Institutional Visit to the Cantabrian Mountain range
The Andorran Minister of the Environment, Agriculture and Livestock, Guillem Casal, has headed a delegation that includes prominent figures such as Ferran Teixidó, director of the Band of Banders, and Sílvia Ferrer, director of the Department of Environment and Sustainability. His trip to the Cantabrian Range has focused on the study of the coexistence between the brown bone and the livestock and tourist activities.
Collaboration between territories
During his stay, the delegation held a meeting with Belarmino Fernández, the Mayor of Somiedo, to discuss biodiversity preservation initiatives. Both territories share similarities in their extensive livestock and the protection of native bovine breeds. Somiedo, who established a natural park in the 1980’s, serves as a sustainable management model with more than 290 km2 of protected territory.
Axis of management and conservation objectives
Luis Fernando Alonso, director of the Somiedo Natural Park, presented the principles that guide the park management, recognized as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Casal presented the intention of the Government of Andorra to guarantee the protection of 30% of its territory before 2030, exploring ways of collaboration with Somiedo to learn from its experiences in biodiversity management.
Territorial management models
The delegation also visited Villablino, where Mario Rivas, the mayor, shared his management model that integrates the conservation of the brown bone. This initiative seeks to foster a harmonious coexistence between wildlife and livestock activities.
Experiences and methodologies
In addition to institutional meetings, Andorran representatives interacted with Guillermo Palomero, president of the Oso Pardo Foundation. This organization is vital for the scientific monitoring of the brown bone and promotes coexistence with the livestock sector, as well as various methodologies for the protection of the species.
Commitment to conservation
A visit to Asturias reflects the interest of the Government of Andorra to strengthen its conservation policies and to deepen the management of wildlife, especially in relation to the brown bone in the Pyrenees. Collaboration with the Oso Pardo Foundation has included awareness-raising training and initiatives, such as videos with the population tips on how to act in case of finding a bone in the mountains.
A sustainable future
With this visit, the Government reaffirms its commitment to sustainable management of the natural environment and the exchange of experiences with other regions that face similar challenges. The actions already implemented by the ministry include the approval of a compensation regulation for damage caused by endangered species and the implementation of GPS monitoring systems for livestock, reflecting a proactive approach to coexistence between wildlife and human activity.
