Threats caused by desertification In Spain they are not a minor issue. This process of soil degradation, linked to both climatic factors and human action, already affects most of the territory and determines both the present and future of the national economy and biodiversity. In recent years, The administration has focused on reversing this trend. betting on new ecological restoration strategies and redirecting public investments toward the conservation of the most vulnerable ecosystems.
The context does not invite optimismNearly three-quarters of Spanish territory has conditions that favor desertification. Climate change is raising temperatures, increasing the frequency and intensity of droughts, and accelerating soil evapotranspiration. Furthermore, pressure on water resources—especially from agricultural irrigation—and the lack of adequate adapted forest management These are factors that contribute to the expansion of arid and semi-arid zones from the southeast of the peninsula to island regions such as the Canary Islands.
Desertification in data and its main causes
The latest studies by the CSIC and the State Meteorological Agency leave no room for doubt: aridity is advancing steadily. According to official estimates, 74% of the national territory is at risk y 20% can already be considered desertifiedIn regions like the Canary Islands, the phenomenon is particularly serious: in just thirty years, the aridity index has dropped from 0,3 to 0,25, dragging much of the region into increasingly dry categories. This problem affects both traditionally arid areas and areas that functioned as water reserves until a few decades ago.
The causes of desertification are complex These factors range from climate change to intensive agricultural practices, rural abandonment, urban expansion, and the overexploitation of aquifers. Irrigation, for example, continues to grow and consumes more than 80% of available water in arid areas. These factors, when combined with the lack of active forest management and the increase in fires associated with biomass accumulation, further aggravate the risk of losing fertile soil and biodiversity.
Public investments to halt forest degradation and restore forests
Given this worrying outlook, the central government has approved a budget of 32 millones de euros intended to restore forest stands in decline or at high risk of desertification. This budget, channeled through the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan (PRTR), will be managed by the autonomous communities to implement priority actions in the most affected areas.
Among the regions that will receive specific support are the Murcia, which will include €8,2 million for forest restoration initiatives, fire prevention, silvicultural treatments, and the conversion to native species better adapted to the climate. These interventions will also include improving forest infrastructure and managing fuel vegetation, with the aim of strengthening ecological resilience and limiting the effects of drought and pests.
The main lines of action funded include:
- Recovery and improvement of forest structure through silvicultural treatments.
- Promotion of native plant species with greater water adaptability.
- Prevention and control of forest pests and diseases.
- Managing fuel vegetation to reduce the risk of large fires.
- Restoration and conditioning of forest tracks and other access routes.
These actions will be applied mainly in public forests, respecting national conservation guidelines, and are aligned with structural objectives such as Spanish Forestry Strategy Horizon 2050 and the Spanish Forestry Plan 2022–2032.
New strategies and challenges for the management of affected ecosystems
The Ministry for Ecological Transition and the regional authorities are working on the implementation of comprehensive strategies against desertificationThe approach includes the restoration of already degraded areas, sustainable management of land resources, and more efficient water use. It also seeks to promote a mosaic of agroforestry uses that restores the ecological functionality of landscapes, prevents the overaccumulation of combustible biomass, and strengthens biodiversity.
Forest owners' associations, researchers, and environmental managers emphasize the need for a hybrid model that combines the use of traditional agricultural crops, grazing, and rational forest management. The abandonment of rural areas and the lack of sustainable use of wood and forest products are behind the increase in tree density and the accumulation of dead wood, factors that increase the risk of particularly destructive fires in regions such as the Valencian Community.
Experts agree that desertification is not only an environmental threat, but also economically and socially. Productive sectors such as agriculture, livestock, and tourism depend directly on water and ecological balance. In the Canary Islands, for example, the intensification of this process jeopardizes the future of local agriculture and affects the sustainability of the island's main economic driver: tourism.
Impacts and responses at the global and national levels
The phenomenon of desertification also has, global repercussionsAccording to the OECD, the land area affected by droughts has doubled since 1900, and 40% of the planet is already experiencing increased intensity and frequency of these episodes. In Spain, economic losses associated with drought and soil degradation continue to rise, with costs expected to increase significantly in the next decade if decisive action is not taken.
The integration of drought prevention strategies, ecosystem restoration and efficient water use It is presented as an essential way to maintain agricultural production, ensure water availability, and preserve essential ecosystem services. Investing in resilience provides economic and environmental benefits in the medium and long term.
