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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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URDAIBAI |
 © Photo: Antton Aranburu |
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| General Description | The Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve is located in the Euro Siberian region, on the Bay of Biscay coast, in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. Urdaibai covers an area of 220 km2 with around 45.000 inhabitants, the 80% of them concentrated in the towns of Gernika and Bermeo. The territory is characterized by a hydrographic basin that ends creating a great salt marsh and a coastal landscape with high sheer cliffs and capes. The craggy inside countryside is occupied by meadow land, oak groves, leafy woods and specially by fast-growing conifers. The coastal landscape is covered with cantabrian woods of holm oak and strawberry trees, along the edges of the Mundaka estuary. In Urdaibai have been described 615 species of vascular plants, 318 species of vertebrates, 245 of this species are birds. Along with the rich Basque culture, the site has a particular interest, since it contains various remnants of the prehistoric, roman and Middle ages. The economy leans heavily on metallurgy, fishing/ maritime activities and forestry, and on the exploitation of local resources (arable and cattle farming). There is also a tourist trade, centred mainly on the local beaches, the historical towns (Gernika) and the natural environment. The area is implementing a management and land use plan and a development plan including socio-economic aspects and promoting sustainable activities such as quality tourism, agriculture and forestry. | |||
| Major ecosystem type | Temperate broadleaf forests or woodlands; coastal/marine wetlands | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | Cantabrian woods composed of holm oak (Quercus ilex) and strawberry trees (Arbutus unedo); mixed cantabrian woods with Fraxinus excelsior, Castanea sativa, Betula sp. etc.; heathlands consisting of Ulex europaeus, U. galli, Calluna vulgaris, Erica cinerea, E. vagans and Daboecia cantabrica; coastal habitats with Genista hispanica, Erica vagans, Daucus carota etc.; rocky habitats; sandy littoral with Phragmites australis, Typha latifolia, Juncus conglomeratus etc.; estuaries; salt marshes with Spartina maritima, Zoostera noltii, Salicornia ramossisima etc.; eucalyptus plantations; pine plantations (Pinus radiata and P. pinaster); agroecosystems | |||
| Location | 43°40'N; 02°20'W | |||
| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 21,992 | |||
| Core area(s) | 2,485 | |||
| Buffer zone(s) | 5,414 | |||
| Transition area(s) when given | 14,093 | |||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | 0 to +810 | |||
| Year designated | 1984 | |||
| Administrative authorities | Gobierno Vasco (Departamento de Ordenación del Territorio, Vivienda y Medio Ambiente), represented by Urdaibai administrations, by organizations and associations involved in the study and conservation of natural resources, and by Director-Conservador (responsible for the administration of the biosphere reserve). | |||
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| Brief description |
Environmental monitoring of the estuaries Analysis of fresh water quality Benthic-pelagic exchange in estuaries (bivalves) Study and evaluation of biodiversity, landscaping and its perception Changes in the environment - Contamination, evaluation and effects, Rehabilitation Modelization of the functioning of different ecosystems Archeology and history Sustainability and development Indicators of sustainability Models of management Formulas for implementing a model for a sustainable development in the biosphere reserve Solving social conflicts in the matter of the environment Social mobilization, with special emphasis on environmental education Role of women in agriculture Sustainable management of natural resources Database on scientific studies at: http://www1.euskadi.net/vima_urdaibai/bdformurdaibai.asp |
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| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | Contaminants, hydrology. | |||
| Biodiversity | Benthos, biodiversity, coastal/marine, ecosystem functioning/ecosystem structure, invertebrates/insects/spiders, modelling, natural resources, restoration/rehabilitation/redevelopment. | |||
| Socio-economic | Agriculture/Production systems, archaeology/paleontology, capacity building, indicators of sustainability, people-nature relations/man/nature, resource use, role of women/gender, social/socio-economic aspects. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | Conflict, education and public awareness, environmental change, impact and risk studies/environmental impact, landscape inventorying/monitoring, management issues, modelling, monitoring/methodologies, sustainable development/sustainable use. | |||
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| Contact address |
Francisco Álvarez Dávila Director, Oficina Reserva de la Biosfera de Urdaibai Palacio de Udetxea, Apdo. Correos 130 48300 Gernika-Lumo Vizcaya Spain |
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| Telephone | (34.94) 625 7125 | |||
| Fax | (34.94) 625 7253 | |||
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k-alvarez@ej-gv.es urdaibai@ej-gv.es |
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| Web site | www.ingurumena.ejgv.euskadi.net/r49-12892/en/ | |||
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| Last updated: 4/15/2008 |
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