Montgó Natural Park, a unique ecosystem in Alicante, is on the brink of an ecological disaster due to an ongoing and severe drought. The situation has become so critical that the Generalitat Valenciana has officially labelled it a “disaster of unknown consequences.” Over 61,000 trees have already died due to water stress.
The park, which was declared a Natural Park in 1987, covers 2,117 hectares in the municipalities of Denia and Jávea, two of the most popular tourist destinations on Spain’s eastern coast.
The prolonged drought has persisted for over a year. This has led to the death of thousands of trees within the park. Environmental groups are calling it a “catastrophe”. Furthermore they accuse the regional government of downplaying the severity of the situation while failing to take adequate measures to mitigate the environmental damage.
Unprecedented dry conditions
The Montgó Park has been suffering from an extreme lack of rainfall. The nature suffers from the driest and warmest period on record for the Valencian territory. Between 2020 and 2022, the park received an average of 715.5 millimetres of rain annually. However, in 2023, this figure plummeted to just 242.4 millimetres. In the first five months of 2024 only 53.8 millimetres were recorded. Carlos Arribas, a spokesperson for Ecologistas en Acción, has described the situation as catastrophic. “We are facing a drought far worse than the one in 2013. Thousands of trees are already dead, and if this summer and the coming autumn continue to be drier than usual, the near future could spell disaster for Montgó’s ecosystems,” he warned.
The park is home to over 650 species of flora, 50 of which are endemic to the area. The drought has taken a particularly heavy toll on the Aleppo pine, a species that dominates the park. Other trees, including holm oaks and carob trees, are also suffering, and the once-vibrant underbrush of white and black rockrose is now barren.
Increasing fire risk
The risk of wildfires has also escalated as the dry conditions persist. Rubén Ferrer, a representative of the environmental group SOS Natura Marina Alta, criticises the Generalitat for not taking proactive measures to prevent further damage. “They tell us they can’t replant trees because they’ll just die again, and it seems like the only solution is to wait for rain. But can’t something be done to protect the most important species? The administration should invest in solutions rather than hiding the problem,” he urged.
Ferrer also highlighted the ongoing risk of fire. He points out the park remains open to visitors despite the dangerous conditions. “Why not close certain areas to protect them? Why allow new urban developments when water is so scarce?” Ferrer questioned, adding that he estimates around 20% of the park’s pines have already perished.
Government measures and future plans
In response to the crisis, the Generalitat has acknowledged the severity of the situation, citing it as the driest and warmest period ever recorded in the region. Forest health authorities report that over 61,000 trees have already died in the provinces of Alicante, Castellón, and Valencia due to water stress.
The regional government claims it is taking action, including damage assessments and the removal of dead trees that pose a safety risk. Plans are underway to increase monitoring efforts using drones. Additionally a declaration of emergency has been drafted to implement extraordinary measures with a budget of over €500,000.
The Generalitat also aims to facilitate the commercial use of dead wood to generate revenue for local municipalities and support damage control efforts. However, environmental groups remain skeptical. They urge more immediate and effective measures to prevent further loss in this fragile ecosystem.
Also read: Drought a disaster for Barcelona trees