which are challenging the foundational goals of a natural reserve, the role that
leisure may play becomes a matter of discussion. With rising inhabitants, the
number of visitors to natural reserves will continue increasing, both from nearby
and long-distance origins and with different motivation, including from purely
touristic attraction to scientific interest. Planning and protocols to prevent facilitated
dispersal of undesired organisms should develop and spread at a quicker pace than
the problems are diffusing.
Enhanced dispersal also includes the controlled introduction of new species, or
re-introduction of formerly extinct species, most typically of vertebrates.
Reintroducing some of these emblematic species from more or less remote populations is now feasible (Fig. 1.2), and adds new socio-economical interest to the
areas beyond conservation purposes and, in parallel, the need for new managing
measures (Palazón 2017). Consequently, some key species in mountain ranges are
becoming more and more managed.
Fig. 1.2 A female brown bear with a cub of the year in the Pyrenees (September 5, 2016).
Beyond the ecological consequences, the reintroduction of large carnivorous in areas where they
have been extinct or nearly so indicates a change of the societal attitude towards nature of valuable
symbolism. The last female bear from Central Pyrenees died in 2004 and the last male in 2010
(Palazón 2017). The current bear population was reintroduced from a set of individuals captured in
the Balkans (Slovenia) and released in the Pyrenees in 1996–1997. There was only one male born
from a released Slovenian male and the last Pyrenees female. In 2015, the Central Pyrenees
subpopulation had more than 30 bears identified. Photography: Departament de Territori i
Sostenibilitat, Generalitat de Catalunya
10
J. Catalan et al.
leisure may play becomes a matter of discussion. With rising inhabitants, the
number of visitors to natural reserves will continue increasing, both from nearby
and long-distance origins and with different motivation, including from purely
touristic attraction to scientific interest. Planning and protocols to prevent facilitated
dispersal of undesired organisms should develop and spread at a quicker pace than
the problems are diffusing.
Enhanced dispersal also includes the controlled introduction of new species, or
re-introduction of formerly extinct species, most typically of vertebrates.
Reintroducing some of these emblematic species from more or less remote populations is now feasible (Fig. 1.2), and adds new socio-economical interest to the
areas beyond conservation purposes and, in parallel, the need for new managing
measures (Palazón 2017). Consequently, some key species in mountain ranges are
becoming more and more managed.
Fig. 1.2 A female brown bear with a cub of the year in the Pyrenees (September 5, 2016).
Beyond the ecological consequences, the reintroduction of large carnivorous in areas where they
have been extinct or nearly so indicates a change of the societal attitude towards nature of valuable
symbolism. The last female bear from Central Pyrenees died in 2004 and the last male in 2010
(Palazón 2017). The current bear population was reintroduced from a set of individuals captured in
the Balkans (Slovenia) and released in the Pyrenees in 1996–1997. There was only one male born
from a released Slovenian male and the last Pyrenees female. In 2015, the Central Pyrenees
subpopulation had more than 30 bears identified. Photography: Departament de Territori i
Sostenibilitat, Generalitat de Catalunya
10
J. Catalan et al.