Somiedo Natural Park
Encyclopedia
Somiedo Natural Park is a natural park
located in the central area of the Cantabrian Mountains
in the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain
.
It contains 39,164 hectares, corresponding geographically with the municipality
of Somiedo
, which is completely included in the park, as well as the municipalities of Belmonte
and Teverga
.
, the Conjunto Lacustre de Somiedo.
in 2000. Of particular interest is the braña, a traditional system of livestock herding based on transhumance
, which makes use of high pastures for summer grazing.
There is interest in preserving the traditional buildings of the brañas not only for farming purposes but also as a tourist attraction.
Somiedo is one of a number of Biosphere Reserves in the Cantabrian mountains. The possibility of managing these reserves together as a "super-reserve" (to be called Gran Cantábrica) is under discussion as at 2009. Integration would benefit the management of some species of wildlife.
is reported to be doing well in the park. The Fundación Oso Pardo (FOP) opened an interpretation centre in October 2011 called “Somiedo y el Oso” in Pola de Somiedo
.
The Spanish newspaper El País has referred to Somiedo with its 30 bears as the Spanish Yellowstone.
However, the total number of bears in Spain is small and the government classes them as endangered. The bears' future is put at risk by fragmentation of their habitat in the Cantabrian Mountains. A need has been identified to develop wildlife corridor
s for the bears to expand their range from areas such as Somiedo. The European Union has provided funding for a corridor linking the natural park via Leitariegos
to another area of bear habitat .
for birds in 1989.
Birds incude the Cantabrian Capercaillie
, although the numbers of this subspecies in the park has declined significantly.
Natural park (Spain)
In Spain, a natural park is a natural space protected for its biology, geology, or landscape, with ecological, aesthetic, educational, or scientific value whose preservation merits preferential attention on the part of public administration. The regulation of the activities that may occur there...
located in the central area of the Cantabrian Mountains
Cantabrian Mountains
The Cantabrian Mountains or Cantabrian Range are one of the main systems of mountain ranges in Spain.They extend for more than approximately 180 miles across northern Spain, from the western limit of the Pyrenees to the edges of the Galician Massif close to Galicia, along the coast of the...
in the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
It contains 39,164 hectares, corresponding geographically with the municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
of Somiedo
Somiedo
Somiedo is a municipality in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias, Spain. It is bordered on the north by Belmonte de Miranda, on the east by Teverga, on the west by Tineo and Cangas del Narcea, and on the south by the province of León.It is the second least densely populated...
, which is completely included in the park, as well as the municipalities of Belmonte
Belmonte de Miranda
Belmonte de Miranda is a municipality in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias, Spain. It is bordered on the north by Salas, on the east by Grado, to the south by Somiedo and Teverga, and on the west by Tineo....
and Teverga
Teverga
Teverga is a municipality in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias, Spain. It is bordered on the north by Belmonte de Miranda, Grado, Yernes y Tameza, and Proaza; to the south by León province, to the west by Somiedo and to the east by Quirós and Proaza.Formerly a mining area,...
.
Natural Monument
Lakes in the park have been designated a natural monumentNatural Monument
A natural monument is a natural or natural/cultural feature of outstanding or unique value because of its inherent rarity, representative of aesthetic qualities or cultural significance....
, the Conjunto Lacustre de Somiedo.
Human activity
The farming methods traditional to the area are regarded as an example of sustainable living, and were a factor in UNESCO's designation of the park as a Biosphere ReserveBiosphere reserve
The Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:...
in 2000. Of particular interest is the braña, a traditional system of livestock herding based on transhumance
Transhumance
Transhumance is the seasonal movement of people with their livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures. In montane regions it implies movement between higher pastures in summer and to lower valleys in winter. Herders have a permanent home, typically in valleys. Only the herds travel, with...
, which makes use of high pastures for summer grazing.
There is interest in preserving the traditional buildings of the brañas not only for farming purposes but also as a tourist attraction.
Somiedo is one of a number of Biosphere Reserves in the Cantabrian mountains. The possibility of managing these reserves together as a "super-reserve" (to be called Gran Cantábrica) is under discussion as at 2009. Integration would benefit the management of some species of wildlife.
Cantabrian brown bear
The Cantabrian brown bearCantabrian brown bear
Cantabrian brown bear refers to a population of Eurasian brown bears living in the Cantabrian Mountains of Spain. Females weigh, on average, 85kg but can reach a weight of 150kg. Males average 115kg though can weigh as much as 200kg. The bear measures between 1.6 – 2m in length and between 0.90...
is reported to be doing well in the park. The Fundación Oso Pardo (FOP) opened an interpretation centre in October 2011 called “Somiedo y el Oso” in Pola de Somiedo
Pola de Somiedo
Pola de Somiedo is one of fifteen parishes in Somiedo, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain....
.
The Spanish newspaper El País has referred to Somiedo with its 30 bears as the Spanish Yellowstone.
However, the total number of bears in Spain is small and the government classes them as endangered. The bears' future is put at risk by fragmentation of their habitat in the Cantabrian Mountains. A need has been identified to develop wildlife corridor
Wildlife corridor
A wildlife corridor or green corridor is an area of habitat connecting wildlife populations separated by human activities . This allows an exchange of individuals between populations, which may help prevent the negative effects of inbreeding and reduced genetic diversity that often occur within...
s for the bears to expand their range from areas such as Somiedo. The European Union has provided funding for a corridor linking the natural park via Leitariegos
Leitariegos (Narcea)
Leitariegos is one of 54 parish councils in Cangas del Narcea, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.-Villages:* Brañas d'Abaxu* Brañas d'Arriba...
to another area of bear habitat .
Birdlife
The European Union designated the park a Special Protection AreaSpecial Protection Area
A Special Protection Area or SPA is a designation under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds.Under the Directive, Member States of the European Union have a duty to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds and certain particularly threatened birds.Together with Special...
for birds in 1989.
Birds incude the Cantabrian Capercaillie
Cantabrian Capercaillie
The Cantabrian Capercaillie is a subspecies of the Western Capercaillie in the grouse family Tetraonidae.-Description:...
, although the numbers of this subspecies in the park has declined significantly.