The EU threatens the Spaniards with a square. If they don’t change anything, they’ll get pocketed. In the background cheap strawberries

The European Union has issued a warning to the Spanish authorities, urging them to halt plans to expand irrigation systems near one of its most valuable wetlands, the Donana National Park, the Associated Press reports.

The EU threatens Spain with a finger. Madrid must reckon with the financial consequences

Spain needs to take care of its wetlands, especially given that rainfall is becoming less frequent due to climate change, Florika Fink-Hooijer, head of the EU’s Environment DG, wrote in a letter quoted by AP.

The representative of the EU authorities reminded that Spain was already in 2021 admonished for non-compliance with the rules on the protection of wetlands. She warned that further delay in taking action to protect the wetlands could result in penalties.

Juan Romero, a member of the Save Donana group, spoke in an interview with AFP journalists about what the excessive expansion of water sources looks like in practice.

“It should be full of water and flamingos this time of year. But it is very dry, he reported in June, when the entire region faced water shortages.

Home to thousands of bird species at risk

As environmental organizations alarm, Donana National Park is home to the rarest species of birds and other wild animals. It is considered a key place for preserving biodiversity. He warns against the potentially fatal consequences of the decision of the Spanish authorities, e.g. UNESCO, the organization that included part of the valley on the World Heritage List. BirdLife International activists are also protesting.

Spanish authorities have so far failed to heed these warnings and have continued with their plans, which include construction works such as ditches and dams adjacent to areas within the boundaries of the national park. The authorities intend to use the land to irrigate western Andalusia. As a result, the amount of water flowing through the Donana National Park may be drastically reduced, thus negatively affecting the ecosystem.

Spain is not the only example of reaching for new water sources. WWF urges governments to refrain from projects that increase the use of natural water reservoirs until they can ensure that these investments do not negatively impact local ecosystems or wildlife populations.

Cheap strawberries have a high price

Experts cited by AFP warn that the water level in the national park has been decreasing drastically over the years. First, the problem is climate change. The second reason is much more mundane – it is no secret that in the region there is an illegal use of water for watering strawberry crops.

The regional authorities have a plan to extend permits to draw water from wells. And this may further exacerbate the problem and deepen the already existing crisis of the national park’s ecosystem.