Recomendations adopted to integrate cultural and spiritual values into Montsant Natural Park

Montsant (literally: Holy Mountain, in Catalan) has been regarded as sacred for many centuries, as its very name shows, and its religious values are as exceptional today as they were in the past. Its natural heritage – geomorphology, flora and fauna –  and its overall landscape are also of great value and the massif thus possess a combination of significant natural, cultural and spiritual values. In 2002 the Catalan Government declared the entire Serra del Montsant a Natural Park to preserve these values, and in 2006 the park was included in the Natura 2000 network.

As part of the Delos Initiative, Jordi Falgarona, Jaume Estarellas and Josep-Maria Mallarach, members de Silene Association, prepared the case study of the Montsant Natural Park in which a series of recommendations were proposed as a way of implementing positive actions relating to the intangible values of the area. This case study also took into account experiences from other protected areas of similar characteristics.

The case study’s recommendations included a number of measures recommending an expansion of the protected area, improvements in public use, education and management facilities, and the efficient integration of the protection of all the Park’s values, be they natural, cultural or spiritual. The results were presented to the Park’s management team and Permanent Commission, and after some discussion and small amends, were passed by the Park’s Board on 13 February 2008.