Natur

Natural Park of the Strait

The Natural Park of the Strait is located in the southernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula, and protects the maritime and land coastal area, from the small bay of Getares (in Algeciras) to the Cabo de Gracia (in Tarifa). The coast of the Park is bathed by two seas, the Med on the east side, and the Atlantic on the west. In the Strait of Gibraltar these two seas meet, and it separates Europe from Africa, with a minimum distance of 14 km, which is the route for birds, cetaceans and humans to migrate.

This protected area is the southernmost natural park of Europe, and it has unique ecological, historical and cultural values. The encounter of two different seas makes a privileged marine ecosystem, which lodge a great biodiversity. The climate in this area is known for its mild temperatures and a strong dry season with a totally absence of rain. There are plentiful of caves and shelters, which have one of the biggest treasures of the European cave paintings. The term the experts give as "Southern Art", presents a wide chronology, which covers a great deal of prehistory: Upper Palaeolithic (Stone Age: solutrean, Magdalenian), Neolithic, Metallurgy, Copper Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age.

Its statements, painted or engraved on the walls of the rocky cavities are concentrated in the area of the Strait. Produced by groups of hunter-collectors, the first statements of cave paintings in the Strait have been dated in the period of the upper Palaeolithic known as Solutrean. The most distinguished statements of this period can be found in the Moro cave (Cueva del Moro) situated in the Tarifa city limits considered to be the most southern sanctuary with most cave art in Europe. There are magnificent equine engraved pictures on its walls and also other figures traced with red pigments.

Natural Park of the Alcornocales

The Natural Park of Alcornocales was declared in 1989 by the Andalusia Parliament. It comprises a great area south-north oriented, from the Tarifa coastal area, in the Strait of Gibraltar, to the inland mountains in the districts of Cortes de la Frontera, Ubrique y El Bosque. It covers 1.750 square meters, and represents one of the greatest natural parks in Spain.

The majority of the Park belongs to the Cádiz province, and only a small part belongs to Málaga province. Includes 17 different districts: Alcalá de los Gazules, Algar, Algeciras, Arcos de la Frontera, Benalup-Casas Viejas, Benaocaz, Castellar de la Frontera, El Bosque, Jerez de la Frontera, Jimena de la Frontera, Los Barrios, Medina-Sidonia, Prado del Rey, San José del Valle, Tarifa, Ubrique y Cortes de la Frontera, with a total population of 380.000 inhabitants.

Its variety of landscapes, its fauna and flora of the Mediterranean and bank types are exceptional on the Iberian Peninsula, as well as its cultural heritage. Almost the totality of its territory is occupied by native Mediterranean woodlands, with its famous production of cork. The cork oak (Quercus suber) woodlands have a total area of 250.000 hectares in Andalusia. In the Natural Park is exuberant, with features of an Atlantic woodland.

The climate is Mediterranean, relatively humid (up to 1400 mm per year on the top). The dominant soils are acid and poor of nutrients, developed over siliceous sandstone, even though there are plentiful of clayey soil on the lower parts. The heterogeneity of the humid and fertility soil factors, combined with the land use, has made a patchwork-like landscape, where the woodland is predominant. The main tree is the cork oak (Quercus suber), and appears together with the Moorish muricated oak (Q. canariensis) on the more humid areas.

International Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean

(Morocco - Spain): To establish a biosphere reserve that spans over two countries is defiantly a large under taking. Through UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Program the establishment of the Mediterranean Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve in 2006 was made possible. The two countries, Morocco and Spain, both share a similar cultural history and have ecological and geological similarities. Biosphere reserves that are under the Man and the Biosphere Program are located in areas where the communities that live in these regions play a vital role in the goals of the biosphere reserves.

As in the case of the Mediterranean Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve, communities from both Spain and Morocco are dedicated to the education of the public, research of the different species in the biosphere, promoting development in biodiversity conservation and supporting socio-economic growth. Communities are also involved in training, management and the monitoring of the reserve. Trans-boundary reserves are difficult to maintain without the assistance and loyal services received from the communities.

Biosphere Reserves often have national parks created within their boundaries, as most reserves cover urban, agricultural and conservation areas. Both countries have their own parks to preserve and protect from exploitation from humans. The national parks on the Spanish side of the Mediterranean Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve include Del Estrecho, Sierra de Las Nieves, Los Alcornocales and Sierra de Grazalema. The national parks in Morocco that are included in the reserve are the Talassemtane National Park and sites such as Koudiet Taifour, Lagune de Smir, Jbel Bouhachem and Jbel Moussa.

The Mediterranean Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve is the first of its kind in the Mediterranean. Many communities feel a sense of pride and self worth by being included into such a large and important project. They work continuously and selflessly to protect and to maintain the beautiful forests of Morocco and Spain. Together, UNESCO, Spain and Morocco have secured a future for nature and for the many people who live and work within the biosphere reserves.