DEFORESTATION IN SPAIN
Forest fires have increased a lot during the last years, not only in Spain, but also in other nearby countries such as Portugal or France. These have contributed greatly to deforestation, a problem that can affect about 80% of the entire Spanish territory, but which also has many other causes.
What is deforestation?
Deforestation is the process by which trees and plants are removed from green areas, killing vegetation and rendering the soil unusable. If we take into account the functions of forests on our planet, for example, providing oxygen, deforestation is a serious threat to the health of the earth.
This deforestation can be caused by different natural causes, but above all as a consequence of human activity. Since the growth and evolution of a forest is a very slow process and deforestation can occur at high speed, it is essential to cut these causes of deforestation to prevent further forest loss.
Below we explain the causes of deforestation so that you know where we need to act.
Causes of deforestation: human activity
The causes of deforestation can be natural or human-caused, as explained below.
Like many of the evils that stalk the earth, deforestation can also be caused by human activity. In fact, this is often the first cause of deforestation, but it is also one of the few that can be avoided.
Globally, some of the main causes of deforestation are the clearing or burning of millions of hectares to sell the timber or convert the land to farmland. However, this tends to be more common in developing countries and does not happen in Spain today, although it has been common throughout history. The same happens with forests that are razed to convert them into grazing areas, which are more typical of other latitudes than in this area of the peninsula.
If there is one cause of man-made deforestation in Spain that really stands out, it is the construction and continuous expansion of urban areas. This is something that is linked to the economic and demographic movements of today. Rural areas are becoming depopulated and their population is moving towards the cities. There, there is not enough space and urban centers have to be built and expanded. Often, these constructions are built on sites that used to be wooded areas, land that will become unusable. The same happens with the massive construction that has taken place in some coastal areas of Spain, which has largely destroyed the natural ecosystems that we could find.
Natural causes of deforestation in Spain
But it is not only human activity that is behind the deforestation of Spanish lands, there are natural factors that also lead to it:
Pests and diseases: pests on trees A famous example of this in Spain is the phylloxera plague, which took place in the 19th century and wiped out much of the country’s wine production.
Droughts: the chronic lack of water that a large part of the Spanish territory is suffering is causing deforestation and subsequent desertification of those lands where water does not reach enough.
Forest fires: are responsible for the loss of hundreds of hectares of forest every year. While it is true that many are due to the crimes of arsonists or human negligence, the reality is that many others are caused by the simple action of nature. Dry and neglected forests are the perfect fuel for a simple lightning strike to end in a major fire.
How to prevent deforestation in Spain
But recognizing and knowing the causes of deforestation is not enough to reverse this situation, it is necessary to find some solutions to avoid it. As in so many other aspects that affect the health of the planet, such as global warming or the deterioration of the ozone layer, it is urgent to reach an agreement as global as possible, bringing together all governments to take joint measures. These measures should be aimed at two distinct objectives:
Prevention: so that it does not happen in the future.
Repair: to right the wrong that has already been done.
But we cannot hide behind government inaction to get rid of our part of the blame, or our part in the solution. On a personal level we can make many gestures to prevent deforestation. A very clear example is our excessive use of paper. Today there are many alternatives to avoid wasting so much raw material:
Computerize as much as possible, with pen drives or pdf.
Order invoices online.
Use recycled paper.
Recycle paper and cardboard.
Avoid consuming paper if it is not necessary.
Finally, there are solutions that require citizen action and government coordination. It is a matter of keeping forests and green areas clean. This is the best possible way to prevent forest fires, many of which are caused by bottles, glass and other human waste. In addition, it is necessary to keep the undergrowth in our forests clean, since in the event of a forest fire they become combustible. This is precisely one of the reasons why today’s fires are much more devastating, since forests that used to be controlled by grazing or agriculture are now growing out of control.
In the following article of EcologíaVerde we explain the benefits of recycling paper.
If you want to read more articles related to Causes of deforestation in Spain, we recommend you to visit our Other environment category.
