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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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SOMIEDO |
 © Photo: Peter Bridgewater |
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| General Description | Somiedo comprises alpine ecosystems on the peaks (up to 2,100 meters above sea level) and high ridges of the Cantabrican range, as well as slopes covered by beech woods, green oak or Pyrenean oak, and swift flowing streams in the meadows lining the bottom of the U-shaped glacial valleys. The beech woods are home to capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), and the woodlands support many animals species, including a substantial population of brown bears, lynx, chamois and a number of species of amphibians and reptiles restricted to the north of the Iberian Peninsula. The local population (some 1,600 people in 2000) still practice special forms of transhumance, taking herds of cattle up to the higher meadows during spring and summer. There are concentrations of traditional Braña, or cattle/people homes, still maintained by the local Vaqueiros de alzada, or mountain cowboys. The Braña are thatched with broom (Cytisus spp.), brought down by the Vaqueiros from the higher slopes. The biosphere reserve includes substantial woodland and high montane habitats in the core area and buffer zone, and the Vaqueiros areas are located in the buffer zone and the transition area, which also includes a number of small and typical Cantabrican villages, of which the largest is Pola de Somiedo. Local mayors support sustainable development activities, balancing the needs of population with demands for conservation. | |||
| Major ecosystem type | Temperate broadleaf forest or woodlands | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | Fagus forests dominated by Fagus sylvatica including Quercus petraea, Fraxinus excelsior, Betula celtiberica etc.; Genista habitats with Genista occidentalis dominated by Genista hispanica ssp. occidentalis, Ulex europaeus and with Erica vagans, Helianthemum nummularium, H. canum etc.; grasslands characterized by Holcus lanatus, Cynosurus cristatus, Trisetum flavescens, Dactylis glomerata etc.; Ericaceae habitats with Erica australis ssp. aragonensis including Halimium alyssoides and Genistella tridentata; agroecosystems; tree plantations; grazing areas; urban and industrialized areas | |||
| Location | 43°07'N; 6°14'W | |||
| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 29,121 | |||
| Core area(s) | 10,600 | |||
| Buffer zone(s) | 17,392 | |||
| Transition area(s) when given | 1,129 | |||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | +400 to +2,194 | |||
| Year designated | 2000 | |||
| Administrative authorities | Dirección General de Recursos Naturales y Protección. Consejería de Medio Ambiental. Principado de Asturias | |||
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| Brief description |
Meteorology Ethnography, history and local economy Inventory of natural resources Ecosystem characteristics and functioning Pilot plan for "revegetation" of mines Cantabrican brown bear (Ursus arctos) Investigation plan for wolves Population studies of "rebeco" Landslide's activity in Europe in relation to climatic change Regeneration of Betula pubescens ssp. celtiberica and Sorbus aucuparia in relation to altitude in mountanous areas Utilization of GIS for the analysis of the susceptibility of slopes to rockfalls |
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| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | Climate, geomorphology, meteorology. | |||
| Biodiversity | Ecosystem functioning/Ecosystem structure, forest systems, mountain and highland systems, natural resources, restoration/rehabilitation/redevelopment, wildlife. | |||
| Socio-economic | Economic studies, natural hazards, social/socio-economic aspects. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | Geographic Information System/GIS. | |||
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| Contact address |
Carlos Fernández Barquín Director Conservador Parque Natural de Redes C/Coronel Arana, s/n 33071 Oviedo (Asturias) Spain |
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| Telephone | (34.985) 105584 | |||
| Fax | (34.985) 105538 | |||
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pabloac@princast.es |
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| Last updated: 11/03/2005 |
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