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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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PICOS DE EUROPA |
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| General Description | The Picos de Europa Biosphere Reserve covers an area of 64,660 hectares and represents some of the highest montane systems of the large Gran Cantabrica Biosphere Reserve, which is being built up step by step by MAB Spain. This area was set up as a National Park in 1918 due to its relatively undisturbed natural ecosystems with habitats such as low coastal Atlantic forest, abundant beech forest (Fagus sylvatica), oak woods with Quercus robur, Quercus patraea, Quercus pyrenaica, as well as small relict sclerophyllous and sub-sclerophyllous forests. Traditional land uses and activities such as extensive cattle raising and agriculture (maize, cereals, fruit trees) has made a harmonious landscape. Due to the rugged landscape, there are only 1,367 inhabitants in the biosphere reserve: the main issue for them is to promote tourism respectful of nature. The three zones of the biosphere reserve correspond to existing zones of the Picos de Europa National Park. The National Park authorities manage the site in cooperation with a comsíon mixta composed of representatives of the communities of the biosphere reserve. The management plan for the national park/biosphere reserve makes provision for numerous support activities on environmental education, public awareness, scientific research and the work of volunteers, involving institutions at the local, national and international levels. Research activities are mainly carried out on rare and endangered species (Mammals: Ursus arctos, Canis lupus signatus ; birds: Tetrao urogallus) and also on karst systems. | |||
| Major ecosystem type | Temperate and Mediterranean region mountain systems | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types |
Mountain areas, rocky outcrops and montane grasslands Needle-leaf and deciduous natural forests and Mountain areas transformed by human activities such as forestry and grazing Marshes and peat bogs |
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| Location |
43°4’45’’N - 43°19’05’’ N 4°38’45’’W - 5°6’30’’ W |
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| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 64,660 | |||
| Core area(s) | 21,201 | |||
| Buffer zone(s) | 42,003 | |||
| Transition area(s) when given | 1,456 | |||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | 75 – 2,646 | |||
| Year designated | 2003 | |||
| Administrative authorities | Comisión Mixta de Gestión Administration of the National Park : Parque Nacional de Los Picos de Europa. Administrative authorities from three villages (Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla y Leon) are also involved in the management of the Biosphere Reserve | |||
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| Brief description |
Geology study (karst system) Soil survey Air quality and contaminants monitoring Fire control and prevention Flora/fauna inventory Studies on rare and endangered species and conservation plans (Brown bear Ursus arctos, birds: Tetrao urogallus, Canis lupus signatus) Studies on fish distribution and reproduction (Atlantic salmon: Salmo salar). Forest and plants communities /evolution /diseases/pests Local cattle breeding and conservation Ethnology, traditional practices (transhumance) Controlling pastoralism Education and tourism issues Management issues Public, traditional use and conservation compatibility |
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| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | Air temperature, climate, geology, hydrology, meteorology, water quality/chemistry. | |||
| Biodiversity | Birds, breeding/reproduction, community studies/communities, conservation, endemic species, fauna, fires/fire ecology, fishes, forest systems, freshwater/inland water, genetic resources, mammals, mediterranean type/scherophyll, monitoring/methodologies, population genetics/population dynamics, rare/endangered/threatened species, reptiles, species inventorying/inventory, taxonomy. | |||
| Socio-economic | Demography, economically important species, livestock and related impacts/overgrazing. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | Management issues, policy issues, rural systems. | |||
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| Contact address |
Miguel Menéndez de la Hoz Director Adjunto del Parque Nacional de Picos de Europa Arquitecto Reguera, 13 33004 Oviedo (Asturias) Spain |
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| Telephone | (34.985) 25 53 76 | |||
| Fax | (34.985) 27 39 45 | |||
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picos@mma.es mmenendez@oapn.mma.es |
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| Contact address |
Rodrigo Suárez Robledano Director del Parque Nacional de Picos de Europa Arquitecto Reguera, 13 33004 Oviedo Spain |
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| Telephone | (34.985) 25 53 76 | |||
| Fax | (34.985) 27 39 45 | |||
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picos@mma.es RSuarez@oapn.mma.es |
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n.a. | |||
| Last updated: 27/02/2007 |
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