WWF identifies La Mancha as epicenter of water theft in Spain

A report by WWF identifies the Alto Guadiana region in La Mancha as the epicenter of water theft in Spain. The investigation, titled ‘Aquí se roba agua’, claims that more than 39,000 hectares of crops in this area are being irrigated with water obtained through methods showing “clear signs of illegality.”

According to the organization, the volume of illegally extracted water in the Alto Guadiana area is approximately 69 cubic hectometers. Furthermore, water extraction in this zone is estimated to be 86% higher than the limits permitted by the Guadiana Hydrological Plan.

The report examines six specific zones in Spain: Alto Guadiana, Almonte-Marismas, Los Arenales, Baza, Campo de Cartagena, and the Southeast region (including Albacete, Alicante, and Almería). In total, WWF estimates that over 80,000 hectares of farmland are being irrigated using water resources with suspected illegal extraction.

WWF attributes this crisis to the shift from traditional dryland farming to industrialized, super-intensive irrigated agriculture, often supported by public subsidies. The organization has called on public administrations to implement decisive measures to end the theft and ensure sustainable water management.