La experiencia de ocio en la naturaleza como fundamento de la construcción de sentido del lugar: el caso del Parque Natural de Urkiola, Bizkaia, Euskadi, España.

Abstract

This article identifies and characterizes the links established between outdoor recreationists and protected areas. The text refers to the theoretical discussion of leisure experiences and constitutes a determinant of the relationship between subjects and parks. Through qualitative analysis of interviews, we identified and categorized the significance that outdoor enthusiasts place on a specific natural are: a sense of belonging and identity; the park as a place of privileged socialization; reservoirs of magic, cultural traditions and mythology. Leisure experiences based on contact with nature, provide experiences that transform the space into a place, building ties that tend to generate behaviors of admiration, commitment and care for the environment and nature.