Hunting sector drives rural economy in Spain

Regional authorities in Spain are highlighting the economic and social importance of the hunting sector. In Extremadura, the PSOE has reaffirmed its commitment to 'social hunting' to support rural communities. The provincial councils of Badajoz and Cáceres have launched aid programs totaling 600,000 euros each to support local hunting societies. These funds, which can provide up to 8,000 euros per society, are intended for species recovery efforts, such as installing feeders and waterers and managing rabbit populations.

In Castilla-La Mancha, hunting is identified as a major driver of the rural economy, generating approximately 1,000 million euros annually, or more than 2 percent of the regional GDP. The sector supports over 21,000 jobs, including 9,000 direct positions. Officials emphasized the potential for hunting tourism, noting that more than half of the hunters in the region come from other autonomous communities. In Ciudad Real alone, there are over 1,520 hunting grounds covering roughly 1.5 million hectares.