I have doubted really a long
time before I finally decided to start this blog. Why? The Cantabrian Mountains
are a relatively unspoiled mountainous area, where century long human
activities have created a more or less stable equilibrium with nature instead
of its destruction. For the last decades the local population has declined sharply
which has led to a swift in this equilibrium to a greater inaccessibility,
which could be beneficial or not, depending of the point of view and the
concerning species. Also the creation of several natural parks should benefit
the local wildlife.
These mountains have almost
everything a mountain can offer, they are wild, with abrupt height differences,
very diversified and at the same time relatively good accessible. Where in
Western Europe can you find brown bears, wolfs, golden eagles, griffon
vultures, Egyptian vultures and western capercailles together with lots of
other emblematic animals like Pyrenean desmans, genets, Pyrenean chamois, white
storks and more than 20 species of birds of prey? Also the wild flowers are
just unbelievable, of which, in my personal opinion, the around 60 species of
orchids are a very good example.
But there are threats.
One of the problems is the
indiference of many people to the incredible natural wealth which surrounds
them. For instance, a large field of lizard orchids, with hundreds of adult
individuals, was destroyed because nobody even knew of their existence or
ecologic value, also there are thousands of orchids which are mowed each year
along the roads. It is difficult to blame these people because they are not
botanists and they generally have little affinity with just some flowers. Another
problem is the killing on purpose with poisoned bait of animals which are
considered to be harmful like wolfs or birds of prey.
Also there are large-scale
problems like the intentions of construction of a high voltage powerline right
through the Cantabrian Mountains and a winter sports resort.
Most threats have an economic
motif and this is the reason why the environmental awareness only awakens when
there is some direct gain.
My little grain.
With this blog I
try to diffuse the big and small wonders of these marvellous mountains. By no
means I want to contribute to convert this place into a mass tourism destiny,
but at my wanderings and rambles I almost never encounter other walkers.
Compared to the Pyrenees or the Alps, the foreign
tourism is practically inexistent and therefore some environmental
conscious tourism might be very welcome. Not in the least, as stated above,
because this may activate a greater (local) governmental interest in protecting
these mountains and a greater commitment of the local people. In general I will
not give the exact location of rare or vulnerable plants, animals or geologic
sites, but I think that descriptions of their habitats are useful because they might
encourage the desire to find those species yourself. And it is a general fact
that something which costs you a lot of effort, is more likely to earn your appreciation and maybe
the desire to protect it.
Congratulations for this blog!
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