Joining the EU (1986 to date)

Editor's note 20Mar14: Source D332-4.2.4

Assessment of the components of the three capitals

Traditional forms of farming already in decline, virtually disappear as the global markets open up. Agriculture receives renewed importance through the implementation of irrigation projects in the Andévalo facilitating the creation of large citrus and orange plantations. There are 19.043 ha in Huelva province alone, mostly planted after 2001. Improvement in economic conditions brings back more former migrants and often the children of people who had emigrated in 60s and 70s. Throughout the 1990s connectivity (roads) improve and the area participates in the construction boom, which dominates employment until the late 2000s. Demographic and employment gains made since the late 1980s are wiped out in the post 2007-period when unemployment increase from 16% to 35%.

Critical functions

Spain and Portugal join the EEC in 1986, a landmark of significant changes. At the coastal zone, strawberry production, the "red gold", expands greatly and the first orange plantations are established in Huelva. CAP subsidies allow a revival of livestock breeding (especially sheep), cereal cultivation and later, afforestation programs. Public investment increases dramatically. Trade integration along the border brings an abrupt halt to the clandestine economy that was previously in operation. The bridge between Vila Real de Santo Antonio (Portugal) and Ayamonte (Spain) is constructed in 1991 bringing increased commerce, hotels, bars restaurants and shops to both towns.

The real estate boom starts becoming most apparent after 2000 and several policy adjustments by the central government such as the repeal of "soil law" (ley de suelo) facilitate building on agricultural land. Growth of the agricultural sector coupled with the construction boom, creates a large demand for seasonal workers fuelling immigration from Romania, Poland and other Eastern European countries. A lot of construction and employment is located along the coastal zone.

The overall "Joining the EU" state can be sub-divided into two lower scale SES towards the end of the period, covering the Spanish and local real estate boom and the crisis.

Critical variables

Huelva is a marginal area of a Spanish/European periphery, largely kept alive by migrant remmitances and subsidies. Previous self-subsistence farming and complementary activities that created a multifunctional and diverse rural reality are replaced by new economic wealth, dependent on external means of production, various inputs and public resources. Welfare arrangements become an important source of income for many of the inhabitants of the Baixo Guadiana and the construction sector is the most common source of employment.

Small rural villages have created the commonwealth BETURIA to act as a development center and to increase communication between small villages and higher scale decision making centers. The availability of welfare benefits results in a seasonal migration of many workers from Sanlúcar de Guadiana, instead of a long-term departure, in order to work in hotels on the islands. Over winter they received the "paro", unemployment benefit. The current economic crisis has put a restraint on the possibilities for employment and provides strong incentives to return to old family homes in villages

The Baixo Guadina area is also dominated by the juice and soft drink factory of García-Carrión (Don Simon). The original scope of this project was based on orange deliveries from 7,000 ha of integrated orange plantations and long term agreements with plantations throughout Huelva province. The project has a production goal of 160 million litres of juice. To reach full capacity, the plant needs raw material from 8,000 ha of citrus groves. In 2011 García-Carrión today is preparing to convert 3,000 hectares of land into orange groves. García Carrión aims to partner with local farmers through long-term contracts and consolidated returns. Garcia Carrion has received €70,751,563,96 co-financing (2009) for the agro-alimentary project “Andalucían Oranges”.

Wind energy is also established in Andévalo Park, one of the biggest wind turbine parks in Europe. The park is meant to provide 400 local jobs during construction and 50 for maintenance and operation. Both the Andévalo Park and García-Carrión have received local criticism for being unimportant for local livelihoods by being projects by outsiders.

Main LEDD problems

Development programs, financed by the EU structural funds, the cohesion fund and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are evident throughout the study site, primarily in the form of infrastructure improvement (roads between the villages, better communication with Huelva and Portugal). Infrastructure improvements can be assessed as a response to LEDD and earlier isolation. Structural and other funds have also supported the construction sector. For many inhabitants of the Baixo Guadiana this means that more jobs are provided, mainly to build roads and infrastructure.

The establishment of BETURIA, is a response to "water grabbing": the Chanza dam in Andévalo is created in 1989 with the aim of supplying water to Huelva, for domestic and industrial use, with little benefit or water left behind for local use. In the early 1990s this prompts a large coalition of villages which negotiates for water supply, canals and irrigation systems.

Policy context

AK: to check that implementation, impacts and effectiveness of selected policies are discussed in this text. Look at D342 to see if there is any additional information.

Recent changes on the rural landscape in the study site are related to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). There is a clear impact with a massive increase in forest plantations, over 30,000 ha are replanted in Adevalo from 1993. Distant landowners convert to less intensive land management which results in a significant increase of forest plantations. Although, under some conditions, aforestation may act as positive response to LEDD, the practical application of the CAP is largely negative: eligibility requirements often require land owners to clea rcut natural recovery before replanting.

In 2003 the Junta de Andalucia approves the "Regadío del Andévalo" (irrigation of Andévalo) plan which aims to convert 10,000 ha of land to productive plantations, mainly citrus, nuts and olives. The government finance the cost of building a network of waterways to deliver water from the newly built Andévalo dam (2004) to vast rural areas: areas for cultivation spread over 17 municipalities and newly irrigated areas are expected to create approximately 400,000 jobs with a total production of €100 million Euro.

Properties of the system

AK: to check if there is any further relevant information in D333

Socio-ecological resilience

AK: to be added, source: D333

Socio-ecological fit of the dominant response to LEDD

AK: to be added, source: D333

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