The Aritzakun-Urritzate-Gorramendi SAC occupies a mid-mountain area with altitudes ranging from 159 m at the confluence of the Aritzakun and Urritzate streams to 1,087 m at the summit of Gorramakil (Gorramendi massif). The territory is distributed mainly within the basins of these two rivers, including the Gorramendi massif, where hygrophilous ridge habitats and acidophilous mountain grazers are prominent.
ZEC Aritzakun-Urritzate-Gorramendi – ES0000122
OVERVIEW
Area (ha): 6.032,48 ha
Natura 2000 Code: ES0000122
Other protection statuses according to national or regional legislation:
Within the territorial scope of the SAC, other protection statuses are included in accordance with national or regional legislation. The SAC includes two Nature Reserves (Itxusi Nature Reserve, 3.05 ha; Irubetakaskoa Nature Reserve, 3.41 ha) belonging to the Network of Protected Natural Areas of Navarre. It also has its own Management Plan: Regional Decree 47/2014, of June 11, declaring the Site of Community Importance known as “Aritzakun-Urritzate-Gorramendi” as a Special Conservation Area and approving its Management Plan.
CURRENT SITUATION AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS OF THE PROJECT
The majority of the SAC is divided between scrub and bushland (42%) and deciduous forest (39%). There is also a significant area of pasture (mainly mountain pastures) and meadows (especially at lower altitudes), which account for 12% of the total.
Finally, the surface area of the ZEC is completed by cultivated areas (3%), artificial forest plantations (2%), rocky areas (1.4%) and other uses such as inhabited areas, etc. (0.6%).
Regarding ownership, 93% belongs to the municipality of Baztán, 4.6% to private property, and 0.3% to the Government of Navarre. The remainder of the ZEC is comprised of riverbeds, roads, and public trails.
The Aritzakun-Urritzate-Gorramendi SAC (ES0000122) is particularly important for the conservation of the hygrophilous uceiras of THIC 4020*, as it represents the largest percentage of THICs in the Natura Network, accounting for 63.42% of the total in the Atlantic Region. The SAC also hosts a significant area of THIC 6230* mountain acidophilous pastures. Therefore, actions will be carried out to improve their structure and future prospects, protecting them from anthropogenic conditions in these habitats.