Donana: another environmental disaster

One of the most important wetlands in Europe is on the verge of an irreversible situation.

The end of summer brings bad news for the environment. After having the hello heat and having reached the sad record of being the summer season with the largest area devastated by forest fires, September begins with the unfortunate news of the drying up of the wetland Donana, located in Huelva, Andalusia.

Heat, drought and forest fires

around the middle of august, the Ministry for the Ecological Transition estimated at almost 230.000 the forest hectares burned in so far this year 2022, a figure that multiplies by four the average of recent years on these dates. It must be taken into account that the vast majority of fires are attributed to sudden meteorological phenomena; from the lack of rain, even strong heat waves. Phenomena that are becoming more frequent, with permanence in time and in the territories. Climate change is a reality that increasingly affects all populations, with tragic consequences for the ecosystem.

The water system, flora and fauna at serious risk

Donana, It is one of the most important wetlands in Europe and an enclave declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.. It has an important system of lagoons, of which only a few are kept with water all summer, offering refuge to the first birds migrating south after breeding in northern Europe, and they also constitute the habitats of a good number of strictly aquatic flora and fauna species.. The lagoon of Santa Olalla, the largest and most permanent of the wetland and the last one that has maintained water during the summer, is dry and cracked. no fish, fauna, and with a third of the rice paddy planted, the outlook is grim.

An old problem

Specialists indicate that the current situation, comes from a long time ago. Rainfall has been below average for ten years, This added to the drought that Europe is suffering and the intensification of agriculture that has increased the demand for water. To the natural causes that lead to this phenomenon, we must add the incessant extraction of water for the domestic supply of the urbanization of Matalascañas and the little, or rather scarce, government planning to address this problem. where once again, the profits of a few prevail, above the natural resources that belong to all.

They only take formal and insufficient measures

It is urgent to get to work, rediscuss the entire production system and plan the economy based on the real needs of the population and not capitalist interests. The opposite of the formal measures taken by the government of the "progressive coalition" PSOE-UP based on the directives of the European Union. Even if they don't recognize it, The Spanish State is in an ecological and environmental emergency. Another example of this is the ecocide that takes place in the Mar Menor.

10 Y 11 of September: Global Socio-environmental Forum

In a contribution in this sense, from SUN, next weekend we will participate in the Global Socio-environmental Forum of the International Socialist League, a meeting point against indifference. A meeting that plans to dispute the transition to the technocrats of green capitalism and the prophets of "you can't", of "individual responsibility". A starting point to trace the coordinates of an alternative program and lay the foundations for a comprehensive reorganization of all the rules of production, consumption and life. No commodified nature. Without ecosystems violated by the profitability of 1 %. Participate.