Desarrollo rural y calidad de vida en el entorno del Parque Nacional de Doñana

Abstract

In this paper an analysis is made of the motives of people to move to and reside either permanently or temporarily in the nuclei situated in the proximity of the protected natural area of Doñana. Attention is also paid to the way these residents valuate the presence of the protected natural area itself and the scenic and natural characteristics of it. From this analysis it became clear that the application of conservation measures has not been easy and led to a lot of tension between the different conservation authorities and the autochthonous population. This tension was especially caused by the fact that the economy of the Doñana area, like in most of the other Andalucian rural areas, found itself in a relatively disadvantaged position. For the autochthonous population of the area the creation of more local economic opportunities has therefore been more important than the conservation of the environment. For the future sustainable management of the Doñana area it is therefore very relevant to get a better insight in the way the local people perceive the natural characteristics of the area and the restraining influence of the nature area on the local economy.