ARKAMO-GIBIJO-ARRASTARIA newt, and fowl such as the griffon vulture, the peregrine falcon, the hen...
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ARKAMO-GIBIJO-ARRASTARIA Description and situation Mountain chain to the west of Alava, which includes one of the most relevant holm-oak groves in the region. Surface area 11,538 ha Protection status ZEC - NATURA 2000 (ES2110004) Other regional or national protections Main uses Mainly livestock, and to a lesser extent forestry, hunting and recreational use. Ownership 97% public (Mountain of Public Use) Habitats targeted by LIFE (4030) Dry European heath, (4090) oro- Mediterranean heath, (6170) Calcareous alpine and sub-alpine meadows, (6210) dry semi- natural meadows and brush facies, (6220) pseudo-step zones and annual Thero- Brachypodietea grasses, (6230) plant formations with Nardus. These habitats occupy 28.30% of the total surface area of the ZEC. This space has three geomorphological units: the Arkamo mountain range, the Gibijo mountain range and the Arrastaria mountain range. The holm-oak and gall-oak groves make up most of the forest habitat, and host a high number of endangered species. There are 55 fauna species and 4 flora species in the ZEC that are included in the Basque Catalogue of Endangered Species; Saproxylic insects such as the stag beetle or Rosalia alpina, amphibians such as the
Transcript of ARKAMO-GIBIJO-ARRASTARIA newt, and fowl such as the griffon vulture, the peregrine falcon, the hen...
ARKAMO-GIBIJO-ARRASTARIA
Descriptionandsituation MountainchaintothewestofAlava,which
includesoneofthemostrelevantholm-oak
grovesintheregion.
Surfacearea 11,538ha
Protectionstatus ZEC-NATURA2000(ES2110004)
Otherregionalornationalprotections
Mainuses Mainlylivestock,andtoalesserextent
forestry,huntingandrecreationaluse.
Ownership 97%public(MountainofPublicUse)
HabitatstargetedbyLIFE (4030)DryEuropeanheath,(4090)oro-Mediterraneanheath,(6170)Calcareousalpineandsub-alpinemeadows,(6210)drysemi-
naturalmeadowsandbrushfacies,(6220)pseudo-stepzonesandannualThero-
Brachypodieteagrasses,(6230)plantformationswithNardus.
Thesehabitatsoccupy28.30%ofthetotalsurfaceareaoftheZEC.
Thisspacehasthreegeomorphologicalunits:theArkamomountainrange,theGibijomountain
rangeandtheArrastariamountainrange.Theholm-oakandgall-oakgrovesmakeupmostof
theforesthabitat,andhostahighnumberofendangeredspecies.Thereare55faunaspecies
and4floraspeciesintheZECthatareincludedintheBasqueCatalogueofEndangered
Species;SaproxylicinsectssuchasthestagbeetleorRosaliaalpina,amphibianssuchasthe
alpinenewt,andfowlsuchasthegriffonvulture,theperegrinefalcon,thehenharrierandthe
Egyptianvultureliveinthisarea.Mammalsofnotearethe17batspecies,aswellasEuropean
mink,fatdormouse,wildcatandpolecat.
Inthehabitatsthatmakeupthemountainpastureenvironment,targetedbyLIFEOREKA
MENDIAN,oro-Mediterraneanheathwithgorsepredominates,andtheyhostupto5
populationsofNarcissusasturiensis,afloraspeciesofcommunityinterest.
ThevulnerabilityofthisZECisfocusedonitsdependenceonhumanactivity.Theprocessof
abandoninglivestockoverthepastyearsisclear,whichisleadingtothespreadofbrushwith
brambles,thistlesandjuniperthatcontributetothestructurallossofpasturehabitatsandan
increasedriskoffire.
ToreachtherecoveryobjectivesforthisNatura2000space,theaimistoclearbrushand
adaptthelivestockload,takingadvantageofunder-usedzonesinthemountainrange.Since
oneoftheproblemsisalackofwaterduringthesummer,4troughswillbebuiltwhich,along
withsomeenclosures,willkeepthelivestockinthedesiredareas.
