/

MAB Task Force

on the

Development of Quality Economies in Biosphere Reserves /

Questionnaire for Biosphere Reserve Managers and Coordinators

http://www.unesco.org/mab/qualityEconomies/qualityhome.htm

October 2002

Name of Biosphere Reserve

LANZAROTE BIOSPHERE RESERVE

Country

SPAIN (CANARY ISLANDS)

Questionnaire filled in by

NAME: EULALIA MERINO NARANJO & AQUILINO MIGUÉLEZ LÓPEZ

FUNCTION: Agronomist & Ecologist in Biosphere Reserve Office

ADDRESS: Avda. Coll, 7. 35500 Arrecife de Lanzarote. Cabildo Insular

E-MAIL:

FAX: (+ 34) 928 805795

TEL: (+ 34) 928 805310 – 5370

WEB PAGE: http://www.cabildodelanzarote.com

I agree to the possibility that the information provided in this questionnaire be made available on the MABnet linked to the Internet and in UNESCO-MAB publications
(The MAB Secretariat would welcome the opportunity to promote networking and sharing of experiences related to the development of quality economies in biosphere reserves within the World Network of Biosphere Reserves)
Yes: / x
No:
I. Overview of the present situation in the Biosphere Reserve concerning sustainable economic development

I.1 Economic overview:

A. Estimated number of inhabitants in the BR (if possible, indicate for each zone, i.e. core area, buffer and transition area, and the trends over the last years):

Number of inhabitants / Trend (mark with ‘+’ if the number is on the increase, with ‘-‘ if decreasing trend)
Entire Biosphere Reserve / 111,830 / +
Core / 0 / -
Buffer / 2,709 / +
Transition area / 107,348 / +

Comments / references:

INHABITANTS IN THE BIOSPHERE RESERVE

MUNICIPALITIES / CORE AREA / BUFFER AREA / TRANSITION AREA / SPARSLEY / TOTAL
ARRECIFE / 48,135 / 820 / 48,955
HARÍA / 4,629 / 4,629
SAN BARTOLOMÉ / 451 / 15,894 / 16,345
TÍAS / 94 / 14,284 / 872 / 15,250
TINAJO / 4,986 / 4,986
TEGUISE / 1,390 / 12,338 / 81 / 13,809
YAIZA / 774 / 7,082 / 7,856

TOTAL

/ 0 / 2,709 / 107,348 / 1,773 / 111,830

Source: “Anuario Estadístico de Lanzarote 2001” (Statistical Yearbook). Statistics Department of Lanzarote Island Government. Lanzarote Biosphere Reserve Structure Map.

The Core Area has historically not been inhabited, due to its geological and/or topographic characteristics which impede sufficient agricultural production.

The Buffer Area is home to 2.4% of the island’s population, located in very small settlements or scattered housing. In this area there is some fishing and shellfishing activity; in fact it includes the island’s only Marine Reserve “Marine Reserve of Fishery Interest around the island of La Graciosa and the small isles of northern Lanzarote” (1995). The human settlements in this area were originally, and to a much lesser extent continue to be, fishermen’s refuges. The number of inhabitants increases in the summer months. In inland areas the population is associated with farming activities (La Geria). This area tends to possess other figures of protection which limit the settlement of residents.

The Transition Area accommodates the tourist zones and associated infrastructure. This is also the most densely populated area, since it is where the vast majority of the resident population lives (96% of the island’s population in approx. 56% of the island’s territory).

The inhabitants included in the Sparsely column are those who live outside the populated zones in isolated and highly scattered housing, accounting for 1.6% of the island’s population.


B. Employment numbers and un-employment rates (if possible, indicate for each zone, i.e. core area, buffer and transition area, and the trends over the last years):

Number of inhabitants employed / Rate of un-employed people (%) / Trend (mark with ‘+’ if the rate is on the increase, with ‘-‘ if decreasing trend)
Entire Biosphere Reserve / 43,144 / 16%? / ?
Core
Buffer
Transition area

Comments / references:

The development of tourism has absorbed almost all the resident workforce, with the consequent generalised abandonment of farming and animal husbandry, and has attracted a large amount of outside labour.

The unemployment rates included in the above table are difficult to comprehend, given the high level of economic activity on the island in recent years originated by the tourist sector and the employment it generates. It is also a striking fact that 71% of unemployed persons are of between 20 and 44 years of age, the optimum working age. This can be explained bearing in mind the following points:

·  The types of contracts in use promote this situation, since business managers prefer precarious employment to offering their employees stable contracts, and so workers alternate between contracted work and unemployment, or enter the black economy.

·  The resident population is more demanding when choosing a job, and when in possession of training demands that this be recognised, rejecting employment of a lower category or in precarious or bad conditions.

·  Finally immigrants (47% of the population are outsiders), and especially illegal immigrants, accept any work, in any condition, even when not in possession of the necessary training. This exploitation has its repercussion on young persons and workers, since some business managers call on their existing employees to ignore the conditions established in their contracts or agreements, with the threat of employing clandestine workers or signing more precarious contracts with immigrants.

NUMBER OF JOBS BY SECTORS
(December 2001)
ECONOMIC SECTOR / LANZAROTE
Farming, livestock and fisheries / 752
Industry / 1,377
Construction / 7,099
Retail and Repairs / 8,785
Hotel and Catering / 11,938
Transport and Communications / 2,150
Financial Intermediacy / 126
Property and Rentals / 3,377
Public Admin., Defence and Soc. Sec. / 3,250
Education / 1,531
Healthcare and Social Services / 543
Other Social Activities / 1,974
Domestic Staff / 226
Extraterritorial Organisms
Others / 17
TOTAL / 43,144
UNEMPLOYMENT BY ECONOMIC SECTORS, PROFESSIONAL GROUPS, SEX AND AGE
(December 2001)
ECONOMIC SECTOR / Males / Females / Total
Agriculture, livestock and fisheries / 29 / 6 / 35
Industry / 54 / 51 / 105
Construction / 303 / 56 / 359
Services
Retail and Repairs / 154 / 347 / 501
Hotel and Catering / 349 / 600 / 949
Transport and Communications / 62 / 47 / 109
Financial Intermediacy / 2 / 10 / 12
Property and Rentals / 114 / 249 / 363
Public Admin., Defence and Soc. Sec. / 34 / 86 / 120
Education / 10 / 34 / 44
Healthcare and Social Services / 10 / 28 / 38
Other Social Activities / 40 / 64 / 104
Domestic Staff / 2 / 2 / 4
Extraterritorial Organisms / 1 / 1
Not previously employed / 46 / 92 / 138
Total / 1,210 / 1,673 / 2,883
PROFESSIONAL GROUP
Executives / 16 / 5 / 21
Engineers and scientists / 33 / 91 / 124
Engineering support technicians / 93 / 87 / 180
Administrative employees / 103 / 292 / 395
Workers in service sector / 245 / 616 / 861
Workers in agriculture / 50 / 9 / 59
Qualified labourers / 294 / 49 / 343
Machinery operators / 90 / 16 / 106
Unqualified labourers / 285 / 508 / 793
Total / 1,210 / 1,673 / 2,883
AGE
Under 20 / 45 / 43 / 88
From 20 to 29 / 281 / 521 / 801
From 30 to 44 / 484 / 764 / 1.248
From 45 to 54 / 230 / 235 / 465
Over 55 / 169 / 110 / 279
Total / 1,210 / 1,673 / 2,883
C. Main economic activities/sectors (if possible, indicate for each zone, i.e. core area, buffer and transition area, and the trends over the last years):
Main economic activities/ sectors (see question 1.2 for examples) / Trend (mark with ‘+’ if increase, with ‘-‘ if decreasing trend)
Entire Biosphere Reserve / Public Services (84.3%), Construction (11.1%), Industry (4.5%), Agriculture (0.1%)
Core
Buffer
Transition area

Source: “Anuario Estadístico de Lanzarote 2001” (Statistical Yearbook). Statistics Department of Lanzarote Island Governement.


Comments / references:

The main economic activities are concentrated in the transition area, though there are some localised cases in protected natural sites, such as art, culture and tourism centres that are owned and promoted by the Island Government. Two of these are situated in the core area, two in the buffer area and three in the transition area. These centres started to be built in the 1960’s and were intended to promote quality tourism based on the originality of the landscape. The Island Government obtains considerable benefits from these centres, allowing it to generate much public employment.
In the buffer area there is also some agricultural activity (north and centre of the island), with the production of local wines (La Geria).

D. Estimated number of companies active in the Biosphere Reserve (if possible, indicate for each zone, i.e. core area, buffer and transition area, and the trends over the last years):

Number of companies / Trend (mark with ‘+’ if increase, with ‘-‘ if decreasing trend)
Entire Biosphere Reserve / 12,323
Core
Buffer
Transition area

Data regarding the number of companies is taken from the census of economic activities (IAE) and corresponds almost entirely to the transition area.

I.2. Sector/company profiles:

Please fill in the table below by giving an estimate for each economic sector represented in the Biosphere Reserve. Use the table to add any comments you may have.

(See next page)

5

I.2. Sector/company profiles:

Sector / Estimated
Nº of companies / Nºof employees / Wages (H=Higher,) / Turn-over
($/year) / Main goods/
services produced / Production mainly consumed:
1. In the reserve
2. Nationally
3. Internationally
(mark with 1, 2, and/or 3) / Support to the functions of the BR (rank according to scale +5 to –5 +5)* / Main challenges / opportunities in relation to the functions of the BR*
Agriculture / 15 / 752 / H / Wine, tubers, vegetables, cheese. / 1, 2,3 / +3 / Traditional farming preserves highly valuable landscapes and ecological balances. Promotion of new coherent agricultural activities.
Tourism & Recreation / 1.966 / 11938 / H / Accommodation, restaurants, activities and sports in natural settings. / 1 / -3 / Tourism has converted a warm desert into a modern oasis. The challenge is to control tourist supply and demand in order to prevent greater human pressure.
Industry / 554 / 1.377 / H / 1,2,3 / Improve industrial waste management and diversify and increase sustainable production.
Mining / 51 / 6 / H / Aggregates for construction and agriculture. / 1,2,3 / -2 / Coherent and negotiated island management.
Forestry
Fisheries / 126 / H / Fish / restaurants. / 1,2,3 / Better regulation, control and monitoring.
Hunting
Transport / 837 / 2150 / H / Internal/external transport of persons and goods. Tourist trips / 2,3 / -5 / The territory is highly accessible (except for the urban area) and there is insufficient control.
Energy & Water / 15 / 321 / H / Electricity and water (drinking water and sewage treatment). / 3 / -5 / Make use of own energies and avoid wastage and emissions.
Construction / 1269 / 6567 / H / Tourist buildings, residential and civil constructions. / 1,2,3 / -3 / Recycling of materials, controls on building, adapt infrastructures to island scale.
Metallic products and machinery / 85 / H / 3 / Improvement of waste management.
Means of Transport / 24 / H / 2,3 / Recycling and efficiency (public transport).
Food Products, Drinks and Tobacco / 112 / H / 2,3 / Sustainably increase agricultural production of B.R.
Textiles, Leather and Footwear / 24 / H / 2,3 / Recycling and improvement of waste management.
Paper, Stationary and Printing / 70 / H / 2,3 / Recycling and efficient use.
Wood, Cork and Furniture / 111 / H / 2,3 / Recycling and efficient use.
Cork, Plastic and Others / 5 / H / 2,3 / Recycling and efficient use.
Retail and Repairs / 4346 / 6487 / H / 1,2 / Favour contribution to consumption of island products, avoid outside capital.
Credits and Insurance / 210 / 56 / H
Other Services / 2223 / H
Professionals / 950

N.B. The data in the first two columns may seem to be erroneous, since in some cases no. of companies > no. of employees, which may be due to the fact that Spanish legislation considers self-employed workers as companies. *We do not have data on Turnover ($/year). During these years the avalanche of constructions partly explains the data for a number of sectors.

* Conservation function: ...

6

I.3. Regional marketing

Give examples, if any, of marketing campaigns where the Biosphere Reserve is used to market the region and its various products and services:

The Biosphere Reserve is used in many marketing campaigns for products and services. It is used as a guarantee of the tourist quality of all the island and of the activities carried out there, of transport services (public and private) and in an advertisement for a supermarket chain, etc.
Lanzarote is a tourist resort that is differentiated from the Canaries, but its promotion is linked to the Canaries archipelago.

I.4. Tourism

In addition to the information provided in the table above, please give an overview of the tourism sector in the Biosphere Reserve (e.g. estimated annual number of domestic and international visitors, benefits derived by the Biosphere Reserve and the local population from tourism, management challenges etc):