Project title: CANTABRIA CHANGES COLOR

Team: SAFADETECTIVES

Sagrada Familia   Herrera de Camargo   SPAIN   40 Student’s age: 14-15 years old, 16-17 years old

Why do farmers have to feed their livestock in the summer with the forage reserved for winter?

The ongoing climate change is negatively affecting the weather in Cantabria, disrupting the natural cycle of rainfall. Despite the region having a mild climate with stable temperatures, winds, and precipitation, the agricultural sector, particularly the dairy industry, is being impacted, with a decline in the percentage of livestock and agriculture production. Last year’s spring drought caused great concern among farmers who did not have enough pasture for their livestock. As a result of the lack of rain, farmers have had to use the forage reserved for winter to feed their animals during the summer, as the green meadows of Cantabria resembled a steppe. Additionally, farmers in the region have been using constant irrigation, and some villages have even had to impose water cuts.
To investigate and find solutions to prevent Cantabria from losing its lush green landscape, a comparative study of temperature and precipitation in four months of the year over the last 20 years was conducted using data from the AEMET (State Meteorology Agency). Furthermore, using data and images obtained from the ESA’s EO Browser satellite, the level of chlorophyll and NVDA in several regions of the area was assessed, examining how the color index varied with the season and how it has decreased in recent years.
Finally, interviews were conducted with Cantabrian farmers to gather their experiences and opinions. The information obtained was used to compare the price of forage bought by farmers in Northern Castile and León with the precipitation levels over the last few years, observing the trend of increasing costs and rainfall scarcity.

Using data from the State Meteorology Agency, AEMET, a study of approximately 20 years has been carried out, taking temperatures from different months of the year coinciding with seasonal changes. Comparing graphs from one year to another, it can be observed that there is not a great variety in the results since the analyzed temperature is an average. It can be seen that in some months it has rained much less than in others, but these are specific dates. With the analysis of precipitation, something similar happens. By observing the data, it has been verified that there may be less rainfall in the same period, but not in amount, since when it rains, it does so more than before.
On the other hand, using the EO BROWSER satellite, the NVDA coefficient analysis has been carried out, which measures the chlorophyll index during different areas of Cantabria. It has been verified, based on the color index, that in these cases, it does vary, both in the years, that is, currently, it is lower than 10 years ago, and between the summer and winter months, in this case, a greater contrast is observed.
In the interviews with farmers, they believe that climate change is being noticed, not only in pastures or temperature but also in the prices of the feed they use. The livestock farms in Cantabria buy the forage, vetch, and alfalfa from the northern area of Castilla y León, on the border with Cantabria. Thus, using official data from the primary sector in Castilla, it has been verified that in the last three years, there is a trend of increasing forage prices due to the scarcity of precipitation.
Although data accessibility has been complicated and inconclusive, we can say that climate change is noticeable, and various measures must be considered to prevent the green colors of Cantabria from disappearing.

It has been concluded that it is necessary to have better accessibility to climatological data so that citizens can be aware of it.
It is important to continue supporting and giving visibility to the work and workers in the primary sector due to its importance within our environment. In addition, plantation and reforestation are important to maintain ecosystems. Trees are natural carbon sinks that absorb large amounts of carbon. When trees are lost, the carbon they retain is released into the atmosphere, increasing the greenhouse effect responsible for climate change. Following the same line, firebreaks should be made in forests so that fires do not spread so quickly and thus maintain the forests. Since fires are one of the causes that end wildlife and vegetation in the area, causing damage to the soil. On the other hand, water tanks could be created for the use of rainwater and thus be able to use it for irrigation.

https://sites.google.com/d/1vzLQxNkzivFOrErX5bw8wyPy0OomVcSE/p/1GDcQW_qeIai4nX4pa7JrX2IxsC204A5K/edit?pli=1

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