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 range.
Description
Map
Surface : 63,830 ha
- Core area(s): 16,538 ha
- Buffer zone(s): 45,889 ha
- Transition zone(s): 1,403 ha
Location: -4º 51' 10.44" 43º 18' 57.24"
Administrative Authorities
Consorcio Interautonomico para la Gestion Coordinada de Los Picos de Europa
Augustin Santori Lopez, Rodrigo Suarez Robledano
C/ Arquitecto Reguera, 13
33004 Oviedo - Asturias
Spain
Tel.: 985241412 / 985255376
Email: asantori@oapn.es and rsuarez@oapn.es
Ecological Characteristics
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.
The area is home to some endangered specieis, like the Ursus arctos, Canis lupus signatus and Tetrao urogallus.
Socio-Economic Characteristics
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.
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Last updated: January 2019