The Sierra de Toloño-Cantabria is a mountainous area south of Álava that constitutes one of the most important biogeographic boundaries in the Basque Country, with steep slopes dotted with rocky outcrops, where peaty surfaces and forests stand out. The east-west direction of this mountain range makes it the last obstacle in the Basque Country to humid winds from the north and northwest, and where two major biogeographic regions converge: the Eurosiberian Region (northern zone and peaks) and the Mediterranean Region (southern zone). It occupies an area of approximately 13,289 ha (including the newly designated SAC/SPA Serra Toloño-Cantabria and Sierras Sur de Álava), i.e., 72% of the area is occupied by 27 habitats of Community interest, 8 of which are priority habitats.
ZEC Arabako hegoaldeko mendilerroak / ZEC Serras meridionais de Álava – ES2110018
OVERVIEW
Area (ha): 18.515,02 ha
Natura 2000 Code: ES2110018
Within the territorial scope of the SAC, other protection statuses are included in accordance with national or regional legislation. This area has a definitive document of “Guidelines and Measures” for the SAC and SPA “Serras Meridionalis de Álava” (ES2110018), approved by Agreement 765/2016. Furthermore, by Decree 10/2016, of January 26, the Sierras Meridionalis de Álava were designated as a Special Conservation Area (SAC) and a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA) with conservation objectives. Furthermore, it is worth noting that almost the entire area is classified as a Public Utility Area.
CURRENT SITUATION AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS OF THE PROJECT
The majority of the land is designated as Public Utility Forests (MUP), owned by local authorities, town councils, and administrative boards. Within the ZEC/ZEPA, there are 55 MUP plots occupying 16,100.06 ha (86.89% of the Protected Natural Area). Much of the arable land is pastureland, the largest being located in the municipality of Laguardia, where the Antigua Hermandad manages it. The main agricultural activity is extensive livestock farming, with no farms or other intensive facilities.
Forestry exploitation of native forests is predominant. Exploitation is limited, limited to campfires for the local supply of firewood and mushroom harvesting for non-commercial purposes. Conifer plantations occupy a limited area. The well-preserved natural values of the area make it a very popular spot for mountaineers and hikers.
The uniqueness of the Serras Meridionalis SAC/SPA within the Basque Country’s Natura 2000 Network is due to the presence of certain habitats of community interest, including Habitats of Community Interest 7210* – Calcareous bogs with Cladium mariscus and Caricion davallianae species, and 7220* – Petrifying springs with travertine formation (Cratoneurion), on which the project will act, improving their structure and future prospects by protecting them from anthropogenic conditions.