The history of water “theft” in Spain—dating back two centuries and spiraling out of control during the Franco era with the proliferation of tens of thousands of wells—is continuing to grow, according to data gathered by WWF Spain across much of the peninsula. Together with the worst offending areas of Doñana, Las Tablas de Daimiel, and the Mar Menor are three other hotspots: the Arenales region of Castile-León (particularly in Segovia), the Baza area (Granada), and the southeastern peninsula (Albacete, Alicante, and Almería). Satellite imagery reveals over 80,000 hectares—an area equivalent to six cities the size of Barcelona—devoted to unauthorized irrigated crops that continue to operate because, as Juanjo Carmona, WWF Spain’s spokesperson in Andalusia, notes, “it is far more beneficial to pay the fines years later and continue now with profitable production.” Translated from this article

My Barcelona kids love strawberries. Most sold in the city seem to come from fields around Doñana National Park in Andalucía. Doñana is slowly dying as water is taken legally and illegally by strawberry farms. We’re helping to destroy the greatest wildlife reserve in Europe. Now, were careful not to by them.