“CORNALONAS, COWBOYS AND SPANISH HORSES: THE TRIO THAT MARKED AMERICA AND SUPPLIED THE ECOLOGICAL INNOCENCE OF MASTODONTS”
SPEAKER: Javier Castroviejo Bolívar
Born in Pontevedra in 1940, Doctor in Biological Sciences from the UCM and Scientific Researcher of the CSIC. Professor of Vertebrate Zoology at the University of Salamanca (1971) and Director of the Master Management of Biodiversity in the Tropics of the Carolina Foundation during its 6 editions (2002-2007). He has published 170 research papers (winter ecology in northern Spain, zoogeography; biology of the capercaillie, the wolf, Crocodylia), directed 6 undergraduate theses and 27 doctoral theses, 17 of which deal with Tropical Ecology. His contact, in 1957, with Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente was decisive, and he shared numerous experiences with him, collaborated on his famous Encyclopedia and launched himself into the study and defense of protected species. In the words of Dr. Castroviejo “Much remains of his legacy, but above all a collective awareness that natural wealth must be cared for, and the consideration, which can never be appreciated enough, that the work of the biologist has earned”.
He was Director of the Doñana Biological Station, CSIC (1975-1988). President of the International Coordination Council of the Man and Biosphere Program, MABUNESCO, Paris (1998-2000); President of the Spanish Committee of the Man and Biosphere Program, MAB (1997-2006); President of the Ibero-MAB Network of UNESCO (1997-2005). President of the Friends of Doñana Association (since 1986).
Since 1992 he has directed, with the Friends of Doñana Association, 56 International Development Cooperation projects (Angola, Bolivia, Venezuela, Paraguay, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritania, Spain, Namibia, Senegal) that include research and conservation of natural resources. And he directed many other minor projects.
In Doñana, he intervened in the drafting of the current Law 91/1978 on the Doñana National Park and RD 357/1984, helping to stop the Almonte-Marismas Plan, the coastal road and the surface of the National Park increased from 37.000 Ha to 50.000 Ha, in addition to the creation of the Preparque of some 40.000 Ha. He directed and coordinated two triennial integrated research projects in which some 200 researchers were involved. The staff of the Biological Station increased from 20 to 100 people and the surface of its headquarters in Seville from about 500 to 3.000 m2 with one of the best libraries and scientific collections of vertebrates (more than 120.000 specimens) in Spain. He first proposed the hydric restoration of the Marsh of the Park (J. Castroviejo 1982. Hydrology, Agriculture and Conservation in Doñana. Information Magazine of the Spanish National Commission of Cooperation with UNESCO 29: 1-11), and the consequent legal development.
Regarding tropical ecosystems, he has been a promoter of research and use of natural resources as a tool for development cooperation; he promoted projects in Venezuela where he created, in 1974, with the owners, the Cold Biological Station.
National Prize for the Environment, Prize for the Environment of the Community of Castilla-León, and 2008 Research Prize of the Spanish Geographical Society. The World Network of Biosphere Reserves won the Prince of Asturias Award for Concord in 2001, when he was President of the Spanish MaB Committee. Doctor Honoris Causa from the National University of Piura, Peru. Distinguished by the WWF Award for Conservation Merit, 1982. Honorary consultant to the EU, FAO, World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank.
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