Big game hunting as a sustainable economic activity in the process of depopulation of rural Extremadura

Abstract

Hunting is a resource of rural areas that is traditionally exploited. In the current context, it is conceived as an economic activity that contributes to the creation of employment in municipalities immersed in a profound demographic regression, provided that it is practised in a sustainable manner. The aim of this work is to analyse the geographical distribution of big game hunting reserves in Extremadura and the demographic dynamics in which the municipalities concerned are immersed. For the analysis, official statistics on both variables have been compared. The results obtained show the wide territorial distribution of the big game reserves, which have been clearly expanding in recent years, throughout the different physiographic units, and the regressive demographic trend in the municipalities where they are located. As a result, we propose a discussion including measures that could contribute to generate a greater economic impact in rural areas.