The Spanish region is battling against land degradation, illegal wells, groundwater collapse and soaring temperatures. This is before we come to rocketing tourist numbers in the coming months and five years of drought.
From Malaga to Granada, Cadiz to Seville, Andalusia is understandably a perennially popular choice for holidaymakers looking for incredible history and unique culture. An autonomous region that has been influenced by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Berbers, Romanis and Byzantines, the towns and cities are fascinating melting pots to explore.
And the weather isn’t bad either, providing you’re looking for plenty of sunshine and almost-non-existent rain. In fact, for the past five years Andalusia has been experiencing drought like conditions, raising very real fears of desertification in the region. Exacerbated by a rise in wildfires and over-exploitation for agriculture.
But there is some hope. In Show Me The World’s new documentary, Andalusia: Water Crisis in Europe’s Driest Region, we learn about some of the ultra-modern and millennia-old methods being deployed by the government, farmers, activists and scientists in a bid to tackle this ongoing emergency.
Facing off against unforgiving weather conditions – not least in the area recognised as the continent’s only desert – alongside a rise in illegal wells, and the collapse of groundwater stocks, it ultimately asks one question. Will ancient wisdom and modern science be enough to stop the desert from reclaiming the land?
Directed by Tanja Winkler, and forming part of the ongoing series Water Is Our Future, the feature-length film not only shines a light on Andalusia’s plight, it includes several lessons everyone should learn. The world is in the early stages of a global water crisis, and the best chance of overcoming this starts with more efficient and effective management.
Image: Michael Cummins / Unsplash
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