Redes Natural Park
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The Redes Natural Park (Spanish: Parque Natural de Redes) is located in the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. Its total area is 377.36 km2 (145.70 sq mi), split between two municipalities: Caso (307.94 km2 (118.90 sq mi)) and Sobrescobio (69.42 km2 (26.80 sq mi)). It was declared a natural park in 1996.
| Redes Natural Park | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
 The structure on right is a type of barn called a hórreo. | |
| Location | Spain |
| Area | 37,803 ha |
| Established | 1996 |
| Governing body | Principality of Asturias |
| Website | http://www.parquenaturalderedes.es/ |
Conservation
In September 2001, the park was included by Unesco in the global network of Biosphere reserves. Redes is one of three biosphere reserves in the Cantabrian Mountains, the other two being Picos de Europa National Park and Somiedo Natural Park. As at 2009 there is discussion of creating a single super-reserve.
In 2003 the European Union designated Redes a Special Protection Area for bird-life. It has also been designated a Site of Community Importance.
Tourist attractions
There are three natural monuments in the park:
- Ruta del Alba (old miners' road by the river Alba)[1]
- Deboyu Cave
- El Tabayón del Mongayu (waterfall)
There are various museums in the area including a bee-keeping museum.
Flora
Temperate deciduous woodland is typical of the park.
Fauna
The human population carries out traditional livestock farming including transhumance, which the biosphere reserve aims to protect as a sustainable use of natural resources.
As to wild-life, Cantabrian brown bears are often found in the park. Two populations of this endangered species remain in Spain. Genetic studies show that these eastern and western populations have been separated in the twentieth century by a bear-free zone. This rupture has been interpreted as the consequence of the development of communication infrastructures and recent human pressure. However, evidence has been found in Redes of hybridisation, the result of recent breeding between individuals from the two populations. This is good news for the bears as it shows they have found a way to reverse the fragmentation of their habitat.[1]
There is a breeding population of wolves.
Bird-life includes the Capercaillie, a species dependent on woodland.
See also
- Ponga, a nearby locality which also has a natural park.
References
External links
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