The Cantabrian naturalist Jesús ‘Suso’ Garzón, pioneer and reference of Spanish environmentalism, promoter of the Monfragüe National Park (Cáceres) and founder of the Transhumance and Nature Association, has died at the age of 77.
Known as Suso “the one of transhumance”, since in the nineties he managed to get thousands of sheep to cross the center of Madrid in defense of the ravines, he is also considered the father of the Monfragüe National Park, for which he fought and whose advice He was founder and president.
Jesús “Suso” Garzón was born on March 11, 1946 in the Cantabrian town of Sopeña de Cabuérniga, although he lived between Cantabria, Extremadura and Madrid. He was a collaborator of Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente and, as reflected in his extensive CV, he has been recognized during his career with numerous awards for his defense of nature.
Among them, the Europa Nostra awards stand out for their defense of the Extremaduran park of Monfragüe or the Cantabrian park of Oyambre, the awards for Nature Conservation of Cantabria and Castilla y León, the I Jane Godall Award for Conservation and Environmental Ethics or the the BBVA Foundation for Biodiversity Conservation.
Suso Garzón was also the founder of the Association for the Defense of Nature and Natural Resources of Extremadura (Adenex), of the Association for the Defense of Natural Resources of Cantabria (Arca), of the European Natural Heritage Fund and of the Association Council of La Mesta, among other organizations.
His work in defense of nature also led him into politics and between 1984 and 1987 he was general director of the Environment of the Government of Extremadura. Author of hundreds of scientific publications, his first research works were dedicated to the black stork, the capercaillie and the fauna of the metropolitan area of ??Madrid.
He also participated in the preparation of the wolf census and different species protection programs, as well as in the reintroduction of black, griffon and Egyptian vultures and in the prevention of damage by foxes, wolves and bears to extensive livestock farming with free distribution to mastiff dog breeders.
The recovery of traditional transhumance in Spain through the ravines from the pastures of Extremadura to the mountains of Castilla y León was one of the great milestones in his career.
Testimony of this achievement are the transhumance festivals organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Madrid City Council, during which flocks of sheep and goats invade the center of the capital, coming from the Montes de León, to later move to the Park. National of Monfragüe.
He had been in the transhumance profession for 30 years, from which only illness had removed him, for the first time, in 2023. Since his forced sick leave, Garzón highlighted that this year it was a special transhumance festival that was celebrated in Madrid on Last October 22, as it marked 750 years since Alfonso
Ecologists in Action of Extremadura regretted the death of Garzón, who highlighted, in a statement, that he was “a reference for all environmentalism.” “The environmental movements will not forget their fight, almost alone, to save Monfragüe from the eucalyptus plantation plans and turn it into the wonderful park that it is today,” the note adds.
In addition, he highlighted Garzón’s defense of transhumance, so linked to historical and social heritage and that allows “to understand life in a different way in and with nature”, as well as his calls to fight against climate change “and not waste more time in this momentous endeavor.
