As climate disasters currently dominate headlines in the second week of January 2025—from severe floods in the UK and record-breaking rains in Saudi Arabia to wildfires in Southern California—AIPH takes this moment to share a story on their website from their AIPH Member association, the Asociación de Cultivadores de Plantas Ornamentales (ACPO), about the devastating DANA floods that struck Spain in October 2024.
While the world now focuses on new crises, the impact of these floods on Spain's ornamental horticulture sector remains significant. Against this backdrop, the ornamental horticulture sector in Spain continues to recover from the devastating DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos) floods that struck the country late last year. These floods wreaked havoc on nurseries vital to rural economies and local employment. Here is how ACPO was at the forefront of recovery efforts, providing crucial support to the businesses of this growers association.
Revisiting Spain's 2024 DANA Floods
DANA is a meteorological phenomenon that occurs when cold air from the north clashes with the warm waters of the Mediterranean, creating volatile weather conditions. The 29 October 2024 event was one of the deadliest in Spanish history, dumping over 300 millimeters of rain in just hours. Some areas recorded more than a year's worth of rainfall in eight hours, leading to flash floods, hailstorms, and tornadoes that devastated eastern and southern Spain.
In the aftermath, many questioned why warnings about the event's severity came too late, leaving vulnerable communities and businesses unprepared. Delayed alerts added to the chaos, with nurseries unable to enact pre-emptive measures that could have mitigated the damage.
The toll on nurseries
One of the hardest-hit ACPO members was Vivercid, located in Valencia. Ms Lara Magraner, who is not only the owner of the devastated business but also the Vice President of ACPO, described the devastation: "At first, it was complete chaos. Communications were down, roads were closed, and nurseries were inaccessible. Offices were flooded, and we lost IT equipment, documents, and tools. We had to shut down one nursery entirely, relocating staff to another that lost 100 percent of its production."
The four nurseries operated by Vivercid faced varying levels of damage. One suffered complete production loss as facilities were flooded and irrigation systems were destroyed. Another saw 95 percent of its production wiped out, with 80 percent of its greenhouses and shade structures obliterated. A third nursery was forced to close entirely due to total flooding, while the fourth endured structural damage and lost 45 percent of its plants.
Despite the extensive destruction, Ms Magraner emphasized the solidarity and support of fellow members of ACPO.
Source: AIPH