Natural Park of Fuentes Carrionas and Fuente Cobre-Montaña Palentina
Encyclopedia
Fuentes Carrionas y Fuente Cobre-Montaña Palentina is a natural park
in Castile and León
, Spain.
The park was declared in 2000 and is one of a number of protected areas in the Cantabrian Mountains
.
The name of the park refers to the Fuentes Carrionas
sub-range (source of the river Carrión) and to Fuente Cobre (the traditional source of the river Pisuerga). From an ecological point of view, most of the park is within the Atlantic biogeographical region
, but it is on the edge of that region and 4% of the area is classed as Mediterranean
.
for bird-life (reference number ES4140011) under the European Union
's Birds Directive. It has been proposed as a Site of Community Importance
, as it contains various species of European interest.
, a bird which became extinct in the park at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Since 2010 the European Union's LIFE programme
has supported a recovery plan for this subspecies across 16 SPAs.
. There is an interpretation centre for the bear at Verdeña, Cervera de Pisuerga
.
Cantabrian brown bears are normally described as being divided into two sub-populations, and the natural park lies within the range of the eastern sub-population, which is the smaller of the two.
Habitat fragmentation
is a serious threat to the bears' survival, and the eastern bears in particular are at risk from endogamy
. However, in 2009 a study indicated that the bears have reversed the division of their range in Spain, and there is inter-breeding between the two sub-populations. The LIFE Programme
has supported conservation work to enhance wildlife corridor
s with the aim of encouraging a natural flow of bears between sub-populations.
There is some controversy as to whether a management regime appropriate for game
species such as wild boar or deer is compatible with the interests of protected species.
was proposed for the mountain pass of San Glorio
which would directly impact the natural park.
In 2006 the regional government relaxed the protection it had given the park in order to permit the development of a ski resort. The promotors of the project argued that it would help the local human population which, as in many Spanish rural areas, suffered from demographic decline in the twentieth century. Environmentalists have disputed the economics of the project as, according to official predictions, the duration of seasonal snow cover in the Cantabrian mountains was likely to be adversely affected by global warming
. Environmentalists have also argued that a ski resort would be incompatible with the aim of promoting the recovery of the brown bear, given that bears would be likely to avoid such a facility and that their habitat would thus be fragmented.
In March 2008, the High Court of Castilla y León ruled that the regional government’s sudden change in its own planning regulations, without a proper assessment, not only went against its own regional law, but both the national law on nature conservation and the European Natura 2000
regulations. The court also noted that climate change threatened the viability of the projected ski resort.
However, despite this setback, the regional government continued to support the development. As at July 2010 the regional government was planning to submit a revised proposal to the European Union in the hope that it would not conflict with the Habitats Directive.
Natural park (Spain)
In Spain, a natural park is a natural space protected for its biology, geology, or landscape, with ecological, aesthetic, educational, or scientific value whose preservation merits preferential attention on the part of public administration. The regulation of the activities that may occur there...
in Castile and León
Castile and León
Castile and León is an autonomous community in north-western Spain. It was so constituted in 1983 and it comprises the historical regions of León and Old Castile...
, Spain.
The park was declared in 2000 and is one of a number of protected areas in the Cantabrian Mountains
Cantabrian Mountains
The Cantabrian Mountains or Cantabrian Range are one of the main systems of mountain ranges in Spain.They extend for more than approximately 180 miles across northern Spain, from the western limit of the Pyrenees to the edges of the Galician Massif close to Galicia, along the coast of the...
.
The name of the park refers to the Fuentes Carrionas
Fuentes Carrionas
The massif of Fuentes Carrionas is a mountain range belonging to Spain's Cantabrian Mountains. The massif is in the north of the province of Palencia, and also falls within the boundaries of province of León and Cantabria....
sub-range (source of the river Carrión) and to Fuente Cobre (the traditional source of the river Pisuerga). From an ecological point of view, most of the park is within the Atlantic biogeographical region
Atlantic Europe
Atlantic Europe is a geographical and anthropological term for the western portion of Europe which borders the Atlantic Ocean. The term may refer to the idea of Atlantic Europe as a cultural unit and/or as an biogeographical region....
, but it is on the edge of that region and 4% of the area is classed as Mediterranean
Mediterranean Basin
In biogeography, the Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around the Mediterranean Sea that have a Mediterranean climate, with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers, which supports characteristic Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub vegetation...
.
Fauna
In 2000 the natural park was designated a Special Protection AreaSpecial Protection Area
A Special Protection Area or SPA is a designation under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds.Under the Directive, Member States of the European Union have a duty to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds and certain particularly threatened birds.Together with Special...
for bird-life (reference number ES4140011) under the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
's Birds Directive. It has been proposed as a Site of Community Importance
Site of Community Importance
A Site of Community Importance is defined in the European Commission Habitats Directive as a site which, in the biogeographical region or regions to which it belongs, contributes significantly to the maintenance or restoration at a favourable conservation status of a natural habitat type or of a...
, as it contains various species of European interest.
Birds
The natural park has been identified as a suitable location for the reintroduction of the Cantabrian CapercaillieCantabrian Capercaillie
The Cantabrian Capercaillie is a subspecies of the Western Capercaillie in the grouse family Tetraonidae.-Description:...
, a bird which became extinct in the park at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Since 2010 the European Union's LIFE programme
The LIFE Programme
The LIFE Programme is the European Union’s funding instrument for the environment. The general objective of LIFE is to contribute to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental policy and legislation by co-financing pilot or demonstration projects with European added value.LIFE...
has supported a recovery plan for this subspecies across 16 SPAs.
Mammals
The park is important as a habitat of the endangered Cantabrian brown bearCantabrian brown bear
Cantabrian brown bear refers to a population of Eurasian brown bears living in the Cantabrian Mountains of Spain. Females weigh, on average, 85kg but can reach a weight of 150kg. Males average 115kg though can weigh as much as 200kg. The bear measures between 1.6 – 2m in length and between 0.90...
. There is an interpretation centre for the bear at Verdeña, Cervera de Pisuerga
Cervera de Pisuerga
Cervera de Pisuerga is a municipality located in the province of Palencia, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 2,679 inhabitants.-External links:**...
.
Cantabrian brown bears are normally described as being divided into two sub-populations, and the natural park lies within the range of the eastern sub-population, which is the smaller of the two.
Habitat fragmentation
Habitat fragmentation
Habitat fragmentation as the name implies, describes the emergence of discontinuities in an organism's preferred environment , causing population fragmentation...
is a serious threat to the bears' survival, and the eastern bears in particular are at risk from endogamy
Endogamy
Endogamy is the practice of marrying within a specific ethnic group, class, or social group, rejecting others on such basis as being unsuitable for marriage or other close personal relationships. A Greek Orthodox Christian endogamist, for example, would require that a marriage be only with another...
. However, in 2009 a study indicated that the bears have reversed the division of their range in Spain, and there is inter-breeding between the two sub-populations. The LIFE Programme
The LIFE Programme
The LIFE Programme is the European Union’s funding instrument for the environment. The general objective of LIFE is to contribute to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental policy and legislation by co-financing pilot or demonstration projects with European added value.LIFE...
has supported conservation work to enhance wildlife corridor
Wildlife corridor
A wildlife corridor or green corridor is an area of habitat connecting wildlife populations separated by human activities . This allows an exchange of individuals between populations, which may help prevent the negative effects of inbreeding and reduced genetic diversity that often occur within...
s with the aim of encouraging a natural flow of bears between sub-populations.
Hunting
A national hunting reserve, the Reserva Nacional de Caza de Fuentes Carrionas, was in existence prior to the designation of the natural park, and it now forms a regional hunting reserve within the park boundaries. With an area of 49, 471 ha the hunting reserve covers the greater part of the natural park.There is some controversy as to whether a management regime appropriate for game
Game (food)
Game is any animal hunted for food or not normally domesticated. Game animals are also hunted for sport.The type and range of animals hunted for food varies in different parts of the world. This will be influenced by climate, animal diversity, local taste and locally accepted view about what can or...
species such as wild boar or deer is compatible with the interests of protected species.
San Glorio Ski Resort
In 2004 a ski resortSki resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
was proposed for the mountain pass of San Glorio
San Glorio
San Glorio is a mountain pass in the Cantabrian Mountains of Northern Spain. The pass reaches an altitude of 1609 metres along the national highway N621 which connects the city of León with Cantabria and which passes through Asturias....
which would directly impact the natural park.
In 2006 the regional government relaxed the protection it had given the park in order to permit the development of a ski resort. The promotors of the project argued that it would help the local human population which, as in many Spanish rural areas, suffered from demographic decline in the twentieth century. Environmentalists have disputed the economics of the project as, according to official predictions, the duration of seasonal snow cover in the Cantabrian mountains was likely to be adversely affected by global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
. Environmentalists have also argued that a ski resort would be incompatible with the aim of promoting the recovery of the brown bear, given that bears would be likely to avoid such a facility and that their habitat would thus be fragmented.
In March 2008, the High Court of Castilla y León ruled that the regional government’s sudden change in its own planning regulations, without a proper assessment, not only went against its own regional law, but both the national law on nature conservation and the European Natura 2000
Natura 2000
Natura 2000 is an ecological network of protected areas in the territory of the European Union.-Origins:In May 1992, the governments of the European Communities adopted legislation designed to protect the most seriously threatened habitats and species across Europe. This legislation is called the...
regulations. The court also noted that climate change threatened the viability of the projected ski resort.
However, despite this setback, the regional government continued to support the development. As at July 2010 the regional government was planning to submit a revised proposal to the European Union in the hope that it would not conflict with the Habitats Directive.