54 Board of Trustees of the Sierra y Cañones de Guara Natural Park (Aínsa, 24-1-2024)

Yesterday was held in the Eco Museum of Pyrenean Fauna of the Castle of Ainsa, the 54th Board of Trustees of the Natural Park of the Sierra and Canyons of Guara. Several members of the Board of Trustees are renewed and new positions are appointed. José Luis Otín (representative of the private property) is presented as candidate to the Presidency of the Board of Trustees, replacing José Luis Bergua, who is thanked and recognized for his work during these years. The future President receives the support of the entire Board of Trustees, which will have to be endorsed by the Councilor for the Environment and Tourism. The representatives of the Board of Directors are also appointed, in which there will be no representatives of the environmental organizations (FCQ and SEO/BirdLife) in spite of our interest in participating. The reports of the actions in Undeveloped Land are presented. The management report for 2022 is presented, in which it is stated that there are estimated to be 300-500 mountain goats in the Park. The investments and subsidies for 2023 and the forecasts for 2024 are also presented. In requests and questions, Jose Luis Bergua insists on the importance of the Northern Axis of Bara-Las Bellostas and the General Director of Natural Environment (Alfonso Calvo) comments that he wants to sign a co-financing agreement with the DPH to make a contract with SARGA as executor. The Mayoress of Bárcabo requests information on the interpretation center of Lecina, the Director General states that the 250,000 Euros promised by the previous Government are not available, generating a lot of discomfort in the Board of Trustees. The representative of the ranchers requested that a manager or dynamizer of the Park be hired to promote socioeconomic development. The FCQ comments that in March 2023 we requested by e-mail to be included in the Working Group for the evaluation and revision of the PRUG of Guara and that so far we have not received a reply. That in November 2023 and after attending the research sessions held by the Park in which the results of the ecological monitoring of the ravines were presented, we requested the establishment of a joint committee as stated in the PRUG to address this issue, analysis of the results of the work by the Park Management to implement management measures and conduct a study of the carrying capacity of the ravines and so far we have not received a reply. Finally, in April 2022, in the Commission of the Order of Regulation of Climbing in Guara, the Park Management is requested to review the new nesting platforms of the Bearded Vulture in order to establish or not new areas of tranquility. In the Commission of 17-3-2023 the technicians are asked if they have carried out this review, and we are answered that they have not had time. That March, the FCQ carried out the review with its own means and funding and sent the information to the General Management and later by email to the Park’s Management and technicians. To date, we have not received any answer. We also asked about the situation of the Bastarás Estate, which is still pending a judicial resolution.