European scientists warn of the urgency of conserving Doñana in the face of the new irrigation law

The magazine Nature Water today published an article highlighting the urgency of preserve the ecosystems of Doñana Faced with the new law that will authorize the expansion of irrigation in its surroundings, consequently increasing the overexploitation of the aquifer.

The article, titled How a proposed law on strawberry cultivation could end Europe’s most iconic wetlandis signed by the researcher Luis Santamariafrom the Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC) and the researcher Julia Martin-Ortega, from the Institute for Sustainability Research at the University of Leeds. Both are members of the European Waterlands project, which brings together 32 organizations from 14 European countries and whose objective is to restore European wetlands.

Doñana is one of the most emblematic protected areas in Europe. Their ecosystems receive nearly half a million migratory birds and maintain a rich biodiversity, which includes more than 50 species of waterfowl and two of the most endangered species on the planet: the Iberian lynx and the imperial eagle.

However, the intensive development of its environment caused the degradation of its vegetation and soilsthe drastic reduction of its wetlands, the sharp decrease in the number of aquatic birds and the practice rabbit disappearancethe main prey of the lynx and the imperial eagle.

“Although Doñana still has a very outstanding biodiversity that amply justifies its conservation, the continuous degradation that it has been suffering for decades is about to reach a point of no return”, says Santamaría. “Instead of urgently initiating essential actions to save it, the new law marks the return of obsolete and unsustainable policies that they will only hasten your destruction”.

The new irrigation law marks the return of obsolete and unsustainable policies

Luis Santamaría, co-author of the study

This new norm, which will legalize the constitution of strawberry intensive irrigation on land for forest or rainfed use, has received strong opposition from the scientific community and conservationists. Despite this, it was approved through an urgent procedure, which allows ignore the parliamentary debate.

According to the authors, it represents a “serious institutional, economic and reputational risk”. In the article, it is noted that the government of Andalusia entered into an unprecedented confrontation with the European Commission, which threatened Spain with new sanctions. The country has already been sanctioned in 2021 precisely for not adequately protecting the Doñana aquifer.

Focus on Strawberry Harvests

In recent weeks, the main importers of Spanish strawberries in the European Union have expressed their concern about the environmental impact of your products. It should be taken into account that 80% of the strawberries produced in the region are destined for export. Germany, France and the United Kingdom receive more than two thirds of these exports and there are already pressure groups that encourage a possible boycott in Germany.

“This could jeopardize the work of the legal strawberry producers in the region, who have been making an effort to reduce water consumption and the use of agrochemicals in their crops”, warns Martin-Ortega.

“We can only hope that the backlash against this law will trigger a shift towards a new conservation policy. It is extremely important that any future decisions are based on scientific evidence, which in this case is unequivocal: Doñana’s ecosystems are in grave danger.” adds the teacher.

Doñana is one of the ‘Knowledge Sites’ of the European WaterLANDS project, which aims to restore large areas of wetlands across Europe. “For your contribution to maintaining biodiversity, providing clean water, carbon storage and cultural values, wetlands are extremely important both for nature and for human beings”, explains Shane McGuinnessprofessor at University College Dublin and Deputy Coordinator of WaterLANDS.

“Valuing them properly is therefore more important than ever. Its long-term conservation should always be prioritized economic benefit in the short term”, concludes