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Southeastern Spain is experiencing the northward advance of the Sahara Desert, leading to declining rainfall, soil degradation, and climate change-induced droughts, threatening agricultural lands that have been farmed for many centuries.
In 2023, these farmers endured both a record parching drought and dangerously destructive downpours — both likely intensified by global warming. In Almería, in southeasternmost Spain, rural residents continue grappling with the consequences of human-driven desertification, marked by dwindling rainfall due to a changing climate, punctuated by disastrous deluges, shrinking forests, and severe soil degradation.
But such harm isn’t seen everywhere. Santiaga Sánchez, daughter and granddaughter of shepherds, says her farm has proven more resilient than others.
Many of Alvelal’s members view agriculture as part of the broader ecosystem, where natural zones and farmlands mutually benefit each other. They nurture both natural and productive lands to create a mosaic of interconnected biodiversity hotspots. Today, ecological corridors link the region’s mountain ranges, fostering a more resilient landscape as a buffer against worsening water scarcity and rising temperatures.
But the farmers of Alvelal are fighting back using techniques both old and new. “One thing I was always clear about when I was young was that I wanted to follow my father’s footsteps,” Sánchez recalls. “I wanted to do it just as he did — combining livestock breeding with farming, an integrated approach.
Modern commercial farming brought machinery use, synthetic fertilizers, and water-intensive practices. “We entered the era of fertilizer dependency,” she adds with a tone of regret. But that’s not true of her farm. Outside her cortijo, the bleating of hundreds of sheep fills the air. “Everything my livestock needs, whether from farming or our natural areas, is produced here. There’s no need for Ukrainian grain,” she says. “Relying on what is purchased and produced elsewhere is not sustainable.”
Santiaga Sánchez seated atop a pile of compost she calls her “brown gold.” She uses sheep manure as fertilizer for her crops, saving money on synthetic fertilizers that would also make her dependent on commercial companies. Image by Xaume Olleros for Mongabay.A few kilometers away, Miguel Ángel Gómez drives a tractor to his father’s almond grove.
Data collected between 2016 and 2022 by the Alvelal association suggest that regenerative practices can increase soil water infiltration by up to 55%, and boost soil organic matter by 15.2%, along with a 31.7% increase in microorganism counts. Biodiversity on regenerative farms has also exploded, rivaling that of some natural zones, and underscoring the crucial restorative role of regenerative agriculture within a broader ecosystem.
Fernando Bautista, responsible for natural zone programs at Alvelal, emphasizes how strongly sustainable agriculture relies on creating resilient and healthy ecosystems. These revived ecosystems then ensure water harvesting, prevent soil erosion, and promote biodiversity. Alvelal has since planted 700,000 seeds and 30,000 saplings here, primarily juvenile Spanish junipers, to preserve the genetic material of this seven-century-old specimen. The reason: this ancient juniper has shown its ability to endure by weathering numerous climate change challenges, including prolonged drought, heavy snowfall, high temperatures, and floods.
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