The Santa Olalla pond has dried up. The only area remaining little wet is a small trickle of spring water that runs along its southern shore, maintaining a tiny muddy stream. We can hardly see them, but if we look closely, in the mud, we can see small dark spots… moving! They are pond turtles, immobile on the areas where the water slowly comes out. From time to time, they show their snouts out to breathe. They hold on as long as there is still some water left, but… how long will they be able...

This Friday, the ICTS – Doñana Biological Reserve has installed a new camera in the Doñana National Park to monitor the drying of Santa Olalla, the largest lagoon in the protected natural area. This will predictably happen in mid-August, a couple of weeks earlier than last year. Since the Doñana Biological Station – CSIC has records, this lagoon has never dried up for two consecutive years, which demonstrates the critical situation of the Doñana lagoon system.

The Doñana Participation Council meets to analyse the proposed law that aims to extend legal irrigation in the Doñana region. Spain is sentenced by the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to fulfil its legal obligations towards the World Heritage Site Doñana.
Eloy Revilla, director of the Doñana Biological Station - CSIC, presents scientific data to illustrate the critical situation of Doñana, an emblematic natural area in south-western Spain, and gives some proposals to...

Escribo estas líneas para desahogarme como ciudadano pasmado por la realidad que día a día nos atropella. Podría hacerlo de manera más técnica, como responsable de la Estación Biológica de Doñana, el centro de investigación del CSIC que, junto con otros actores, consiguieron proteger Doñana a mediados del siglo pasado. Sin embargo, me voy a limitar a mis sensaciones y sentimientos.

This is the third time that the Santa Olalla lagoon has dried up since the Doñana Biological Station have records. It also happened in 1983 and 1995.
In addition to an intense dry period, the overexploitation of the aquifer by the touristic Matalascañas has aggravated the situation in Doñana.