In the coniferous woodlands of the Basque Country, the unstoppable advance of a brown band has been observed in the last year, reflecting the spread of fungi. The Basque Government indicates that one in three pines is affected. According to the latest Inventory of Forest Damage of the Ministry of Agriculture, global warming can exacerbate the problem, since pests no longer have the brakes of colder winters that limit their reproductive cycles. Eldiario.es echoed the conclusions of the report.

The inventory, which collects data from 1987 to 2017, shows that the rate of deterioration of forests and trees in the State has shown the worst data in the last four years, reaching up to 25% of damaged trees. The reasons for this deterioration are the lack of water resources and the spread of insects, both factors exacerbated by climate change. The accelerated warming of the global temperature makes it increasingly difficult for species to adapt to new conditions, and the combination of this fact with the appearance of diseases is a worrying circumstance.

The biologist from the University of Granada, José Antonio Hódar, pointed out, in statements to eldiario.es, that this worrisome situation could be an opportunity to convert a large area into “a more mixed forest, with various species; the monoculture masses are most vulnerable”, although he also warns that “managing forests is not cheap”.