Catalonia’s Territorial Configuration and Natural Resources
Territorial Configuration
Catalonia’s territorial configuration is defined by three key features:
- Proximity to the Sea: With an extensive coastline, all territories benefit from the Mediterranean’s influence.
- Complex Terrain: A small country (32,106 km²) with diverse landscapes, including mountains, plains, plateaus, cliffs, depressions, and hills. Four-fifths of the territory has slopes over 5%, limiting urbanization.
- Rugged Coastline: The proximity of mountains and sea creates a rugged coastline with narrow coastal plains and sandy areas.
Limited Natural Resources
Natural resources are goods from nature used to meet human needs. They include soil, water, vegetation, wildlife, and energy.
Minerals
Catalonia has limited commercially viable mineral resources. Most deposits are depleted or economically unfeasible. The main mining resource is potassic salt, found in the Central Depression. Coal basins have low quality and production. Oil is scarce, with deposits near Tarragona.
Rock Industry
The rock industry generates significant business, focusing on aggregates for construction and ceramics. Extraction occurs in quarries and gravel pits, impacting the landscape.
Soil
Soil is crucial for vegetation and crops. Its composition depends on bedrock, climate, and living organisms. Diverse soil types exist due to lithological diversity and climate. Fertile soil is scarce due to limited flat land and fragile forest soils. Soil functions include:
- Biomass production (food, forage, forest)
- Hydrological regulation (infiltration, storage, transfer of water)
- Biological habitat (wildlife refuge, biological cycles, genetic reserves)
- Ecological function (filtration, purification, greenhouse gas fixation)
Soil is fragile and easily destroyed by erosion, contamination, and pesticides.
Vegetation
Vegetation development depends on relief, soil, and climate. Catalonia has diverse vegetation types, including forests. Forests cover 60% of the land, with half being mature forests due to reduced agricultural exploitation. Diverse vegetation ensures biodiversity and provides resources like timber, food, and recreation.
Water
Catalonia has modest rivers and a complex terrain, leading to limited and uneven water distribution. Rivers distribute water from headwaters to estuaries. The hydrographic network includes the Occidental and Eastern slopes. Water resources include surface water and groundwater. Dams in the Pyrenees provide water for farming and urban areas, generating electricity. Canals irrigate dry areas. Water consumption is growing, leading to occasional restrictions.
Natural Heritage
Natural heritage includes natural areas, forests, wildlife, and genetic diversity. The government protects and enhances these assets through the Plan of Natural Interest (PEIN), which delimits natural areas and their protection categories (national parks, natural parks, reserves). PEIN regulates activities like agriculture, forestry, hunting, and tourism. The EU’s Natura 2000 network protects habitats and bird species. Protected areas in Catalonia increased from 21% to 30%.
Economic Activities and Environmental Impact
Human activities transform the environment. Environmental impact is the change in initial conditions caused by projects or activities. Impact studies and protective measures are required to minimize impacts.
Water Treatment
Water treatment involves collecting, refining, and evacuating used water. Domestic sewage contains pollutants and organic waste. Industrial and agricultural water contains toxic pollutants. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) remove pollutants. Treated water can be used for golf courses, parks, and agriculture. Sewage sludge can be used as soil component or for energy production.
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy sources in Catalonia include hydroelectric, wind, solar, and biomass. Hydroelectric power is well-developed, while others are in early stages.
Waste Management
The Catalan administration promotes cleaner production and waste management. The Waste Board controls waste management. Special waste is toxic or flammable. Inert waste does not affect the environment. Non-special waste is the remaining waste. Municipalities manage ordinary urban waste through collection containers, sorting, and treatment plants. Non-ordinary waste is managed by the government.