Why Spain is breaking down its dams with Pao Fernández Garrido

2023-05-24

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“I think people are afraid that we want to remove all the dams in the world.”Dams can effectively act as concrete straight jackets. Weirs and dams and other obstructions cause all kinds of harm, some of which we understand and much of which we don’t. More than one million barriers are thought to exist in Europe’s rivers, with many of them over 100 years old. Some are old and obsolete, serving no economic or environmental purpose. Spain is leading the way in the number of structure...

“I think people are afraid that we want to remove all the dams in the world.”

Dams can effectively act as concrete straight jackets. Weirs and dams and other obstructions cause all kinds of harm, some of which we understand and much of which we don’t.

More than one million barriers are thought to exist in Europe’s rivers, with many of them over 100 years old. Some are old and obsolete, serving no economic or environmental purpose.

Spain is leading the way in the number of structures being removed from its rivers. In this episode Ben Goldsmith speaks to Pao Fernández Garrido from Dam Removal Europe about why the movement is taking such a hold there.

Ben Goldsmith is a rewilding enthusiast and activist based in the UK. In this podcast he’ll be speaking to the people behind some of the most exciting and dramatic rewilding projects on earth.

It’s easy to feel gloomy; climate science gets scarier and we lose more and more nature every year. However, the natural world is incredible and there are rays of hope and examples of habitats and wildlife returning and flourishing when it’s given a helping hand.

This podcast is produced by The Podcast Coach.

Text Rewilding the World here. Let us know what you think of the podcast and if there are any rewilding projects you would love Ben to feature in future episodes.

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