Situated between Valencia and Barcelona, the Ebro River is one of the longest rivers on the Iberian Peninsula, running from the Cantabrian mountains and through the Rioja wine region before emptying through a wide delta into the Mediterranean. Surrounding the river is the Ebro river basin, covering as much as 17 percent of the total land area of Spain.
Vulnerable forest area in the last few years, devastating forest fires have become an increasing problem in the river basin, threatening not only the forests and local environment, but also the dams, reservoirs and watersheds that are crucial to the water supply in the region.
Increased erosion, silting and sedimentation are polluting the waters and disturbing the natural dynamics of the 25,000 hectares of forest. Lack of forest maintenance and care has also led to a profound increase in forest density.
The excess of biomass is a common cause of forest fires in Mediterranean ecosystems, and this has added to the area’s vulnerability. “The risk of forest fire in the Ebro river basin is now significant, and an actual fire would have severe consequences for the localenvironment,” Samuel Chopo, technical assistant at the Ebro water authorities, said.
The regional forestry service instigated efforts to prevent forest fires in the river basin, but with limited funding, it proved impossible to carry out sufficient work to secure the areas. Now, with a 50 percent grant from the financial mechanisms, the forestry service is able to implement a comprehensive €5.9 million project to prevent forest fires in the area “This project is of crucial importance to us, not only to prevent wild fires, but also to protect the soil against erosion and to secure the water quality in the reservoirs,” Chopo said.
Preventive measures
The Ebro water authorities will now carry out extensive works in the forest, eliminating sick and dead trees and thinning the densest areas. Led by Environmental Studies Service Manager Alfonso Calvo, a team of forest engineers, topographers, forest guards and technicians will ensure the completion of the project. New firebreaks and thinning stripes alongside the forest tracks will be made, while existing firebreaks and tracks are to be repaired. The building of water pools where large amounts of water can be stored, will serve as a crucial and easily accessible weapon against raging wildfires.
An information campaign will be targeted at local residents, workers and tourists, to inform and create awareness about the danger of forest fires. Chopo underlined that the project is large in scale, with enormous areas of forest to secure. However, the funding from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway gives the prevention work an important, and much needed boost.