Held in Teruel, on Saturday, November 23, 2024

1. The province of Teruel possesses a rich and diverse natural heritage, which is the subject of ongoing research by geographers, geologists, biologists, and forest engineers, among others. The scientific knowledge generated should not remain confined to academic publications or technical reports, but must be transferred to society, particularly to local inhabitants, through education and public outreach.

2. The natural environment of Teruel is undergoing change due to rural depopulation. The abandonment of farmland and the resulting rewilding, along with mass tourism in sensitive landscapes and ecosystems, present new challenges for conservation and management. Moreover, the region faces increasing pressure from large-scale mining projects (mainly open-pit clay extraction) and energy infrastructure (large wind and solar farms). The uncontrolled spread of these developments is altering landscapes and land use in alarming ways and should be addressed through proper territorial planning and regulation.

3. Public authorities have declared protected natural areas, which they manage to the best of their ability. However, there is a need to improve the management and resources of these areas: only 0.6% of Teruel’s territory currently has sufficient funding and staff. The remaining areas—up to 30% of the territory covered by various protection designations—often lack adequate human, financial, or even legal support. It is urgent to fully implement the Spanish Law on Natural Heritage and Biodiversity so that all forms of protected status receive proper enforcement. A broader collective reflection is also needed to overcome local skepticism and to highlight the potential benefits in terms of sustainable tourism, respect for traditional land use, and local pride.

4. In particular, it is imperative that the province of Teruel be granted at least one Natural Park as soon as possible—something already recommended by the Aragon Council for Nature Protection in a 2012 report. Considering the region’s extraordinary biodiversity and geodiversity, it is unreasonable that Teruel, along with Valladolid, remains the only Spanish province without one. Areas such as the Javalambre, Albarracín, Maestrazgo, and Gúdar ranges, the Ports of Beceite, and certain plateau and moorland zones are fully deserving of this designation.

5. The scientific community engaged in researching Teruel’s natural heritage—represented at the meeting—agreed to establish a permanent network or working group to collaborate and support the achievement of these shared goals.