Climate change is real and unfolding now. Most of it is driven by human activity. There is broad scientific agreement. Everyone pays a price for the changes. The Iberian Peninsula is expected to experience severe droughts more than many other places, according to the European Environment Agency. Climate models expect tougher conditions and more extreme shifts that will challenge water security. Some regions will endure serious water stress. Spain is drying. The desert is advancing.
WWF Spain is calling for public investment and urgent action to confront this serious threat. More than 9 million hectares in Spain are already part of areas with high or very high desertification risk, concentrated mainly in the southern peninsular regions and the two archipelagos.
Causes of desertification in Spain include overuse of aquifers and unsustainable irrigation growth, land abandonment and soil degradation, and recurrent extreme droughts driven by climate change.
Scientific studies forecast reduced precipitation, especially in the Atlantic basins, the Guadalquivir, and the southern peninsula. Average temperatures are expected to rise by about 2 degrees Celsius by 2040.
Despite the extreme drought vulnerability and desertification risk, WWF argues that Spain has pursued a water management model that prioritizes heavily irrigated crops and industrial water use. The NGO notes that about 80 percent of water in the basins is used for irrigation, with some water losses and even illegal use contributing to the problem.
devastations and warnings
Greenpeace has joined the warning about desertification on the Peninsula. It highlights that seven of Europe’s ten worst chronic drought-affected river basins are in Spain. It emphasizes the roles of water overuse, intensive farming, and unplanned urban expansion, and it calls for changes in water, forestry, and agricultural policies.
Desertification and drought threaten the environment and biodiversity, and they carry serious social and economic consequences, including displacement, poverty, and health problems for communities.
Las Tablas de Daimiel, viewed from above during a drought, is a stark example of the crisis. This image is associated with WWF.
The risk of desertification and drought is particularly acute in southern Portugal, Spain, southern Italy, southeastern Greece, Malta, Cyprus, and Bulgaria, as well as the Black Sea coastal areas of Romania.
Data from national authorities indicate that a large portion of Spain is at risk this century, with estimates ranging from 75 to 80 percent. A notable portion already faces high desertification levels. Without urgent action, the arid zone is likely to expand.
Projections from the former Ministry of Environment suggest that arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas could reach roughly 37.4 million hectares out of 50.5 million hectares total. This is a clear signal that the issue is not confined to the southern half of the peninsula and could extend northward.
Julio Barea, who leads water work at Greenpeace, states that faced with immediate desertification risks and the related crises, there is a single path forward. The solution lies in curbing climate change and strengthening rural resilience. [Greenpeace attribution]
support a water-saving culture
In the face of stronger droughts and advancing desertification, humans must adapt to available water resources. Reducing risk to people and productive sectors, and promoting a culture of water conservation becomes essential as demand outpaces supply.
To address the situation, the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge has outlined a National Strategy to Combat Desertification aimed at reducing impact and restoring degraded lands. [Ministry attribution]
A drought-stricken riverbed serves as a stark reminder of the crisis. Critics say this plan needs a dedicated budget and concrete measures for the next eight years. They stress the importance of a specific funding line to address the crisis if the country hopes to win the war against desertification. WWF emphasizes the need for a robust plan with clear financing and timelines. [WWF attribution]
There is concern that the current government approach may be too late to halt irreversible desertification in parts of Spain. Experts urge closer alignment of the Desertification Strategy with neighboring policies, including agricultural support, cross-border hydrological plans, and the use of Next Generation funds where relevant. They also advocate for a Soil Conservation Law to prevent ongoing erosion and degradation. [Policy attribution]