Directed by the Asturian Tom Fernández, this film, shot in spectacular enclaves of the Cantabrian Mountains, highlights this ecological corridor, a privileged habitat for such emblematic species of Iberian fauna as the brown bear.

Ana Leiva, director of the Biodiversity Foundation, attended, on Thursday night, March 31, the preview of the film “What is a bear for?”, in the auditorium of the Niemeyer Center, in Avilés.

The film gives a glimpse of the importance of knowledge and the dissemination of ecological values and the threats that loom over the natural heritage, such as the urbanizing voracity of human beings. It also contains a hopeful message: each of us holds the key to helping to halt the deterioration of the environment and the decline of our species. With a small change in daily recycling habits, we could help curb pollution.

This comedy, highly recommended for the whole family, is a good vehicle for raising awareness of current issues, such as the effects of climate change or the necessary scientific and research rigour that must be relied on to make the right decisions.

Last weekend, the film by Asturian Tom Fernández was presented, with great media impact and public acceptance, at the Malaga Festival, and promises to be one of the national comedies of this year. The public will be able to see it from April 1 in theaters throughout Spain.

“What is a bear for?”, with Javier Cámara and Gonzalo de Castro, is an excellent channel to show the natural wealth and beautiful landscapes of western Asturias and, therefore, promote nature tourism. Sustainable tourism is, in fact, one of the ways to achieve a more sustainable development of rural areas, essential for the conservation of its biodiversity and the health and quality of life of its inhabitants.

Currently, the data on the positive evolution of the Cantabrian brown bear are encouraging. Recently, more than 130 specimens have been counted, a significant figure if we compare it with the 50 individuals recorded in the 70s.