Actividades extractivas y medio ambiente

Las Médulas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former gold mining area in León, Spain, highlights the historical and legal complexities of balancing mineral extraction with environmental protection. The study reveals that while Spain's 1973 Mining Law included provisions for environmental safeguards—such as mandatory measures for authorization, potential sanctions for non-compliance, and the establishment of protected zones—these were largely ineffective due to a lack of regulatory development until the late 1970s. This gap allowed mining activities to often prioritize extraction over ecological or landscape preservation during judicial conflicts in the early decades of the law's implementation. The research underscores how constitutional advancements, particularly the 1978 Spanish Constitution recognizing environmental rights, later catalyzed stronger protections, exemplified by Catalonia's 1981 law on extractive activities. The study thus illuminates the tension between historical mining legacy and modern environmental governance, offering insights into the evolution of legal frameworks for sustainable resource management.

Quintana López, T. (2023). Actividades extractivas y medio ambiente. Cuadernos de Derecho Local. https://doi.org/10.61521/cuadernosderecholocal.16.336