Help save Spanish bears!

[lisa]

Hi, I'm collecting signatures to help stop a serious threat to the continued existence of brown bears in Spain. Please give your support.
The Spanish government is contemplating allowing the go ahead of the building of a ski resort in the Cordillera Cantábrica mountains of N.Spain. The area concerned is slap in the middle of the 2 existing populations of Iberian brown bear - only some 140 individuals of a distinct sub-species. To make these populations viable, corridors of access are needed to join the two groups. The project would be funded by the EU, an organisation that is also responsible for the laws "protecting" the indigenous wildlife - specifically Natura 2000 and the Habitats Directive. The construction company and local government in question are proposing amending these laws to permit the building of lifts, carparks, hotels, restaurants etc. all at a relatively low-altitude where the use of artificial snow machines would be necessary. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/418999897
is taking signatures to be sent to the Spanish Minister for the Environment.

[balkantrek]

Thanks for drawing my attention to the current threat facing the brown bears in Spain. I have signed the petition as it is a subject that is dear to my heart. This is for a number of reasons. First and foremost, I love bears, they are a symbol of wilderness and untamed nature, and it is magical to know that there are still parts of Europe where they can roam. Secondly, many years ago I walked in the Picos de Europa, and enjoyed its rich flora and fauna. These northern Spanish mountains have a special biodiversity that needs protecting. Finally, the threat posed by the development of ski resorts in Europe's mountains and wilderness areas is something which faces us here in Bulgaria.

At this very moment several Bulgarian national parks, protected territories and Important Bird Areas (IBAs) are being seriously damaged by the construction and the expansion of ski resorts. Such is the critical situation in Bulgaria at the moment, the World Wildlife Fund (WFF) has given its full backing to a major campaign to try and protect Bulgaria's mountains and biodiversity from further destruction. As with the situation in Spain, this includes the expansion of ski resorts into areas that are vital habitats for brown bear, as well as many other rare species of flora and fauna. You may be interested to take a look at my own thread in this section of the forum, and to have a look at the following WWF links:

WWF - Bulgaria Protected Areas campaign

WWF - Bulgaria Protected Areas campaign

Best wishes and good luck with your fight to save the Spanish bears!

[lisa]

Thanks Balkantrek and apologies for my delayed reply. After visiting your links I discovered the WWF passport that I didn't know about even though I'm a member of WWF Adena. I have supported the Bulgarian campaign.
Good luck!
I'm now going to look into how to get more exposure for the Spanish bears.