Spain, a natural powerhouse with numerous areas that should be part of the Natura 2000 Network
Madrid (EFEverde).- Approximately 50% of Important Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) still lack the necessary legal protection in Spain, warns SEO/Birdlife, which considers it crucial to expand the Natura 2000 Network in Spain.
The environmental NGO, the oldest of those operating in Spain, did so within the framework of the European Day of the Natura 2000 Network, an official celebration that was approved by the Commission, the Parliament and the Council of Europe following an initiative of SEO Birdlife and EFEverde of the EFE Agency within the framework of the EU Life project "Activa Red Natura".
The day is celebrated every May 21st to commemorate the adoption, in 1992, of the Habitats Directive, the origin of this Network. To this end, the NGO has planned numerous activities to raise awareness and promote these sites. Currently, around 30% of the country's territory is part of the Natura 2000 Network. With more than 1,800 sites, it is the country that contributes the most land to the network.
SEO/Birdlife estimates that there are 483 IBAs in Spain, but many of them are not designated as protected areas, despite meeting the criteria established by BirdLife International. As they are not listed as Special Protection Areas for Birds (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), or Sites of Community Importance (SCIs), they are not part of the Natura 2000 Network.
As a result, they are unprotected from threats such as urbanization, renewable energy projects, agricultural intensification, or the abandonment of rural areas, unlike the more than 27,000 natural areas of high ecological value across Europe that are part of the Natura 2000 Network, the largest network of protected areas in the world.
For the organization, including more spaces within the network would not only strengthen compliance with European biodiversity commitments, but would also contribute to the resilience of ecosystems to climate change and the sustainability of rural areas.
"We cannot afford to leave out of the Natura 2000 Network spaces that science has already identified as essential for biodiversity conservation," the NGO said in a statement, adding that "it is time for public authorities to act decisively and responsibly to try to mitigate the decline of many bird populations."
SEO/Birdlife also believes that the Natura 2000 Network model promotes nature conservation, which benefits citizens and the economy in general. "Therefore, far from being an obstacle to the socioeconomic development of sites, the Natura 2000 Network offers new opportunities for the development of traditional productive activities, recreational activities, and tourism," the organization asserts.
5 key spacesSEO/Birdlife highlights five key areas, home to a significant portion of the population of one or more priority species (IBA) that should be included in the Natura 2000 Network. These include:
1. El Oso – Adaja Corridor (Ávila, Castilla y León): It is one of the main wetlands in the region of Castilla y León surrounded by crops and forest areas, and among the most notable species are the common crane, the imperial eagle and the red kite.
2. Steppe Area of La Sagra (Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha) : An important steppe area threatened by major renewable energy projects and agricultural uses. Its importance is primarily due to the presence of the Eurasian great bustard, little bustard, Montagu's harrier, hen harrier, imperial eagle, eagle owl, red kite, and lesser kestrel.
3. Campiña Alta de Córdoba (Jaén and Córdoba, Andalusia ): Intensive agriculture together with changes in land use associated with olive groves are the main threats to this area, which is essential for the conservation of the Eurasian stone curlew, Montagu's harrier, European roller, lesser kestrel, European bee-eater, Eurasian night heron, Eurasian bustard and little bustard.
4. Alcarria de Alcalá (Madrid, Community of Madrid): One of the few areas for steppe species in the Community of Madrid threatened by urbanization and intensive agriculture, with significant populations of Eurasian great bustard and little bustard.
5. Cabras River Ravine – Tesjuate Reserve (Las Palmas, Canary Islands): The ravine features a freshwater stream with several dam walls that create shallow pools surrounded by scattered, patchy shrub and tree cover. Houbara bustards, Saharan runners, common kestrels, and Canary Island stonechats find habitats important for their survival here.
SEO/BirdLife also believes that a large number of protected areas designated as SPAs should be extended to the boundaries of IBAs, as contiguous areas with the same ornithological values have been left unprotected.
Activities to enjoy and vindicate the value of these spacesIn addition, to celebrate Natura 2000 Day, SEO/Birdlife has organized activities over the next few days in various locations across Spain, including Bizkaia, Malaga, Cadiz, Jaen, and Toledo. For example, on May 24th, there will be a volunteer effort to help clean up the Jarama River in Madrid. For more information, they have created an informative map that can be viewed by the nearest city.
The organization has also organized two virtual information sessions. One on electrification within Natura 2000 sites (May 21) and another on how to participate in site conservation and become an IBA manager (May 22). EFE
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