Gestión, protección y despoblación en las Reservas de la Biosfera de la Cordillera Cantábrica

Our study analyses the current status of the Biosphere Reserves on the Cantabrian Mountains, especially the relationships that they have with other Protected Natural Areas with which very often coincide. These relationships concerns management bodies and one of their main problems that has to do with their negative demographic dynamic that has led to an intense depopulation and aging of their local population. Although twelve reserves have been declared, there are still many areas which have not been named reserves but they potentially could. This tells us that we are still far from a Biosphere Reserve of the Great Cantabrian Mountain Range. The management is different depending on the regions: in Asturias, it is the regional administrative department which performs its management; in Galicia, the provincial administrative department and in Castilla and Leon, it’s the local government who is in charge of its management. Depopulation is one of the most serious problems suffered almost by every Cantabrian reserves and as a process has not stopped yet. The status of the Biosphere Reserve has yet to find its place in the context of other figures that are clearly under protection. In general, the aim of our study is to underline the importance of separating this figure from other more consolidated concerning Protected Natural Areas, and also, to raise awareness about the serious process of aging and depopulation expressed in their territories.