Spanish Biodiversity and Environmental Impact
1. Landscape and Plant Life
1.1 Biodiversity in Spain
Spain has a significant biodiversity, comparable to tropical regions. This is due to its location on the Iberian Peninsula, which favors both Atlantic and Mediterranean vegetation. The peninsula also served as a refuge during glacial retreats, leading to endemic species. Mountain systems contribute to varied vegetation.
1.2 Human Impact
Human activity has affected biodiversity. Deforestation has led to the substitution of forests with crops, which now cover 43% of Spain. Urban expansion, industrial areas, and infrastructure have also reduced plant cover.
1.3 Plant Landscapes
Different vegetation types exist due to varying climates and altitudes:
- Oceanic Vegetation: Found in the Atlantic area (Galicia, Cantabrian Mountains). Oceanic forests feature species like beech, oak, and broadleaf trees. These trees need moisture and can live for 150-300 years. Beech is used for furniture and can be combined with oak. Above 1600m, heath thickets appear.
- Mediterranean Vegetation: Covers most of the peninsula. Oak forests are common, along with cork trees, forming the typical Mediterranean forest. These trees have wide, dense crowns and evergreen leaves. Human activity has replaced some oak forests with scrub.
- Canary Islands Vegetation: Adapted to aridity. Coastal scrub includes cardon and tabaiba. Mountain laurel and green vegetation are found between 600 and 1200m. Canary Island pine is found above 1500m, and peak scrub with species like ginestes is found above 2000m.
- Mountain Vegetation: Varies with altitude and temperature. In the Pyrenees, alpine floors (1200-2400m) feature conifers. Above 2400m, there are meadows and snow. Above 3000m, only mosses grow. In other mountains, deciduous or evergreen forests are common, with shrubs.
1.4 Destruction of Plant Landscapes
Fires are a major cause of landscape destruction, due to drought, abandoned agricultural land, and increased second residences. 97% of fires are caused by human activity.
2. Environmental Repercussions of Economic Activities
2.1 Contamination
Contamination is a significant negative consequence. It involves the introduction of harmful substances into the environment. Types of contamination include:
- Atmospheric: CO2, causing the ozone hole.
- Water: From industrial waste and pesticide leaks.
- Chemical: Introduction of dangerous substances, excessive use of pesticides.
- Radioactive: From radioactive elements.
- Acoustic: Noise pollution.
- Thermal: Alteration of temperature.
- Electromagnetic: Radiation from electronic equipment.
- Visual: Disorder and abundance.
2.2 Climate Change
Climate change is related to temperature. The greenhouse effect causes solar energy to heat the earth, with some energy being retained by gases. Increased greenhouse gases lead to global warming. Since the 1960s, ocean temperatures have increased by 0.1°C, causing ice melt. This expansion of water reduces the ocean’s CO2 absorption capacity and affects ecosystems. The difference between past climate changes and current ones is the human impact. Since 1971, the temperature has increased by 1.63°C, and snow cover has decreased by 41%.
2.3 The Ecological Footprint
The ecological footprint is an indicator of sustainability, showing the resources used by an individual. It is estimated at 1.8 times the biocapacity per inhabitant.
3. Global Responses to Sustainability
3.1 Stockholm Conference on Sustainable Development
In 1972, “The Limits to Growth” was published. The first global environmental meeting was held in Stockholm. In 1987, the document “Our Common Future” highlighted poverty in southern countries. The UN defined sustainable development based on this article.
3.2 Rio Summit and Agenda 21
In 1992, declarations and action proposals were formulated, including the climate change convention and Agenda 21, which was agreed upon by 178 countries.
3.3 Ecology and Environmental Movements
Ecological awareness views humans as part of an interdependent system with nature. The environmental movement emerged in the 1950s and 1960s and has led to many conservation groups.
4. Solutions for Sustainability
4.1 Environmental Education
Environmental education is necessary to address the environmental crisis. It aims to make individuals aware of their dependence on the environment and promote responsible consumption.
4.3 Recycling
Increased waste production requires diverse treatment methods: reduction, reuse, and recycling.
4.4 Ethical Banking
Ethical banking combines financial, social, and environmental benefits. These banks finance projects with high social or environmental content.
4.5 Ecological Agriculture
Ecological agriculture, also known as organic or biological agriculture, optimizes natural resources without using transgenics.
5. Landscape and Protected Areas
5.1 The Value of Landscape
The external appearance of a landscape depends on the quality of the territory and the life of its people.
5.2 Protected Natural Areas
These are areas with minimal human modification:
- Regional or national parks: Areas with undisturbed ecosystems and great aesthetic and educational value.
- Natural parks and nature reserves: Ecosystems or communities with absolute biological protection.
5.3 Protected Areas in Spain
Spain has a high diversity of ecosystems, habitats, and species. 54% of European species are found in Spain. There are 38 reservations, 150 parks, and 50 protected landscapes.
5.4 Environmental Policy Measures
Environmental impact assessments are conducted before projects to analyze their consequences.
6. Landscape and Environment in Catalonia
6.1 Natural Environments in Catalonia
Due to its relief and location, Catalonia has diverse natural environments, despite intense humanization. Aigüestortes and Mauritius are the only national parks in Catalonia.
6.2 The PEIN
The PEIN is a plan of natural interest.
6.3 Protection of Natural Landscapes in Catalonia
The 2005 law on landscape management and protection is a key milestone for the European Landscape Convention. The Landscape Observatory was created to conduct studies.