Iberian-Lynx-Watching Tourism in La Casa Encendida

Bear, Lynx, Wolf and Cetaceans under everyone’s watchful eye

On Thursday, September 21st, in Madrid, specifically in La Casa Encendida of the Montemadrid Foundation, four lecturers spoke about conservation and mammal-watching tourism. The Iberian lynx could not be absent among them as one of the celebrated species of our Iberian fauna.

The growing interest in wildlife-watching tourism makes such activities targets of conservationists, tour operators, local autorities and a long list of agents interested in this new tourist setting.

The exploitation of wild species and the environment that surrounds them as an economic resource within the scope of tourism is turning some areas into one of the main engines of local economy. However, this use of natural resources must be done in an orderly manner so as not to harm the species themselves which are a token of well-preserved habitats. For this reason, the role of conservation projects, as well as that of local autorities responsible for safeguarding protected species, is essential in order to ensure that the entire economic and social structure built around these species is done in a respectful way, not only in accordance with the law, but also the people and customs of the areas where it takes place.

Each of the invited speakers to this event exposed the past, present and future of each of the addressed species. Regarding the Brown Bear, Guillermo Palomero (President of the Brown Bear Foundation) exposed the problems facing the species and how tourism around it is benefitting the local economy.

To speak about the Iberian Lynx, Juan Francisco Ruiz (FOMECAM TERRA Specialist and Coordinator of the Life+IBERLINCE project in Castilla-La Mancha) was responsible for nature tourism’s great attraction for the species and the opportunity the feline’s presence represents for rural areas, as a focus of the entire landscape, natural and cultural values as well as a mark of environmental quality.

The figure of the Iberian Wolf was addressed by Paco Huertas (expert in the Wolf and Wolf Tourism, and Radio Nacional broadcaster) whose defence of the wolf as a source of income for wolf dens illustrated the need for the living wolf. He also highlighted the wolf’s contribution to ecosystem management, as an agent of selection of its prey which is of vital importance as it eliminates those less adapted to this environment, thus promoting a more balanced, healthier ecosystem.

Last but not least, there’s the lecture on cetacean-watching tourism, given by Carmen M. Arija (Director and founder of Sea Wolves) who presented cetacean conservation issues and the benefits and harms of this type of tourism currently carried out in certain areas of our country. All in the light of science, not forgetting the informative and educational service that this type of tourism provides.

During the meeting it became clear that, despite the variety of species addressed, both benefits and drawbacks of these tourist activities are very similar, and that the way to develop these activities in a sustainable way is by respecting nature.

We thank Paco Huertas for organizating the event, and La Casa Encendida for their great work hosting it.