Redes Natural Park
Encyclopedia
The Redes Natural Park (Spanish
: Parque Natural de Redes) is located in the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain
. Its total area is 377.36 km² (145.7 sq mi), split between two municipalities: Caso
(307.94 km² (118.9 sq mi)) and Sobrescobio
(69.42 km² (26.8 sq mi)). It was declared a natural park
in 1996.
in the global network of Biosphere reserves. Redes is one a group of biosphere reserves in the Cantabrian Mountains
, which includes Picos de Europa National Park
and Somiedo Natural Park
. As at 2009 there is discussion of creating a single super-reserve called Gran Cantabrica to protect the mountain eco-system.
This integration is expected to benefit animals such as the Cantabrian brown bear
which have been adversely affected by habitat fragmentation
.
Since 2003 Redes has been protected as a Special Protection Area
for birds.
s in the park:
There are various museums in the area including a bee-keeping museum.
Temperate deciduous woodland is typical of the park.
using high pastures called "brañas". The biosphere reserve aims to protect traditional farming as a sustainable use of natural resources.
s are often found in the park, which appears to have a key role in the corridors
used by this endangered species.
Genetic studies show that the surviving Cantabrian brown bears were divided in the twentieth century into two populations separated by a bear-free zone. (This rupture has been interpreted as the consequence of the development of communication infrastructures and human pressure). However, genetic evidence has been found in Redes of hybridisation, the result of recent breeding between individuals from the two populations. This is good news for the bears as it shows that they have found a way to reverse the fragmentation of their habitat.
There is a breeding population of wolves.
, a member of the grouse family which is dependent on large tracts of mature woodland.
There is a facility for raising capercaillies in captivity at Sobrescobio
. The captive stock are used by a recovery plan for the subspecies, funded by the LIFE Programme
, which operates across 16 SPAs
.
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
: Parque Natural de Redes) is located in the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Its total area is 377.36 km² (145.7 sq mi), split between two municipalities: Caso
Caso
Caso is a municipality in the Spanish Principality of Asturias. It shares a boundary to the North with Piloña; to the East with Ponga; to the South with León and to the West with Sobrescobio and Laviana....
(307.94 km² (118.9 sq mi)) and Sobrescobio
Sobrescobio
Sobrescobio is a municipality in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias, Spain. It is bordered on the north by Piloña, on the east by Caso, on the south by Aller, and on the west by Laviana...
(69.42 km² (26.8 sq mi)). It was declared a natural park
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 1996.
Conservation
In September 2001, the park was included by UnescoUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
in the global network of Biosphere reserves. Redes is one a group of biosphere reserves 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...
, which includes Picos de Europa National Park
Picos de Europa National Park
The Picos de Europa National Park is a National Park in the Picos de Europa mountain range, in northern Spain. It is shared by the autonomous communities of Asturias, Cantabria and Castile and León.-History:...
and Somiedo Natural Park
Somiedo Natural Park
Somiedo Natural Park is a natural park located in the central area of the Cantabrian Mountains in the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain....
. As at 2009 there is discussion of creating a single super-reserve called Gran Cantabrica to protect the mountain eco-system.
This integration is expected to benefit animals such as the Cantabrian brown bear
Cantabrian 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...
which have been adversely affected by habitat fragmentation
Habitat fragmentation
Habitat fragmentation as the name implies, describes the emergence of discontinuities in an organism's preferred environment , causing population fragmentation...
.
Since 2003 Redes has been protected as a Special Protection Area
Special 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 birds.
Tourist attractions
There are three natural monumentNatural Monument
A natural monument is a natural or natural/cultural feature of outstanding or unique value because of its inherent rarity, representative of aesthetic qualities or cultural significance....
s in the park:
- Ruta del Alba, an old miners' road by the river Alba.
- Deboyu Cave
- El Tabayón del Mongayu (waterfall)
There are various museums in the area including a bee-keeping museum.
Flora
Farming
The human population carries out traditional livestock farming including transhumanceTranshumance
Transhumance is the seasonal movement of people with their livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures. In montane regions it implies movement between higher pastures in summer and to lower valleys in winter. Herders have a permanent home, typically in valleys. Only the herds travel, with...
using high pastures called "brañas". The biosphere reserve aims to protect traditional farming as a sustainable use of natural resources.
Mammals
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...
s are often found in the park, which appears to have a key role in the corridors
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...
used by this endangered species.
Genetic studies show that the surviving Cantabrian brown bears were divided in the twentieth century into two populations separated by a bear-free zone. (This rupture has been interpreted as the consequence of the development of communication infrastructures and human pressure). However, genetic evidence has been found in Redes of hybridisation, the result of recent breeding between individuals from the two populations. This is good news for the bears as it shows that they have found a way to reverse the fragmentation of their habitat.
There is a breeding population of wolves.
Birds
Bird-life includes the Cantabrian CapercaillieCantabrian Capercaillie
The Cantabrian Capercaillie is a subspecies of the Western Capercaillie in the grouse family Tetraonidae.-Description:...
, a member of the grouse family which is dependent on large tracts of mature woodland.
There is a facility for raising capercaillies in captivity at Sobrescobio
Sobrescobio
Sobrescobio is a municipality in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias, Spain. It is bordered on the north by Piloña, on the east by Caso, on the south by Aller, and on the west by Laviana...
. The captive stock are used by a recovery plan for the subspecies, funded by 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...
, which operates across 16 SPAs
Special 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...
.
See also
- PongaPonga, AsturiasPonga is a town and municipality in the province and autonomous community of Asturias, northwestern Spain. Its capital is San Juan de Beleño.-Ecology:Ponga has a natural park.Also, "Ponga-Amieva" is the name of a Special Protection Area for wild birds....
, a nearby locality which also has a natural park.