Environmental Issues
Pollution-
Spain is an area of great pollution much like many other European countries like the United Kingdom and Germany, because of its major industry. Its borders, the sea, also share a toll in its industry, because of the vulnerability to oil spills from tankers traveling along Spain’s sea trade routes and the industrial carbon dioxide released from Spain’s factories. The industrial carbon dioxide released from the factories will lead to ocean acidification, because of the dissolving carbon dioxide into the sea and other water sources like lakes, oceans, and rivers. These pollution problems not only greatly affect Spain, but they contribute to the pollution of the rest of the world as a greater total. Also, Spain’s cities produce a total of 13.8 million tons of solid waste per year. Spain currently holds a title as the 20th most air polluted country in the world.
Land issues -
Spain’s issues also include the landscape and vegetation of Spain. Now, there are only extensive forests limited to the Pyrenees and the Asturias-Galicia area in the north, because of centuries of careless deforestation. Currently, Spain government is working at a reforestation movement to restore the forest. Also, forest fires eliminates 700,000 to 1,000,000 hectares of forestland a year. Erosion also affects 18% of the total land mass Spain, of since Valencia produces the most popular oranges in the world, there is a high demand for their oranges. Over 70% of all of Spain’s oranges, which is used all over the world as an ingredient for a dish or beverage. This could be a problem, because in these drought areas, many oranges are grown, and the dryness and the farming of these oranges causes major erosion of the land. Desertification is also a major environmental issue in Spain. Organizations say that 30-60% Spain’s land is at risk of desertification, and that one third of Spain is at risk of becoming a desert.
Animals and the Environment -
There are many endangered species in Spain, because of misuse and irresponsibility of the environment in Spain. Some of the species that are endangered are the Spanish lynx, Pyrenean ibex, Mediterranean Monk seal, northern bald ibis, Spanish imperial eagle, Cantabrian capercaillie, dusky large blue and Nevada blue butterflies, and on the Canary Islands, the green sea turtle and Hierro giant lizard. Both the Canarian black oystercatcher and the Canary mouse have been extinct. By 2001, there were 10 bird species, 10 species of freshwater fish, and 822 plant species were endangered. This extreme low in species of animals could greatly affect the food web, and may make an ecosystem falter or even fall. To help with this problem, the Spanish government has preserved land to help increase the animal populations, and has opened organizations to help with the rehabilitation of the animals. Also, there have been water conservation organizations to help prevent the possibilities of a major drought in Spain.
New Recent Petroleum Issues
Currently as of 2014, there has been two major deposits of petroleum oil, which has posed as new opportunities for the Spanish government and its citizens, at the cost of the environment. The new petroleum could lead to the opening of over 250,000 new jobs, as the unemployment numbers are 6 million currently unemployed. Although this proves as a benefit to the economy, there is risk that the oil gathering could affect many of the coastal cities, like Valencia. Many citizens march through cities, signing petitions to halt further exploitation of the islands and coast.
Spain is an area of great pollution much like many other European countries like the United Kingdom and Germany, because of its major industry. Its borders, the sea, also share a toll in its industry, because of the vulnerability to oil spills from tankers traveling along Spain’s sea trade routes and the industrial carbon dioxide released from Spain’s factories. The industrial carbon dioxide released from the factories will lead to ocean acidification, because of the dissolving carbon dioxide into the sea and other water sources like lakes, oceans, and rivers. These pollution problems not only greatly affect Spain, but they contribute to the pollution of the rest of the world as a greater total. Also, Spain’s cities produce a total of 13.8 million tons of solid waste per year. Spain currently holds a title as the 20th most air polluted country in the world.
Land issues -
Spain’s issues also include the landscape and vegetation of Spain. Now, there are only extensive forests limited to the Pyrenees and the Asturias-Galicia area in the north, because of centuries of careless deforestation. Currently, Spain government is working at a reforestation movement to restore the forest. Also, forest fires eliminates 700,000 to 1,000,000 hectares of forestland a year. Erosion also affects 18% of the total land mass Spain, of since Valencia produces the most popular oranges in the world, there is a high demand for their oranges. Over 70% of all of Spain’s oranges, which is used all over the world as an ingredient for a dish or beverage. This could be a problem, because in these drought areas, many oranges are grown, and the dryness and the farming of these oranges causes major erosion of the land. Desertification is also a major environmental issue in Spain. Organizations say that 30-60% Spain’s land is at risk of desertification, and that one third of Spain is at risk of becoming a desert.
Animals and the Environment -
There are many endangered species in Spain, because of misuse and irresponsibility of the environment in Spain. Some of the species that are endangered are the Spanish lynx, Pyrenean ibex, Mediterranean Monk seal, northern bald ibis, Spanish imperial eagle, Cantabrian capercaillie, dusky large blue and Nevada blue butterflies, and on the Canary Islands, the green sea turtle and Hierro giant lizard. Both the Canarian black oystercatcher and the Canary mouse have been extinct. By 2001, there were 10 bird species, 10 species of freshwater fish, and 822 plant species were endangered. This extreme low in species of animals could greatly affect the food web, and may make an ecosystem falter or even fall. To help with this problem, the Spanish government has preserved land to help increase the animal populations, and has opened organizations to help with the rehabilitation of the animals. Also, there have been water conservation organizations to help prevent the possibilities of a major drought in Spain.
New Recent Petroleum Issues
Currently as of 2014, there has been two major deposits of petroleum oil, which has posed as new opportunities for the Spanish government and its citizens, at the cost of the environment. The new petroleum could lead to the opening of over 250,000 new jobs, as the unemployment numbers are 6 million currently unemployed. Although this proves as a benefit to the economy, there is risk that the oil gathering could affect many of the coastal cities, like Valencia. Many citizens march through cities, signing petitions to halt further exploitation of the islands and coast.