The As Catedrais SAC (ES1120005) is located entirely on the northern coast of the province of Lugo, known as Mariña Lucense, where its cliffs, dunes and the Praia das Catedrais stand out, with a high conservation and protection value within the Natura 2000 Network. Its boundaries extend from Praia Lóngara (Barreiros) to Penedo do Corvo (Ribadeo).
ZEC As Catedrais – ES1120005
OVERVIEW
Area (ha): 297,46 ha
Natura 2000 Code: ES1120005
Other protection statuses according to national or regional legislation:
The territorial scope of this SAC, in accordance with Law 42/2007 (state) and Law 5/2019 (regional), is simultaneously considered a Protected Natural Area, under the category of Protected Area of the Natura 2000 Network. In addition, the SAC partially and fully covers the scope of protection of another Protected Natural Area, the Praia das Catedrais Natural Monument. A Protected Area has also been identified by International Instruments under the status of Biosphere Reserve: the Eo River, Oscos and Terras de Burón Biosphere Reserve.
CURRENT SITUATION AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS OF THE PROJECT
Approximately 3% of the surface area of the As Catedrais SAC (ES1120005) corresponds to marine zones. Of the remaining 97% (land area), natural environments (dune systems, coastal scrubland, and cliffs) represent 39% of the SAC, rural areas 54%, and urbanized areas the remaining 4%.
The marine area of the As Catedrais SAC (ES1120005) is the territorial sea of the Spanish State. On land, the areas closest to the coastline are included in the Public Maritime-Terrestrial Domain (PMTD). While most of the space is privately owned, there are also public properties. A small portion of the project’s activities in the As Catedrais SAC (ES1120005) will be carried out within the PMTD and on public properties (owned by RIBADEO, a LIFE GLOBAL associate beneficiary), although the majority will be carried out on private properties that RIBADEO will acquire.
The As Catedrais SAC is an area with a broad complex of coastal ecosystems that harbors high biodiversity, making it an ecological enclave of great value. Considering the strategic role of these ecosystems, LIFE GLOBAL includes a series of specific conservation measures in the As Catedrais SAC (ES1120005) to improve the conservation status of habitat types 4040* and 7220*, whose sensitivity and fragility to the threats and pressures detected by this project is greater than in other habitats present.