Doñana wetlands illegal farmland falls to 245 hectares, a new low

According to satellite‑based AI monitoring by the Confederación Hidrográfica del Guadalquivir, the area of irregularly irrigated farms around the Doñana wetland in Spain has dropped to 245 hectares, down from a peak of 1,225 hectares in 2020. The illegal plots are concentrated in Lucena del Puerto and, to a lesser extent, Almonte.

The reduction follows a package of measures introduced by the regional and national governments, including public land purchases, incentives for dry‑land farming and subsidies of €70,000 per hectare (up to €100,000 in Huelva) to encourage farmers to abandon unlicensed crops and restore native vegetation. Enforcement actions have also intensified, with more than 1,300 fines totaling around €14 million imposed on farmers for illicit water use.

Legal cultivation under plastic in the northern sector now stands at 3,571 hectares, of which 93 % have proper water‑rights. The plan aims to eliminate the remaining illegal irrigated areas and protect the Doñana aquifer and wetland ecosystem.