Local Agenda 21 and protected areas: the case of the Biosphere Reserve of Urdaibai in the Basque Country

摘要

Within the framework of sustainable development, Local Agenda 21 is arising as a very useful tool for the introduction into the local action of the principles concerning this concept. This acquires a higher relevance when it is related to special protected areas where unlimited human action can threaten the ecological equilibrium of the zone and seriously harm the biological and cultural richness that usually these kinds of spaces own. In order to analyse this possible good influence that LA21 can cause in Biosphere Reserves, we are going to focus our paper on a real study case: The Biosphere Reserve of Urdaibai. The hypothesis we want to prove is the utility that LA21 can have for the fulfilment of three basics objectives: firstly, for the coordination of all plans and programs developed in the region; secondly, for the enrichness of the cooperation among all the administrative levels that work in the area; and thirdly, as a tool of communication and citizen awareness.