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90% of the water available in some Mediterranean basins is destined for human uses, leaving ecosystems on the verge of collapse <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.27.4″ vertical_offset_tablet=”0″ horizontal_offset_tablet=”0″ custom_margin=”||1px|||” custom_padding=”0px|0px|5%|0px” z_index_tablet=”0″ box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”|300|||||||” text_font_size=”19px” background_color=”#ffffff” vertical_offset_tablet=”0″ horizontal_offset_tablet=”0″ custom_margin=”2%|||” custom_padding=”|5%||” hover_enabled=”0″ z_index_tablet=”500″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The Mediterranean basin is facing a silent crisis that threatens its biodiversity, economy and public health: water scarcity is jeopardizing water security and freshwater ecosystems. This is the warning of a study recently published in the journal Environmental Research Letters<\/em>, in which the Environmental Hydraulics Institute of the Universidad de Cantabria (IHCantabria<\/a>), together with other Spanish scientific institutions, participates.<\/p>\n The scientific article, entitled “Water scarcity challenges water security: a case for Spain’s freshwater ecosystems<\/em>“, points out that intensive water use – concentrated in agriculture, tourism and certain industrial sectors – is pushing rivers, aquifers and wetlands towards a point of no return.<\/p>\n Ecosystems under pressure<\/strong><\/p>\n The researchers who participated in this study emphasize that in several Mediterranean basins, up to 90% of the available water resources are used for human activities, leaving insufficient reserves for the maintenance of ecosystems. “This overexploitation, together with the increasing frequency of droughts and the effects of climate change, is degrading emblematic sites such as Do\u00f1ana, the Tablas de Daimiel or the Ebro delta,” explains Jos\u00e9 (Pepe) Barqu\u00edn Ortiz<\/a>, one of the co-authors of the article, full professor at the University of Cantabria and head of the Continental Ecosystems Group at IHCantabria.<\/p>\n Biodiversity loss, saline intrusion in coastal aquifers, and the proliferation of invasive species are some of the consequences of this pressure. In addition, the disconnection of rivers from their floodplains and pollution from urban and industrial discharges increase health risks and reduce the capacity of ecosystems to provide essential services, such as flood protection and natural water purification, respectively.<\/p>\n Transforming water management<\/strong><\/p>\n The study warns that policies focused on increasing water supply – such as the construction of reservoirs or the promotion of desalination – are no longer sustainable solutions on their own. In fact, investments aimed at improving irrigation efficiency have led to an increase in irrigated area, without achieving real water savings.<\/p>\n The authors propose a paradigm shift: prioritizing the protection and restoration of ecosystems, promoting conservation agriculture, controlling illegal extractions, and avoiding the establishment of industries or tourist complexes in areas subject to water stress. They also stress the importance of institutional coordination and of implementing climate change adaptation measures in an integrated manner.<\/p>\n