ZEC Serra de Artxuga, Zarikieta e Montes de Areta – ES0000129

OVERVIEW

The Serra de Artxuga, Zarikieta and Montes de Areta Nature Conservation Area (ZEC) is located in northeastern Navarre and comprises the group of inland pre-Pyrenean mountain ranges located between the Salazar and Urrobi rivers. These habitats are preserved for hygrophilous sedges, forming part of mosaics with peaty zones of great conservation value. The Urrobi and Irati rivers are the two main channels that flow into the area, although they do so through dammed waters, giving rise to the Itoiz reservoir. However, a large number of streams and ravines flow into the Irati and Urrobi rivers in the western sector, the Areta river in the central sector, and the Salazar river in the eastern sector.

This area is notable for its abundance of limestone, dolomite, marl, sandstone, and flysch. The erosion of these materials has generated escarpments, ridges, and a notable karst development with sinkholes, lapiazes, or pits, and small caves. Of particular note are the Oroz-Betelu massif and the Mount Baigura area.

Area (ha): 19.530,14 ha

Natura 2000 Code: ES0000129

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. This area includes three Nature Reserves within the Network of Protected Natural Areas of Navarre: Foz de Iñarbe (Regional Reserve 9, 276.47 ha), Poche de Chinchurrenea (Regional Reserve 10, 37.89 ha), and Gaztelu (Regional Reserve 11, 76.75 ha). In addition, the SAC has its own Management Plan (Foral Decree 45/2017, of May 24), which designates the Site of Community Importance “Sierra de Artxuga, Zarikieta and Montes de Areta” as a Special Area of Conservation.

CURRENT SITUATION AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS OF THE PROJECT

Most of the SAC is occupied by evergreen forests (39.30%) and deciduous forests (34.10%), although the area occupied by pastures and scrublands (17.41%) is also very significant. Smaller percentages are artificial forest plantations (2.51%), cultivated areas (1.01%), rocky outcrops (0.56%), and other uses (0.17%). Finally, the Itoiz reservoir also represents a significant percentage of the SAC (4.94%).

The majority of the territory (41.9%) corresponds to communal property owned by local authorities. The area occupied by private land is also significantly high (35.01%), as is that of the Government of Navarre (21.83%), which corresponds to the Itoiz reservoir and forestry assets. The remainder of the SAC corresponds to riverbeds, roads, and public trails.

In the context of Navarre, the Serra de Artxuga, Zarikieta and Montes de Areta SAC is important for the conservation of the hygrophilous uceiras of THIC 4020*. The area it contains is small (0.24 ha), but it is part of mosaics with hygroturf zones of great conservation value that are scarce in the SAC. The actions to be carried out in the Serra de Artxuga, Zarikieta and Montes de Areta SAC (ES0000129) will consist of improving the structure and future prospects by protecting it from anthropogenic conditions in habitat 4020*.