First workshop to prepare the Spanish manual on the intangible heritage of protected areas

The first workshop to prepare the Spanish manual on intangible heritage of protected areas was held in the village of San Martin de la Virgen del Moncayo on the edge of the Moncayo Natural Park in Aragon, Spain, from 3 to 5 October 2011.

Sixteen experts from eight regions of Spain and two organizations attended and explored the scope of the concept of intangible heritage in the planning and management of protected areas, and also identified its main types and suggested examples of each. They also examined the inherent challenges in integrating heritage values into the planning and management of protected natural areas. In addition, four case studies – Picos de Europa National Park, Camí dels Pelegrins d’Useres Natural Monument, Montsant Natural Park and Malpaís de Güímar Natural Reserve – and a number of other examples were discussed.

A field-trip to the Moncayo Natural Park, including the visit of the Shrine of the Virgin near the top, was led by Enrique Arrechea of the Aragon Natural Areas Service.