Desertification is gaining ground in Spain, threatening biodiversity, food security, and the economic stability of various regions. Although aridity affects much of the country, some regions such as the Canary Islands, Murcia, and the Valencian Community are experiencing a particularly worrying situation, according to warnings from scientists and national and international institutions.
Throughout the In recent decades, the constant rise in temperatures, the reduction in rainfall and human pressure on water resources have accelerated soil deterioration. Areas that were once sub-humid are being transformed into semi-arid or arid zones, and many aquifers show clear signs of depletion. The consequences go beyond the environmental and directly affect the social and economic fabric, especially in key sectors such as agriculture and tourism.
Aridity advances: data and territorial realities
According to the latest studies of Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), more than 16% of the Canary Islands have moved into more arid categories in six decades, making it the autonomous community hardest hit by this transformation. In addition, the Arid and semi-arid areas have gained thousands of square kilometers in the Valencian Community over the last decade, a phenomenon supported by the analysis of the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET).
This landscape change affects not only traditionally dry regions, but also areas that previously served as water reserves and green spaces, such as the northern slopes of Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Desertification not only alters nature but also threatens crops, water resources, and, in the case of the Canary Islands, the very economic model associated with tourism.
Agricultural employment and landscape maintenance are at stake. Experts point out that the migration of crops to higher elevations and the decline of pine forests represent imminent risks if urgent measures are not taken.
Institutional actions against ecological deterioration
To confront the advance of desertification, The Spanish government has launched multi-million dollar investments and strategic plans both at the state and regional levels. Of note are the recent €32 million approved for restoration work on forests in decline or at high risk of aridity. Of this total, 8,2 million are allocated to the Region of Murcia, an area particularly affected by the reduction of water and the increase in temperatures.
The aid package, framed in the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, allows for financing improvements in forest structure, the promotion of native species, pest and disease prevention, fire risk reduction, and the improvement of forest roads. These interventions focus primarily on public lands and seek to strengthen resilience in the face of the climate emergency.
La Spanish Forestry Strategy Horizon 2050 and Spanish Forestry Plan 2022–2032 They support these actions, which aim to improve the ecological and hydrological functionality of the mountains and adapt the forests to a context of reduced water availability.
Economic and social challenges and consequences
Desertification is not only an environmental challenge; has profound economic and social justice implications. In rural areas, the loss of fertile soil and water scarcity exacerbate poverty, while large corporations maintain access to water sources through technologies such as desalination plants. inequality in access to water and land It can become a source of conflict and political debate, generating tensions between different social actors.
From a global point of view, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) warns that droughts will become more frequent and severe, with a growing economic impact. In Spain alone, it is estimated that the cost of an average drought could double that recorded two decades ago, particularly affecting agriculture and the population's water supply.
El agricultural sector It is particularly vulnerable. The expansion of irrigation has increased pressure on aquifers, despite improvements in efficiency. Eighty percent of the water extracted in Spain is used for agriculture, and the Segura, Júcar, and Guadalquivir rivers are particularly stressed. In drought years, crop production can be reduced by up to 80%, and some damage can be irreversible.
Efforts to restore and conserve: from theory to practice
European and national funds and strategies finance a series of measures aimed at prevention and ecological restoration: from forest improvement to conversion to species better adapted to drought, including fuel vegetation control and pest prevention.
In the Valencian CommunityThe growth of forest cover—driven in part by agricultural abandonment—has paradoxically generated new challenges. The accumulation of dead wood and increased tree density increase the risk of devastating fires, leading experts to call for better management and sustainable use of resources.
On the other hand, the latest state and regional programs promote the recovery of a mosaic of forests and crops, seeking a balance between environmental restoration and the social and economic viability of the affected territories.
The figures support the urgency of these interventions: in the first few months of 2025 alone, different areas of Spain recorded agricultural disasters due to storms, drought, and hail on more than 375.000 hectares, with compensation amounts exceeding €300 million.
Investing in resilience and prevention is essential to address desertification.Various international reports emphasize that every euro spent on preventing soil degradation can multiply its return, not only in economic terms, but also in terms of quality of life, water security, and biodiversity conservation.
The desertification situation in Spain demands a coordinated and sustained effort, both public and private, and a real commitment to adaptation and responsible management of natural resources. Only through comprehensive strategies, collaboration between public authorities, and social awareness will it be possible to halt the spread of this phenomenon and preserve the health of ecosystems for future generations.
