The state of the Genal River has become a serious concern for environmental organizations and local residents . The overexploitation of its water resources and the constant expansion of rainfed tropical fruit crops have placed this tributary in Malaga province at the forefront of agricultural and environmental sustainability.
The Verdemar-Ecologistas en Acción collective is demanding urgent action from the Andalusian Regional Government, including the official declaration of the Genal River as "overexploited" and the immediate halt to new subtropical plantations. The seriousness of the situation affects not only the water resources of the Genal itself, but also those of the Guadiaro River and the protected natural areas in the region.
Growth of tropical agriculture: an unstoppable problem
The Genal Valley is undergoing a radical transformation due to the increase in crops such as avocados , which are being cultivated primarily using dryland farming methods. This practice demands a significant amount of water, even in rainy years , leading to the depletion of the underlying aquifer and a drastic decrease in the river's flow. Despite announcements of inspections of illegal wells carried out more than a year ago, environmental groups report that the situation has not only not been resolved, but has worsened.
Verdemar denounces a lack of effective administrative control in the face of the proliferation of unauthorized irrigation . According to their reports, the water used in new plantations "steals" from the river system the equivalent of the annual consumption of 50.000 inhabitants and deprives the environment of its ecological flow, endangering protected areas of the Natura 2000 network.
Direct consequences on the flow and local economy
One of the most alarming phenomena is the reversal of the natural flow of the Guadiaro River where it connects with the Genal . Instead of continuing its course to the sea, some of the water flows back to replenish the overexploited Genal aquifer. This situation reflects the extreme water imbalance caused by massive extraction for crop irrigation, which, according to environmentalists, could condemn traditional agriculture in the lower reaches of both rivers to extinction.
The high demand generated by subtropical agriculture adds more than 600 liters per second to the lower reaches of the Genal River, where illegal irrigation is estimated to cover over 500 hectares . As a result, the water table has dropped significantly, and there are visible deficits at the confluence of the Genal and Guadiaro rivers, affecting both the flow and the ecological balance of the surrounding area.
They demand immediate responses and strong measures.
Verdemar-Ecologistas en Acción is not only demanding the formal declaration of the Genal River as an overexploited water body , but is also calling for an immediate halt to new tropical crop plantations, effective penalties for illegal water extraction, and sustainable water resource management. The environmentalists warn that, without action, river biodiversity, the survival of local agriculture, and the conservation of protected areas will be seriously jeopardized.
The situation in the Genal Valley reflects the dilemmas facing many rural areas: balancing agricultural development with the conservation of natural resources. The growing demand for subtropical products without adequate control could lead to a point of no return, affecting future generations.
