We wanted to share an Interesting article about the Doñana National Park where our Seville, Spain Turing participants are currently completing Community Development placements with Estacion Biologica Doñana.
Last week, we were surprised to read that the Doñana National Park’s water supplies were being used illegally for strawberry farms. Unesco declared the Doñana national park, a world heritage site in 1994.
Tapping water from the aquifer that feeds one of Europe’s largest protected wetlands, among other environmental issues (such as climate change), causes a major threat to Spanish wetlands.
A fresh crisis now looms as regional authorities consider granting an amnesty to the farmers illegally tapping its aquifer to feed the booming strawberry sector.
Despite protests over damage to wetlands, amnesty has been granted to these illegal strawberry farmers by Rightwing MPs in southern Spain.
The Andalucían regional parliament approved the proposal, which will “regularise” 1,461 hectares (3610 acres) of land near the Doñana national park, thereby allowing farmers who have sunk illegal wells and built illicit plantations on the land to legitimise their operations.