Natural Park of Fuentes del Narcea, Degaña, and Ibias
Encyclopedia
The Natural Park of Fuentes del Narcea, Degaña e Ibias is a natural park
in the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain
. It protects a natural landscape at the sources of the rivers Narcea
and Ibias
.
It is located within the municipalities of Cangas del Narcea
, Degaña
and Ibias
.
The park was designated in 2002 and incorporated the preexisting Muniellos biosphere reserve
, which was extended in 2003.
As at 2010 there is discussion of how the various biosphere reserves in the Cantabrian Mountains
should be managed as a single super-reserve to be known as Gran Cantábrica. This integration is expected to benefit animals which live in the mountains, such as the endangered Cantabrian brown bear
which needs to extend its range in order to build a sustainable population.
Traditional agriculture is carried out in some areas of the park. Although thousands of people live in the protected area, most of the park is sparsely populated and environmental problems are mainly related to mining activity.
.
Within the natural park the European Union
has designated two Special Protection Area
s for bird-life, a smaller one, Bosque de Muniellos (5,488 ha), and a larger one, Fuentes del Narcea y del Ibias (50,853 ha), which covers the remaining part of park.
Birds of interest include the Cantabrian Capercaillie
, a subspecies of the Western Capercaillie, which requires mature woodland to thrive.
:
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 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...
. It protects a natural landscape at the sources of the rivers Narcea
Narcea
The Narcea is a river of Asturias. It is a tributary of the Nalón River....
and Ibias
Ibias (river)
The Ibias is a river in northern Spain flowing from the Autonomous Community of Asturias into Galicia....
.
It is located within the municipalities of Cangas del Narcea
Cangas del Narcea
Cangas del Narcea is the oldest municipality in the Principality of Asturias in Spain. It is also the largest municipality in Asturias. It is in the southwest of Asturias, on the Asturian border with León...
, Degaña
Degaña
Degaña is a municipality in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias, Spain. It is bordered on the north by Cangas del Narcea, on the south by the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León, and on the west by Ibias. Degaña is also the name of one of the three parishes in the...
and Ibias
Ibias
Ibias is a municipality in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias, Spain. It is bordered on the north by Allande and A Fonsagranda and Negueira ; on the east by Degaña and Cangas de Narcea; on the south by Peranzais and Candín y on the west by A Fonsagrada and Navia de Suarna...
.
The park was designated in 2002 and incorporated the preexisting Muniellos biosphere reserve
Biosphere reserve
The Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:...
, which was extended in 2003.
Muniellos nature and biosphere reserve
The heart of the natural park is the Muniellos nature reserve (area 5,488 ha), where human access is strictly controlled and where timber extraction has been forbidden since 1970. In 2000 UNESCO designated Muniellos as a biosphere reserve, the area of which was extended in 2003 to take account of the creation of the natural park. The core area of the Muniellos biosphere reserve occupies 8,661 ha with the rest of the natural park being regarded as a buffer zone.As at 2010 there is discussion of how the various 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...
should be managed as a single super-reserve to be known as Gran Cantábrica. This integration is expected to benefit animals which live in the mountains, such as the endangered 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 needs to extend its range in order to build a sustainable population.
Conservation issues
The designation of the natural park met with some local opposition on the grounds that it was detrimental to the interests of property owners (most of the park being private property). However, a management plan for the park was approved in 2006.Traditional agriculture is carried out in some areas of the park. Although thousands of people live in the protected area, most of the park is sparsely populated and environmental problems are mainly related to mining activity.
Fauna
The park provides a habitat for the 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...
.
Within the natural park 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...
has designated two 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...
s for bird-life, a smaller one, Bosque de Muniellos (5,488 ha), and a larger one, Fuentes del Narcea y del Ibias (50,853 ha), which covers the remaining part of park.
Birds of interest include the Cantabrian Capercaillie
Cantabrian Capercaillie
The Cantabrian Capercaillie is a subspecies of the Western Capercaillie in the grouse family Tetraonidae.-Description:...
, a subspecies of the Western Capercaillie, which requires mature woodland to thrive.
Places of interest
The following list of intesting buildings is in the Asturian languageAsturian language
Asturian is a Romance language of the West Iberian group, Astur-Leonese Subgroup, spoken in the Spanish Region of Asturias by the Asturian people...
:
- Aldega de Cecos
- Bodegues del Narcea
- Cascu hestóricu de Cangas del Narcea (Historic centre of Cangas del NarceaCangas del NarceaCangas del Narcea is the oldest municipality in the Principality of Asturias in Spain. It is also the largest municipality in Asturias. It is in the southwest of Asturias, on the Asturian border with León...
) - Centru d'Enterretación de Muniel.los
- Colleición Museográfica del Tixileiru
- Monasteriu de Corias: The Monastery of St John the BaptistSan Juan Bautista de CoriasSan Juan Bautista de Corias is a former Benedictine monastery in Corias on the right bank of the Narcea dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. It was founded in 1032 on his own land by Count Piñolo Jiménez and his wife Aldonza Muñoz, wealthy Leonese aristocrats...
, CoriasCoriasCorias is one of fifteen parishes in Pravia, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.The population is 232 .-Villages and hamlets:* Corias * Las Campas...
, houses the park's interpretation centre. - Antigu pueblu y mines d'oru romanes de El Corralín (Roman gold-mines)
- Museo Etnográficu del Vinu - Llagar de Santiso
- Palloza de San Antolín
- Pueblu de Besullu
- Pueblu de Riodeporcos