small rivers disappear from the park, and are sucked up for berry production.

Here there was water. Now there is only the skeleton of a dead horse left.

Photo: Bernat Armangue / AP / NTB

The strawberry problem

Because at the same time as the general climate changes are man-made, the local changes in Andalucia in the south of Spain are also largely a consequence of human encroachment on nature.

In the past, the farmers there grew olives, which require little water, among other things. In recent years, many have switched to thirstier crops, such as strawberries, according to Associated Press.

Spain is the country in the world that exports the most strawberries, including to Norway.

When no water comes from above, the farmers have to look down. Many have dug wells without permission. Spanish authorities have shut down over 1,100 illegal wells, in what has been characterized as the Spanish water war. As a result, the groundwater sinks, which contributes to the drying up of lakes, lagoons and wetlands.

The berry farmers themselves, who do not wish to be named, defend themselves by saying that they are not the ones who have created the water crisis.

– We make food for people, they say to Danmarks Radio.

The fronts are steep, and in Brussels the EU is watching closely. If the right measures are not taken, Spain risks fines.

This is how the Spanish authorities present the Doñana National Park. Large areas and the existence of many animal species are now threatened due to drought.

Photo: Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism

This is how the Spanish authorities present the Doñana National Park. Large areas and the existence of many animal species are now threatened due to drought.

Photo: Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism

This is how the Spanish authorities present the Doñana National Park. Large areas and the existence of many animal species are now threatened due to drought.

Photo: Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism

This is how the Spanish authorities present the Doñana National Park. Large areas and the existence of many animal species are now threatened due to drought.

Photo: Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism

Soil like a swiss cheese

The largest lagoon in Doñana, Santa Olalla, is about to dry up completely for the second year in a row. It has never happened before, writes the newspaper Helva Information.

Red strawberries or pink flamingos? Wildlife in the region is threatened. Pantergaupaalso called Iberian lynx, is red-listed – and so is the iberian eagle.

According to WWF, the desperate hunt for water is causing the ground to become like a Swiss cheese, with holes everywhere.

– There are 2,000 hectares of illegal farming here and 1,000 illegal wells. It has become like the Wild West, says Felipe Fuentelsaz Euronews.

The Prime Minister: – Stop this scandal

Local authorities have wanted to make the illegal farms legal, which has led to major protests from both the EU and environmental protection organisations. The treatment is currently postponed until the autumn, pending the composition of the government after the election.

One of the proposals is to allow water supply through pipes, to save the berry farmers.

– But there is no water available, says Fernando Valladares at the Spanish Museum of Natural Sciences Science.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who is in danger of losing power after last weekend’s election, visited the area in April. He then urged local politicians to “get back on track” and to “stop this scandal”.

Berry production in southern Spain is covered in plastic to protect against the sun and birds. It won’t rain anyway.

Photo: GUILLERMO MARTINEZ / Reuters / NTB

Also listen: Urix on the radio
2023-07-30 17:48:09


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