La agricultura intensiva del poniente almeriense. Diagnóstico e instrumentos de gestión ambiental

Abstract

The comarca of Poniente (Western) in the Province of Almeria is the greater European exponent (and probably global) of intensive agriculture under plastic. The unprecedented development of this agricultural activity has now become it in the main basis of the province’s economic. Despite the big economic benefits obtained, some environmental problems were produce, and require to be studied in order to design and establish policies to correct them and make progress towards a sustainable development of this activity. In this article, first we studied the main characteristics of the comarca that allowed accommodate this productive model, it historic evolution are resume emphasizing its main milestones, and a global diagnosis is made. Later, we made an environmental diagnosis of intensive agriculture in the comarca, and we identify the main effects on the natural resources, as the ground and the water, and on other elements like vegetables. Finally, the main environmental management tools that serve as answer to identified problems are indicated.