The project of extraction and storage of gas within Doñana’s natural space is threatening its survival. Doñana’s natural space, protected since 1969 and declared Unesco’s Worls Heritage, hosts species like the threatened Iberic lynx, the imperial eagle or the black stork. Six million of birds stop in Doñana each year, during the migration time between Europe and Africa. Dunes, swamps and big extensions of forest gives origin to a unique set of ecosystems. The natural gas project authorized by the Central Government within Doñana’s natural space puts in risk the biodiversity and the future of this protected space. And comes preceded by cases as 'Plataforma Castor' created also to store gas that produced over 500 earthquakes and a public money indemnity of almost 1.400 millions of euros. It also supposes keep betting for an energetic model based in fossil fuels that feeds the climate changing. A project aproved with a study of environmental impact that doesn’t include in any case, detailed geological studies of seismic risks, affecting Doñana’s Natural Space, the Special Zone of Protection of Doñana and the Communitary Importante Place of North and West Doñana. At any moment, in the respective study cites the existence of a failure (rock rupture with possible dislocation), but it’s recognized that it isn’t cartographed and it’s not known where it may run. It’s all about a gas storage that will be built so that the company has reserves that warrant the gas sell during all year, avoiding the seasonal fluctuations as geopolitics, since the gas to be stored proceeds in its entirety from Argelia. That is, the subsoil of a protected space is ceded for the benefit of a company without the warranty for many of the nearest populations and the natural space of Doñana. However, Gas Natural de Fenosa will receive this year around 6.3 millions of euros for this project of storage and ectraction of gas made around Doñana’s natural space, a help that rejects Junta de Andalucia and the ecologist colectives.  

Location

Huelva, Spain

Environmental impact

• Land degradation (e.g. drought, soil contamination, erosion and desertification)
• Biodiversity loss – Ecosystem destruction
• Alteration of landscape aesthetics and built heritage

Ethical/ legal issues

• A clean and prosperous environment and a safe and pleasant habitat

Information sources & materials

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