The severe drought afflicting southeastern Spain is causing a silent wave of destruction among the region's flora. In Murcia, hundreds of thousands of trees and shrubs are succumbing to severe water stress, marking the worst drought in 50 years. Roque Pérez, dean of the Official College of Forest Engineers in Murcia, stated, "Entire slopes are drying out; we have never seen anything like this before."
According to recent assessments, 622 public natural spaces covering 16,830 hectares, which is 5.4% of the region's forested area, have been affected. Approximately 400,000 Aleppo pines, the most abundant species, have died, with private forests suffering even greater losses. The hydrological year that just ended was the driest on record, with an average precipitation of only 137 liters per square meter, less than half the usual amount.
The drought is not only impacting pine forests but also affecting other vital species such as holm oaks and junipers, with mass die-offs reported in various ecosystems. The most alarming effects are being felt in five regional parks, where significant portions of forests and underbrush have perished. Areas along the Guadalentín Valley and the coastal strip from Águilas to Cartagena have also been severely impacted.
Experts attribute this crisis to climate change, which has intensified drought cycles and altered precipitation patterns. Miguel Ángel Esteve, an ecology professor at the University of Murcia, noted that the flora in southeastern Spain is not adapted to the new rainfall patterns, leading to increased stress and mortality rates among forest ecosystems.
Despite 2023 not being particularly dry overall, most of the rainfall occurred in just two months, resulting in inadequate conditions for plant growth. The combination of high temperatures and insufficient winter chill is expected to change the landscape dramatically, with many species unable to survive.
In response to this ecological disaster, Pérez advocates for a comprehensive review of forest management policies and immediate emergency measures to remove dead trees and prevent pest outbreaks. He emphasizes that droughts will become more frequent, necessitating proactive strategies for the future. The regional government has initiated the drafting of a new Forest Law, which will involve collaboration between landowners and forest engineers to establish a sustainable forest management framework.