The Double Threat: How soil degradation exacerbates the impact of DANAs (Isolated High-Level Depressions) in Valencia
Recently published in Revista CUNAL, the article “La Doble Amenaza: Cómo la degradación del suelo valenciano exacerba el impacto devastador de las DANAs” highlights a crucial issue for the present and future of the Valencian Community: the link between soil health and the destructive force of extreme weather events. (The full article is available here in Spanish).
The authors (Francesco Molinari – ANCI Toscana; Francesco Filippi – Fundación Musol; Luis Roca Pérez – Universidad de Valencia) clearly show that soil degradation is not only an environmental issue, but also a social and economic risk for Valencia. This is exactly where the work of the Humus Project becomes relevant.
The Valencian Community, with a large expanse of fertile land bathed by the Mediterranean, cyclically faces the fury of DANAs (Isolated High-Level Depressions), meteorological phenomena that unleash torrential rains with often catastrophic consequences. While the origin of these “cold drops” lies in complex atmospheric dynamics, a silent but crucial factor amplifies their destructive power: soil quality.
When soil loses its shielding role
Images of flooded fields, roads turned into rivers, and municipalities underwater have become sadly familiar. But to what extent does the health of our soil influence the magnitude of these disasters? The answer, according to experts and studies, is alarming: degraded, compacted, or sealed soil, with a consequent low or no infiltration capacity and little vegetation cover, acts as a multiplier of the negative effects of a DANA.
Degraded, compacted, or sealed soils, lacking infiltration capacity and vegetation cover, become multipliers of destruction. Instead of absorbing and regulating excess water, they accelerate runoff, leading to more severe floods and erosion. Healthy soil, in contrast, acts as a natural shield, reducing risks and building resilience against extreme weather.
Looking ahead: Investing in soil, investing in security
The thesis of the article is that the fight against the devastating effects of DANAs in Valencia cannot be fought solely in the fields of meteorology and emergency management. It requires a comprehensive vision that recognizes the fundamental role of soil quality as a natural shield. Investing in the health of our land means investing in the security and future of the Valencian Community.
The next DANA may be inevitable, but its impact need not be if we act now to strengthen the resilience of our territory.
Follow the work of the HuMUS Project to witness, and be part of, the initiative promoting healthy soils in European municipalities and regions, leaving no one behind.