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Doñana begins recovery as rains refill marshlands and aquifer
Heavy winter rainfall gives hope for wildlife after years of drought
The Doñana has received a welcome boost to the natural park, following the recent heavy rainfall and alerts across Andalucía due to Storm Leonardo. Eloy Revilla, director of the Doñana Biological Station, said the rainfall represents a positive step for the stabilisation of the park and its aquifer, which has begun a slow recovery. He stressed that while the situation is improving, it is still too early to know how beneficial the rains will be in the long term.The ICTS-Doñana report, 'State of Biodiversity in Doñana 2025', confirms that the park continues to have enormous ecological value but faces a complex situation, with some encouraging signs and other worrying symptoms. The 2024-2025 hydrological cycle recorded a total rainfall of 675mm, well above the historical average of 530mm, although much of it fell in intense bursts, particularly in March, when 287.2mm were measured, nearly half the annual total. The downpours sometimes caused strong floods in streams feeding the marshes and interruptions for local farms, even as reservoirs surged. This intense rainfall led to an exceptional filling of the marshland, close to 100% for 157 days, almost double the historical average.
Revilla highlighted the timing of the floods as particularly encouraging for wildlife. "The difference is that it's happening much earlier. Last year it was late; birds were already breeding," he said. "If the rain stops at some point and the water levels stabilise, they'll start to recede, and they'll be able to begin breeding. I'm confident we'll have a very strong breeding season this year". He also noted that the marshland is currently 90% flooded, with water continuing to flow in, meaning the extent of flooding is similar to last year but earlier in the season.
The report shows mixed results for wildlife. Wintering bird numbers were modest, with 178,907 counted in January, far below historical averages, although most species show population increases compared to 2024. Some groups of insects and amphibians, such as aquatic beetles, common frogs, spadefoot toads, and Iberian ribbed newts, have thrived under the wetter conditions. However, species like the greylag goose reached historic lows, while invasive species including the American red swamp crayfish and blue crab continue to challenge the park's biodiversity.
Revilla cautioned that the park’s aquifer remains vulnerable. "The problem is overexploitation. If the average availability is less than the average demand in the long term, we have a problem," he said. Measures such as farm closures, which reduce water demand, are likely to help, but aquifers respond slowly and take time to recover.
Overall, the combination of heavy rainfall and careful resource management offers hope for Doñana’s long-term recovery, though experts warn that continued monitoring and protection will be essential.
Image: wikicommons
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