CONTRIBUCIONES A UNA PROPUESTA DE REVALORIZACIÓN DEL PAISAJE DEL CORREDOR MINERO Las Herrerias – São Domingos

Abstract

This paper analyses the situation of the Las Herrerias - São Domingos mining corridor, highlighting its rich mining history and contemporary challenges due to post-industrial abandonment and deterioration. This corridor, located in the Iberian Pyritic Belt, was in the past a vibrant area thanks to mining, which brought significant economic development, but also negative environmental consequences and socio-economic challenges after operations ceased in the 1950s. In response to depopulation and environmental deterioration, a revalorisation of the landscape is proposed through a sustainable model that incorporates ecological protection, the exploitation of mining heritage and the enhancement of local production. The rehabilitation of the landscape is conceptualised through the interaction between the population and the environment, highlighting the importance of multifunctionality and ecosystemic action. The document proposes to reintegrate this multifunctionality in order to revitalise the area, supported by European structural funds and cross-border programmes that promote cooperation between Andalusia and Portugal. Strategies for ecosystem and cultural restoration are suggested that include the conservation of natural habitats and the development of ecological and cultural infrastructures that enhance both the local economy and heritage. This approach seeks not only environmental conservation, but also to foster an attractive environment for the settlement and development of sustainable communities. The proposal emphasises the need for integrated and sustainable planning encompassing agricultural production, ecological conservation and cultural recreation to ensure a prosperous and sustainable future for the mining corridor.