Spain is facing fears of "sterile soil" and desertification due to ongoing droughts and land overexploitation, potentially devastating Europe's kitchen garden.
Gabriel del Barrio, a desertification specialist, monitors the daily degradation in Almeria, southern Andalusia, where once a holm oak forest stood but now only stunted shrubs remain. While Spain will not become a desert like the Sahara, desertification, characterized by severe soil degradation, is a worrying issue.
Picture shows the Mediano reservoir at 25.5% of its capacity due to the ongoing drought, on July 26, 2023 in Mediano, Huesca province.
Erosion, Drought Led to Loss of Quality Soil in Spain
Phys.org reported that global warming and human activity, particularly intensive farming, are being held responsible for the growing threat of desertification. Despite Almeria's arid climate, the region has become Europe's vegetable garden with its extensive 40,000 hectares of greenhouses known as the "Sea of Plastic," producing substantial quantities of tomatoes, peppers, courgettes, and cucumbers year-round.
However, these large crop-producing areas exacerbate the issue by depleting aquifers and using groundwater, worsening the situation. While Almeria faces an extreme situation, desertification is not unique to the region.
According to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, Spain faces the highest risk of desertification among European nations, with 75% of its land battling climatic conditions that could lead to this phenomenon.
In June, Spain's Ecology Minister, Teresa Ribera, voiced concern over the exacerbating factors of extreme temperatures, droughts, and other elements that contribute to soil erosion and diminished soil quality.
Soil degradation has seen a significant increase, tripling over the last decade, and is now deemed "irreversible on a human scale" by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), to which the EEZA reports.
This degradation results in soils unable to retain water or support crops and livestock, causing apprehension in a country heavily reliant on agriculture, contributing around 60 billion euros ($66 billion) annually to exports.
The Union of Small Farmers and Stockbreeders (UPA) emphasizes that soil erosion has become the main problem for most farmers in Spain, signaling the seriousness of the situation and the potential significant economic impact.
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Soil Regeneration in Andalusia
Andalusia is a significant autonomous region in Spain, wherein its economy heavily relies on agriculture and food production. Approximately 24.3% of the region's population resides in rural areas, according to a 2016 report.
However, the threat of desertification is posing a significant challenge to the once-fertile landscapes. The dehesa, a traditional Spanish landscape combining agriculture, natural grasslands, and shrubbery, is also facing a decline in popularity.
In Andalusia, the current situation has motivated individuals to take action and make a difference. Juan Antonio Merlos, a 40-year-old almond farm owner in the Velez-Blanco hills, emphasizes the importance of taking proactive measures rather than succumbing to fate.
Alongside a few other farmers from the association AlVelAl, Merlos has implemented innovative "regenerative" practices on his 100-hectare farm, which was previously owned by his parents. Their efforts have led to the farm being certified as organic, all in an effort to combat soil erosion in the region.
The farmers have adopted sustainable practices like using manure instead of chemical fertilizers, avoiding pesticides to protect insects, reducing plowing to preserve soil, and using plant cover to retain moisture. These techniques have been employed for years and require a long-term commitment, according to Merlos.
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