DoƱana is a Spanish protected natural area located in Andalusia. It is a whole nature conservation area in which many species (some in a state of threat such as the lynx) develop and thrive in this natural habitat.
However, last Saturday the 24th at 21:30 p.m. a great fire in the place La PeƱuela de Moguer (Huelva) and then it spread to MatalascaƱas. The fire has caused serious damage throughout the National Park. What has happened to the biodiversity in DoƱana? Will the soil be requalified after the fire?
DoƱana national park
The DoƱana National Park has 108.086ha in total distributed between the National Park and the surrounding Natural Park (which serves to cushion the external impacts of the human being). Its large expanse of marshes welcomes numerous species of waterfowl during winter, that usually reach 200.000 individuals each year. It is the place in Spain with the most existing biodiversity and is home to a large number of threatened and endangered species such as lynxes. Thanks to its great geographical location, more than 300 different species of birds can be observed per year. In addition, it is a place of passage, breeding and wintering for thousands of aquatic and terrestrial species, both European and African. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994.
Fire in DoƱana
On June 24 at 21:30 p.m. the fire was registered in the place La PeƱuela de Moguer (Huelva). The fire began to spread at such a speed that it immediately spread through MatalascaƱas. The fire has affected areas that make DoƱana a set of ecosystems with a unique personality, due to the fact that unique and endemic species of this place reside there.
DoƱana is so diverse that it houses a unique biodiversity throughout Europe. Among the ecosystems that stand out the most, we find the marshes above the rest. The importance is due to what has been mentioned before: It is a place of passage, breeding and wintering of many species of birds. In addition, unique and endangered species coexist in its environment, such as the Iberian imperial eagle and the Iberian lynx. One of the lynxes has lost his life in the fire because he cannot bear the stress of the changes. The lynxes had to be evicted from the El Acebuche Captive Breeding Center and all lynxes were transported to other places.
The strong and variable winds caused the fire to enter the National Park area and added to the high temperatures, they have made controlling the fire very difficult. The Government Delegate in Andalusia, Antonio Sanz, has been the operational coordinator. This morning, the wind has begun to stop and has given a truce to the extinction services. Although they can't quite relax yet, as gusts of wind could reignite the flames, they are beginning to be optimistic.
Fire damage
Until a few hours ago there were three fronts of the fire. Two of them are already perimeter, but the third, in the north, is still active and within the natural park. However, thanks to the reduction of wind and heat, the prospects of finishing controlling the fire are not bad.
Despite the vast expanse of burnt pine trees, the fire has not entered the national park, the most protected area. The more than 100.000 hectares of the DoƱana Natural Area are divided into two areas: the natural park and the national park (the jewel of this space). The flames have not reached the most protected and valuable area.
The fire has forced 2.000 people to evacuate. Specialists on the subject believe that the fire has not been originated by natural causes, but that the hand of man is behind it. Infoca agents specialized in investigating the fires are already working to determine the causes of the incident, which began on Saturday at 21.30:XNUMX p.m. in an area of āāpine trees and greenhouses. When they conclude their report and if they find any criminal evidence, they will send it to the Seprona of the Civil Guard.
On the other hand, JosĆ© Fiscal, Minister of the Environment of the Junta de AndalucĆa, has stated that the area that has burned is "The mattress that protects the jewel that is DoƱana". The natural park areas are to cushion the impacts and damages that may be caused to what is really the high point of biodiversity and wealth. It is expected to find the reason why this fire has started.
One of the female Iberian lynx from the El Acebuche de DoƱana captive breeding center died on Sunday afternoon after being evicted due to the fire. His name was Homer and, according to sources from the center, he died as a result of the stress suffered during capture and transport.
What will happen to DoƱana?
After the DoƱana fire, there are many people who think that this situation will be taken advantage of to requalify the land and be able to build the gas pipeline that passes through DoƱana or convert the land into a developable area. It is no coincidence that in 2014 it was approved a remodeling of the Forestry Law in which it is allowed to requalify the burned forests provided that the Government declares the project of "public utility". Then in 2015, Gas Natural Fenosa presented the Marisma project, to be able to install gas warehouses in DoƱana. Later in 2016, the Government declared the Gas Natural Fenosa Marsh Project āof public utilityā and now in 2017 there is a fire in DoƱana.
Given these evidences, it is normal to think that they are not mere coincidences. Before, the Law of Mountains prohibited the requalification of a burned ground until after 30 years, to know its recovery status. If in 30 years the burned ground did not recover its value, it could be declared developable and ātake advantageā of that area. However, with the changes that the Forestry Law has undergone, now it is not necessary to wait to be able to requalify the burned soils. For this reason, it is why many people doubt and suspect whether this fire has been intentional or not to carry out the Marisma Project.
To stop this project, should it happen, in just 24 hours, almost 150.000 people have signed so that the fire does not end up serving to carry out all the projects after a requalification of the land. The aim is to make an appeal to the senior officials of the Junta de AndalucĆa and the Ministry of the Environment to guarantee the reforestation and recovery of the burned area and avoid the requalification of these soils. We are talking about the "mattress" that protects the "jewel of DoƱana". We must prevent the Natural Park from being requalified for the construction or implementation of projects that generate environmental impacts. JosĆ© Fiscal has assured that not a single square meter of what has caught fire is going to be requalified.
It only remains to wait to see if what JosƩ Fiscal says is true and to recover what has been lost in this Natural Park.