Spain: Water for the people, by the People: safeguarding the Sierra Nevada aquifers through collective irrigation systems – European Commons and OECMsArticle by Diana Neacsu in dialogue with Elena Correa Jimenez, Sergio Couto, Joám Evans Pim and Diego Juffe Bignoli
Film: The acequias of Sierra Nevada are more than an ancient irrigation system; they are a life-sustaining commons, central to local agriculture, culture, and community governance.
In the highlands of Spain’s Sierra Nevada, a unique and ancient water management system known as acequias not only keeps the land fertile but also fosters a shared identity and supports sustainable community governance. These irrigation channels, collectively managed by the region’s inhabitants, supply water essential for crop growth, local livestock, and drinking. Yet, beyond the physical distribution of water, the acequias represent a rich, living heritage of community cooperation and environmental stewardship.
A sloooow water system: nature's solution
One fascinating feature of the acequias is their natural ability to conserve water through slow release. While river water flows rapidly, water moving underground through the acequias travels only about one meter per day, allowing spring rains to be stored and gradually released over the dry months. Remarkably, 80% of the region’s water sources rely on this system, underscoring its role as a vital, sustainable commons.
The word “acequiero” describes those who manage and oversee this delicate balance, ensuring the smooth functioning and maintenance of the acequias. These caretakers embody the spirit of this commons, linking past and present through a dedication to the community’s water heritage.
A critical commons for the Sierra Nevada community
The acequias of Sierra Nevada are vital to sustaining the agricultural and pastoral way of life here. Water from the acequias irrigates crops that provide sustenance and a modest income for local families through village markets. The shared water system also supports pastures essential for livestock, binding community members in a relationship of mutual dependence and responsibility. More than a physical structure, the acequias have become a cultural touchstone, embodying values of solidarity, cooperation, and respect for tradition.
This common provides more than environmental benefits. The water governance structure of the acequia community fosters social harmony by resolving conflicts through time-tested, community-led approaches. In these ways, the acequias are as much about social cohesion as they are about sustaining crops and livestock.
Growing threats to traditional knowledge and the acequias
Today, the survival of this invaluable system faces significant challenges. As investors push for more intensive and technologically advanced systems, the traditional acequias are at risk of being replaced by high-efficiency irrigation that undermines local knowledge and disregards the region’s cultural heritage. Market policies often incentivize these shifts, supporting profit-driven models that can lead to overexploitation of water resources and land.
Without intervention, the pressure to modernize may lead to the loss of sustainable, community-led practices that have been honed over centuries. Replacing the acequias with industrial systems would likely lead to increased land prices, making it difficult for small-scale farmers to maintain their livelihoods, ultimately driving depopulation and weakening local governance.
Local action to preserve the commons
To counter these pressures, a dedicated group of advocates works alongside the irrigation communities to preserve and strengthen the acequias. Their efforts range from providing technical support—such as digital mapping and heritage documentation—to facilitating governance and conflict resolution both within the community and with external entities. Awareness-raising campaigns and publications are also part of their strategy, aiming to reshape public and policy perceptions of these systems.
Innovative approaches, such as land stewardship agreements, are employed to empower local actors to retain control over their resources. Additionally, these advocates work to establish participatory management plans that engage the broader community and ensure that decision-making remains inclusive and democratic.
Achievements and continuing challenges
Years of commitment have brought notable achievements. Public discourse increasingly acknowledges the acequias as valuable cultural heritage and as a natural solution to climate change and resource sustainability. This has strengthened the community’s confidence and resolve in preserving their traditional systems.
Yet, there is a disconnect between positive public recognition and actual support. Significant resources are still funnelled toward industrial-scale modernization projects, leaving the acequia systems with minimal funding or administrative backing. Advocates face the challenge of competing against well-funded, large-scale agricultural operations that prioritize profits over community well-being and environmental health.
The stakes of inaction
If traditional systems like the acequias disappear, the consequences will be profound. The loss of local knowledge, coupled with the depopulation of rural areas, will accelerate issues like climate change, desertification, and biodiversity loss. Without the acequias, the community risks being displaced, replaced by large-scale agribusinesses that monopolize water and land resources. The impact on the ecosystem would be devastating, transforming a sustainable water system into one characterized by exploitation and scarcity.
A model worth defending
The acequias of Sierra Nevada are a model of commons-based water governance. Their survival offers insights for communities worldwide facing similar challenges, as they demonstrate the resilience and social harmony that can emerge from a collective approach to resource management. Protecting these commons is essential, not only for those who directly depend on them but for preserving cultural diversity, local wisdom, and sustainable solutions to global environmental challenges.