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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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SIERRA DEL RINCÓN |
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| General Description |
Sierra del Rincón Biosphere Reserve lies in the northeastern sector of the Community of Madrid. The relief is characterized by a mountain chain in the north, east and south and the eastern part also includes two valleys: the Hiruela Valley delimited by summits with slopes descending towards the Jarama River, and the Puebla Valley that constitutes a drainage river basin. These valleys and mountain ranges contrast with the western depression of the Prádena-Montejo Valley, where the major rural settlements are located and where the traditional agricultural activities are concentrated. The Biosphere Reserve is characterized by pine and oak forests, rocky hillsides and valleys with pastures and a large variety of species associated with a long history of agriculture and cattle raising. In addition to its natural and landscape values, this region conserves exceptional elements of traditional mountain culture that constitute the main resource for the development of tourism. The traditional life style of the population has been based on the rational exploitation of agricultural resources and cattle raising. A major challenge is to revive the dwindling economies of the small villages to enhance natural and cultural values. In recent years diverse projects and investments from the different public administrations, affecting the conservation of historical heritage and landscapes, have improved the economy and the quality of life of the inhabitants of the region. The Biosphere Reserve has two core areas (Dehesa Boyal de Montejo and Dehesa Boyal de La Puebla) located in peripheral mountain environments with less population pressure, protected by mountains that separate them from the more accessible sectors. In these areas some of the most remarkable and better-conserved forest formations are found, with high plant and animal diversity. The buffer zone that surrounds the core areas is composed of an extensive forest which is state owned and managed for the maintenance of compatible forest and livestock raising activities. The transition areas include the villages, meadows and fields, uncultivated areas, matorrals etc. In these areas rural agricultural activities, forestry and cattle raising are maintained. |
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| Major ecosystem type | Evergreen sclerophyllous forests, woodlands or scrub; Mountain and highland systems | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | Reforestation areas of mixed and single species pine groves with Pinus sylvestris, P. nigra, and P. pinaster; Piornales (ciste and broom formations) and successive matorrals with Adenocarpus hispanicus, Agrostis castellana and Agrostis truncatula in the piornales and Acer monspessulanum, Achillegia millefolium and Adenocarpus complicatus complicatus in the matorrals; Oak groves with Quercus pyrenaica and Q. petraea; Pasture land exploited for cattle raising; Roquedos and rocky places with Agrostis truncatula, Alchemilla saxatilis, Allium scorzonerifolium and A.sphaerocephalon; Forests (beech, ash and holm oak); Riverine forests with willow (Salix spp.), ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and alder (Alnus glutinosa); Urban centres. | |||
| Location |
41º03’27”N; 3º28’41”W (Central point) 40º57’49” to 41º09’03”N; 3º23’35” to 3º33’46”W |
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| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 15,231 | |||
| Core area(s) | 587.7 | |||
| Buffer zone(s) | 7,017.4 | |||
| Transition area(s) when given | 7,625.7 | |||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | +900 to +2,047 | |||
| Year designated | 2005 | |||
| Administrative authorities | Comunidad de Madrid | |||
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| Brief description |
The Biosphere Reserve has two core areas: Dehesa Boyal de Montejo known as El Chaparral and Dehesa Boyal de La Puebla. The suitability of these two mountains is justified by the presence of the most specific and best conserved arboreal formations in the area. In the Chaparral de Montejo, one of the most southern beech forests of the Iberian Peninsula is located; and in the Dehesa Boyal de La Puebla an arboreal and sub-arboreal mixed formation with Mediterranean and Eurosiberan elements of great interest are conserved. The singularity and the state of conservation of these areas have been the prevailing criteria for their designation. Other criteria include abundance of vegetal and faunal taxa of great interest, and the strong local identity that exist in relation to these forest environments, with a traditional agrosilvopastoral use that has been an instrument for their conservation. In addition, the two areas are located in the most peripheral environments, with smaller population pressure and protected by the mountains that separate them from the more accessible sectors. The buffer zone is composed of public mountains that surround the two core areas. The incorporation of public property in the buffer zone will facilitate its management, where compatible economic activities (forestry, cattle raising, etc.) can be maintained. The transition areas include the rural centres, meadows and fields, uncultivated areas, and matorrals. Rural agricultural activities, forestry and cattle raising are maintained there. Plans and agreements related to investigation and environmental education include: Implementation of Agenda 21 in Sierra del Rincón, Plan for the monitoring of indicators of sustainability, Viability plan and implementation of a system of ecological cattle raising; Tourism plan, Support for tourism promotion; Commercialization of artisanal products; Project for the ecodevelopment of marginal mountain areas. |
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| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | Abiotic factors, acidic deposition/acid rain, air quality, air temperature, climate, contaminants, erosion, geology, geomorphology, habitat, hydrology, indicators, meteorology, monitoring/methodologies, nutrients, pollution, pollutants, soil, topography, uv radiation/solar radiation. | |||
| Biodiversity | Alien/Invasive/Exotic/Introduced species, amphibians, autoecology/synecology, biodiversity, biogeography, biology, birds, breeding/reproduction, community studies/communities, conservation, degraded areas, ecology, ecosystem assessment, ecosystem functioning/ecosystem structure, endemic species, fauna, fires/fire ecology, fishes, flora, forest systems, freshwater/inland water, fungi, genetic resources, home gardens, indicators, invertebrates/insects/spiders, lichens, mediterranean type/scherophyll, migrating populations/migration, monitoring/methodologies, mountain and highland systems, natural medicinal products, natural resources, perturbations/resilience/vulnerability, pests/diseases, phytosociology/succession, plants, pollination, rare/endangered/threatened species, reptiles, restoration/rehabilitation/redevelopment, species inventorying/inventory, taxonomy, vegetation studies/plant cover, wildlife. | |||
| Socio-economic | Agriculture/Production systems, agroforestry, anthropological studies/anthropology, capacity building, control and monitoring of illegal activities, cottage industry/artisanal industry, cultural aspects, demography, economic studies, economically important species, energy production systems/alternative energy, firewood cutting/harvesting, fishery/fisheries, forestry, human health, human migration/population exodus, human/wildlife conflicts, hunting, indicators, indicators of sustainability, indigenous people, industry, livelihood measures, livestock and related impacts/overgrazing, local participation, mining, monitoring methodologies, non-timber forest products/ntfp, pastoralism/pastoralists/grazing, people-nature relations/man/nature, quality economies, recreation, resource use, role of women/gender, sacred sites, small business initiatives, social/socio-economic aspects, stakeholders' interests, tourism, traditional practices/ethnology/traditional knowledge, transport. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | Carrying capacity/Sustainability, conflict, ecosystem approach, education and public awareness, environmental change, environmental quality, geographic information system/gis, impact and risk studies/environmental impact, indicators, infrastructure, institutional and legal aspects, interdisciplinary studies, land use/land cover, management issues, planning and zoning measures/zonation, policy issues, rural systems, sustainable development/sustainable use, urban systems/towns/cities. | |||
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| Contact address |
Alberto Ruiz Iguana Fundación FIDA C/ Sagasti nº 13, 3º planta 28004 Madrid Spain |
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| Telephone | (34.91) 593 4162 | |||
| Fax | (34.91) 593 4589 | |||
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alberto.ruiz@fida.es |
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| Last updated: 27/02/2007 |
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