Centuries of deforestation have turned Spain’s forests into barren scrublands, making them vulnerable to erosion. But volunteers are working to revive the landscape and protect local water sources. Source: DW.DE
Rubén Bernal, a guide at Guardarrama National Park explained that the forests here were burned to make charcoal, or to clear land for sheep to graze – once common practices throughout Spain.
When the government first took stock of the damage in the late 19th century, it estimated that five or six million hectares – or about 10% of the country’s land area – would need to be replanted.
Bernal volunteers with a reforestation group called Reforesta, planting new saplings. He shows volunteers how to plant native species among the invasive plants that dominate this corner of Guadarrama.
Bernal said that they don’t plant in rows or geometric forms. Instead, the team tries to imitate nature.
“We’re looking for the favorable micro-sites. That’s why the plants are half-hidden among the bushes,” Bernal explained.
At the Institute for Food and Agriculture Research and Technology in Madrid, scientist Gregorio Montero said that centuries of deforestation have caused a serious erosion problem in Spain.
“Spain has been a country of shepherds and farmers since the beginning of the Middle Ages,” he said. “Its natural resources have degraded – large forests became scrubland,” Montero said.
As in the Sierra de Guadarrama, landowners across Spain burned or cut down their trees, then ran herds of sheep or cattle across the land. The lack of trees has exposed the topsoil, allowing nutrients to be washed out with the rain, making it less fertile.
And without trees, the soil cannot retain water. This, in turn, dries out the soil, causing the surface to harden to the point where rain can no longer penetrate it. This can lead to flooding, as well as making it difficult for new trees to take root.
By the mid-19th century, Spanish landowners observed their soil being washed away into the sea.
Montero said that in 1867, the Spanish government created a reforestation commission. This was supposed to restore headwaters – the higher-elevation places where rivers and streams are born. But “the effects were few,” he added.
Despite a lack of action on the issue, reforestation held its place in the agenda as Spain lost its last colonies and its government changed hands dozens of times. During the Spanish Civil War, which eventually led to installation of the fascist Franco administration, lawmakers passed a major reforestation law.
Over the next 40 years, Spain planted upwards of four million hectares.
Pablo Sanjuanbenito is currently in charge of carrying out Madrid’s regional forestry plan. He explained how important forests are for protecting the water sources that sustain the Spanish capital, Madrid, with its six to seven million inhabitants.
Spanish authorities are also increasingly interested in protecting forests for their carbon credit value – forests are one of the main carbon dioxide sinks on the planet.
As Spain carries out reforestation, it tries to avoid past mistakes. In previous reforestation attempts, a single species was planted in a monoculture. And on many occasions, exotic plants were introduced, also for commercial production, Sanjuanbenito said.
One of the most popular commercially planted trees is eucalyptus, a species which is imported from Australia. It grows exceptionally fast, which is appealing for private landowners. But eucalyptus requires a lot of water, which is less than ideal in an arid country.
Sanjuanbenito said widespread eucalyptus increases the chance of forest fires. His agency is working to bring slower-growing native species back to Spain’s forests. “Now, all the plantings we do are protective, not productive,” Sanjuanbenito said.
