Resumen de Friend or foe: Societal shifts from intense persecution to active conservation of top predators
Alejandro Martínez Abraín, Jorge Crespo, Juan Jiménez Pérez, Andrew Pullin, Gavin Stewart, Daniel Oro de Rivas
The importance of top predators in the functioning of ecosystems is a well-established ecological paradigm; therefore active persecution of top predators is a serious global conservation problem. Here we present the case of a southern European country (Spain) which has moved rapidly from widespread and long-term intense persecution of raptors until the 1970's to occupying a leading place in raptor study and conservation within Europe today. We argue that such a radical change may have a contingent component (the rapid and intensive urban concentration of rural people following economic growth of the country), as well as a more deterministic component (an active role of mass media increasing awareness to a concentrated population). This societal shift could inform future conservation strategies in countries currently undergoing rapid urbanisation.
