Oxfam's Cool Planet - On the Line - Virtual journey through Spain, environment, printable version

Spain has always been associated more with farming than with industry. When it was under Roman rule it was referred to as the ‘Garden of the Empire’. Forests and woodlands cover most of the land. Although it is gradually becoming more industrialised, farming is still important, but rural areas are considerably less wealthy than the cities. Its warm climate allows Spain to grow crops like olives and oranges, for which it is famous. Fruit from Valencia is often harvested by hand and is exported all over the world.

Spain is world-famous for its oranges, which are exported to countries around the world

Hunting has destroyed some of Spain’s rarer creatures, but you can still find red squirrels and red deer in the forests and woodlands. Chamois, ibexes, and marmots are common, as is a wide range of reptiles. Many of Spain’s forests have been cut down to make way for industry and urban development. However, the Alpine and mountainous regions are still fertile and support a wealth of wildlife species. The coast has been exposed to erosion and overpopulation during the summer periods, which has caused a number of environmental problems.

Poverty in northern Spain has forced many people to move to the cities to find work. In 1970 over a quarter of the population of Madrid were migrants from the countryside. By 1985 over 75 per cent of the country lived in urban areas; this figure is still increasing today. The fastest growing cities are Barcelona, Valencia, and Madrid. This movement is reflected in the kind of jobs which Spanish people now have. In 1997, out of a labour force of over 16 million, only eight per cent were employed in the agricultural sector. The rest had been recruited into industry, services, and construction. However, not everyone is lucky enough to find work and Spain’s unemployment rate remains high at 21 per cent.

As cities have expanded, so pollution has risen. Coal and iron centres in Madrid and in the north of Spain are responsible for much of this, but increasingly exhaust fumes from cars are contaminating the air. Nearly all transport in Spain (90 per cent) is by road.

Pollution of the Mediterranean Ocean is another concern. Offshore oil and gas rigs are creating harmful pollutants, which could have a damaging effect on marine life. The Spanish government has signed international agreements to try to combat this.

Conservation

Spain has created many national parks to conserve its unique habitats for rare species. The varied regions of Spain are home to a diverse range of animals and birds, none more so than Doñana Park, the largest national park in Europe. Doñana’s flat salt marshes are visited by thousands of birds during the humid, wet winters. Flamingoes and geese flock there from northern Europe to nest, and herons, spoonbills, wild boar, and Iberian lynx are just a few of the creatures which can be found here. Lavender, Thyme, Rosemary, and other heath plants grow in abundance and are home to the Egyptian mongoose and Imperial eagle, which you cannot find anywhere else in Europe.

The Garajonay National Park in the Canary Islands was formed to protect the rare bay tree forests indigenous to the area. These forests make up 70 per cent of the park, which covers 4,000 hectares. High humidity and mists which gather above the forests are essential to their growth. Four hundred and fifty different plant species have been found on this reserve, and at least 34 of them are unique to the region. The protected vegetation and unspoilt conditions make this park a desirable home for many unusual animals and birds.

Photos courtesy of the Spanish Tourist Office

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