Spain, Pyrenees - 360
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
Valleys in the Pyrenees: forgotten by "development" plans since the 1960s,
these 4 neighbouring valleys still host some of the best natural (our last
wild bears included) and cultural representation of the Pyrenees. Reason why
the government decreed a "Natural Park" in all the area -as usual without any
local consultations. Locals opposed (they only think on us when it is about
restrictions.... if this landscape is conserved is only thank to us... bears
are more important than us, we´ll burn the forests away...). In 1999 we
started a participatory process (many workshops with all the local sectors)
to analyse the situation and propose alternatives (also economic factibility
studies with the local people). Now most believe (included noticeably the
village majors) that the future should be sustainable (forests, cattle, low
impact tourism, small quantities of a diversity of quality local products)
and that the Park is an opportunity, not a threat. They already organising
themselves around this idea and are preparing proposals to the Government of Aragon
and to the EU.