Spain, the country with the most Blue Flag beaches in the world and home to at least 70,000 animal and over 10,000 plant species, is renowned for its unique environment. But how successful is Spain in conserving nature?
balance
According to UNESCO, Spain boasts more biosphere reserves in the world, with 53 in the country, areas that balance environmental protection, cultural diversity and economic development through the relationship between man and nature.
Spain has 15 geoparks and 4 natural parks, including Doñana, Teide and Monte Perdido, which are World Heritage Sites. Such stunning environments command high visitor prices, as millions of people from all over the world flock to experience Spain’s unique beauty.
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Amanda Guzmán, from the Ecotourism Association, commented on the worrying state of Spain’s natural spaces: “Visits and use of these spaces are steadily increasing, causing a significant decline in capacity in many areas.”
As protests against tourism continue to grow across Spain, residents of Barcelona are particularly frustrated by the deterioration of their environment. The city, with a population of 1.6 million, is the EU’s fourth most visited city, with visitor numbers growing from 3.7 million in 1990 to 31 million in 2016.
Currently, 75% of tourism’s CO2 emissions come from air transport, as 82% of tourists arrive by plane. Spain is also the country with the worst air pollution from cruise ships in Europe, emitting 14,496 tonnes of sulphur oxides in 2017.
protection
According to EuroParks’ 2020 annual report, Spain is the European country that contributes the most land to the Natura 200 network, the world’s largest system of protected areas. Clearly, Spanish authorities are making great efforts in protecting the country’s environment, with Spain allocating 35.7 percent of its land area to forested areas and protecting 27 percent of its land area.
Spain has more than 30 million hectares of protected natural areas. The country is involved in national and international environmental projects such as ZEPIM, OSPAR, MAB and Red Natura 2000. At the same time, however, according to the World Conservation Union, Spain has the highest number of endangered vascular plants and 26 percent of vertebrate species are vulnerable.
A lack of knowledge is what is discouraging Spain from further development: only 1% of habitats and 12% of species have been properly studied for conservation purposes. Moreover, while Spanish authorities have made improving the country’s economy and accommodating tourism a top priority, the results continue to raise concerns among residents and environmental groups.
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