**4. Biosphere Reserves in Spain**

and delimitation of the Natura 2000 areas have allowed increasing the knowledge on Spanish interesting areas for biodiversity conservation, strengthening, and consolidating the national and regional networks of natural protected areas [29]. On the other hand, the provision of an extensive Natura 2000 network has allowed Spain to lead 821 projects and to participate in 903 projects of the LIFE Programme in 25 years [13]. This means an average participation in 34 LIFE projects per year, making Spain one of the leader countries in terms of the implementation of these initiatives for nature conservation. Finally, it is worth mentioning the establishment of strong synergies with other protection figures, especially the Spanish Network of Biosphere Reserves, whose core areas

region, the Spanish Atlantic portion, and the Spanish Atlantic Biosphere Reserves (prepared from [15, 16, 20]).

in the European Union, with respect to biogeographical regions

**Reserves**

and percentages in the European Union, the Atlantic

**Spanish Atlantic Biosphere** 

**Spanish Atlantic** 

**region**

**Nº hab N LAEA % N LAEA % N LAEA % N UTM %** ≤5 17.376 32.5 8.223 59.6 113 15.4 1 0.4 6–10 15.004 28.1 2.803 20.3 106 14.4 24 10.6 11–20 18.093 33.8 2.445 17.7 338 46.1 155 68.3 21–30 2.764 5.2 299 2.2 150 20.4 43 18.9 >30 207 0.4 35 0.2 27 3.7 4 1.8

have been delimited fundamentally around the Spanish Natura 2000 network [30].

**Figure 6.** Number of habitats per LAEA grid 10 × 10 km2

**European Union European Atlantic region**

**Table 2.** Comparison of the number of habitats per grid 10 × 10 km2

(prepared from [15, 20]).

32 Selected Studies in Biodiversity

Spain has been one of the countries in the world that has bet more decisively for Biosphere Reserves model, becoming a benchmark on the development of the objectives of the Seville Strategy [31, 32], while the promotion of new designated Biosphere Reserves has placed Spain at the top of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR). After the last meeting of the UNESCO International Coordination Council held in Paris in June 2017, WNBR is made up of 669 designated Biosphere Reserves distributed in 120 countries around the world [33]. In Spain, a total of 48 Biosphere Reserves have been designated, 7% of the WNBR, which makes the country with the highest number of Biosphere Reserves, ranking above countries with a much larger territorial scope, such as the United States, Russia, or China.

The numerous and large set (**Figure 7**) of Spanish Network of Biosphere Reserves (SNBR) houses a wide variety of habitats, ecosystems, and socioeconomic and population realities. From a geo-statistical point of view, SNBR has been delimited fundamentally around the Mediterranean biogeographical region. A total of 29 Biosphere Reserves are included totally or partially within this region, with a total area of 40,139 km2 . This area is appreciably higher in absolute value with respect to the Biosphere Reserves delimited totally or partially in the Atlantic region, which brings together a set of 18 Reserves, including a total area of 12,446 km2 . These differences are even greater with respect to the Biosphere Reserves in the Spanish Macaronesian or Alpine regions. However, if the analysis is relativized from a biogeographical point of view, the values indicate a completely different reality (**Table 3**).

**Figure 7.** Distribution of the Spanish Network of Biosphere Reserves with respect to biogeographical regions (prepared from [15, 16]).


**Table 3.** Surface distribution by biogeographical region of the Biosphere Reserves in Spain (prepared from [15, 16]).

Although Spanish Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves include 38,954 km2 of terrestrial areas, they only represent 8.9% of the Spanish Mediterranean continental areas. Both in the Atlantic and Macaronesian regions, the percentage included in the SNBR is significantly higher (**Table 3**), and they also exceed the index values of 11th Aichi Biodiversity Targets [5].

The high percentage of the Spanish Atlantic region (22.3%) that has been included in the Biosphere Reserves is consistent with the territorial distribution of habitat diversity in the Iberian Peninsula (**Figure 5**). In the Spanish Atlantic region, there is a high presence of areas with the highest abundance of habitats in the Iberian Peninsula [17] and even in the European Union [18, 20]. This is indicative of the biodiversity harbored by the Iberian Atlantic area and of the sustainability that has governed the management and conservation of this territory, and therefore it has allowed the establishment of a large set of Biosphere Reserves into the Spanish Atlantic region.

(Urdaibai, Mariñas-Mandeo, Rio Eo-Oscos-Burón), whereas in other cases, wetlands are the main component (Terras do Miño). There are also examples in which traditional agrosystems are the main component (Allariz), although most include inland valley-range systems (Muniellos, Laciana, Babia, Omaña-Luna, Alto Bernesga, Los Argüellos, Gerês-Xurés, Redes) or high mountain ecosystems (Somiedo, Picos de Europa, Ancares Lucenses, Ancares

Biological Conservation and Nature Protection Strategies in Spanish Atlantic Region

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.72515

35

**Figure 8.** Territorial distribution of the Biosphere Reserves in the Spanish Atlantic region (prepared from [15, 16]).

The 18 Biosphere Reserves in the Spanish Atlantic region respond to different governance models (**Table 4**). Eight of them are managed by the regional governments, differentiating those that coincide territorially with the limits of a national park (NP) and that are managed jointly with this protected area, of which they are directed directly by the regional government. As for the rest, it is possible to differentiate those Biosphere Reserves linked to provincial and local entities, from those that are directed by foundations or associations of various kinds. This variety in the management bodies is representative of the success example of adaptive management that Biosphere Reserves of the Spanish Atlantic region have become, so their management is designed from the development needs of local communities to regional priorities.

The set of Biosphere Reserves in the Spanish Atlantic region, given their proximity to the biogeographical boundary and as transition to the Mediterranean territories, has a large number of unique components of the natural heritage and biodiversity. They harbor a remarkable richness of natural and seminatural habitats that are threatened with disappearance in the whole of the European Union or that have a very small territorial representation (marshes, dune ecosystems, rivers and lagoons, peat bogs, wet heathland, dry heathland, orophilic scrubs, hay meadows, deciduous and evergreen forests, rocky habitats, caves not exploited by tourism, etc.), as well as an important group of endemic or threatened wild species or subspecies. According to distribution analysis of habitat types in the Iberian Peninsula [17], the Biosphere Reserves in the Spanish Atlantic region have been delimited over the areas that harbor the highest diversity of habitat types (**Figure 9**), so the distribution of the number of habitats per 10×10 km2 grid is similar to the rest of the Spanish Atlantic region (**Table 2**). It is worth highlighting the maximum interval of habitat types (>30 types), which reaches a proportion that far exceeds

Leoneses, Ubiñas-La Mesa).

The reason for the harbored biodiversity by the Iberian Atlantic region combines climatic and geographical factors [34–36]. Rainfall occurs abundantly and is well distributed throughout the year, so that the summer drought does not exist or is very low, because even in summer the winds of component N loaded with moisture provide effective and hidden precipitation. The distance from the coast to the continent does not exceed 120 km from the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, so a low continentality and a reduced annual thermal amplitude are typical, especially in comparison with Mediterranean territories further away from the sea, in which continentality produces a greater oscillation between winter and summer temperatures. Everything causes the optimal conditions for Atlantic vegetation to converge in NW Spain [25], which allows a higher variety of ecosystems [24, 37, 38], and consequently a greater richness of habitat types [17] and species [39].

## **5. Biosphere Reserves in the Spanish Atlantic region**

The Biosphere Reserves delimited totally or partially in the Spanish Atlantic region form a set of 18 Biosphere Reserves (**Figure 8**) whose total area amounts to 12,446 km2 of which 33 km2 (0.3% of the total) correspond to marine waters, while the remaining 12,413 km2 (99.7% of the total) correspond to terrestrial and inland water areas.

In this set of Biosphere Reserves, a wide ecological range is represented, being possible to identify reserves in which marine, littoral, and coastal environments are represented Biological Conservation and Nature Protection Strategies in Spanish Atlantic Region http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.72515 35

**Figure 8.** Territorial distribution of the Biosphere Reserves in the Spanish Atlantic region (prepared from [15, 16]).

Although Spanish Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves include 38,954 km2

**Region Spain (%) No. of reserves Biosphere Reserves area (km<sup>2</sup>**

34 Selected Studies in Biodiversity

Mediterranean 85.7 29 40.139 1.185 38.954 8.9 Atlantic 11.0 18 12.446 33 12.413 22.3 Alpine 1.9 1 992 – 992 10.2 Macaronesian 1.4 7 8.400 4.721 3.679 52.4

**5. Biosphere Reserves in the Spanish Atlantic region**

total) correspond to terrestrial and inland water areas.

of 18 Biosphere Reserves (**Figure 8**) whose total area amounts to 12,446 km2

(0.3% of the total) correspond to marine waters, while the remaining 12,413 km2

tat types [17] and species [39].

they only represent 8.9% of the Spanish Mediterranean continental areas. Both in the Atlantic and Macaronesian regions, the percentage included in the SNBR is significantly higher

**Table 3.** Surface distribution by biogeographical region of the Biosphere Reserves in Spain (prepared from [15, 16]).

**Total Marine Continental**

The high percentage of the Spanish Atlantic region (22.3%) that has been included in the Biosphere Reserves is consistent with the territorial distribution of habitat diversity in the Iberian Peninsula (**Figure 5**). In the Spanish Atlantic region, there is a high presence of areas with the highest abundance of habitats in the Iberian Peninsula [17] and even in the European Union [18, 20]. This is indicative of the biodiversity harbored by the Iberian Atlantic area and of the sustainability that has governed the management and conservation of this territory, and therefore it has allowed the establishment of a large set of Biosphere Reserves into the Spanish Atlantic region. The reason for the harbored biodiversity by the Iberian Atlantic region combines climatic and geographical factors [34–36]. Rainfall occurs abundantly and is well distributed throughout the year, so that the summer drought does not exist or is very low, because even in summer the winds of component N loaded with moisture provide effective and hidden precipitation. The distance from the coast to the continent does not exceed 120 km from the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, so a low continentality and a reduced annual thermal amplitude are typical, especially in comparison with Mediterranean territories further away from the sea, in which continentality produces a greater oscillation between winter and summer temperatures. Everything causes the optimal conditions for Atlantic vegetation to converge in NW Spain [25], which allows a higher variety of ecosystems [24, 37, 38], and consequently a greater richness of habi-

The Biosphere Reserves delimited totally or partially in the Spanish Atlantic region form a set

In this set of Biosphere Reserves, a wide ecological range is represented, being possible to identify reserves in which marine, littoral, and coastal environments are represented

(**Table 3**), and they also exceed the index values of 11th Aichi Biodiversity Targets [5].

of terrestrial areas,

**) Region (%)**

of which 33 km2

(99.7% of the

(Urdaibai, Mariñas-Mandeo, Rio Eo-Oscos-Burón), whereas in other cases, wetlands are the main component (Terras do Miño). There are also examples in which traditional agrosystems are the main component (Allariz), although most include inland valley-range systems (Muniellos, Laciana, Babia, Omaña-Luna, Alto Bernesga, Los Argüellos, Gerês-Xurés, Redes) or high mountain ecosystems (Somiedo, Picos de Europa, Ancares Lucenses, Ancares Leoneses, Ubiñas-La Mesa).

The 18 Biosphere Reserves in the Spanish Atlantic region respond to different governance models (**Table 4**). Eight of them are managed by the regional governments, differentiating those that coincide territorially with the limits of a national park (NP) and that are managed jointly with this protected area, of which they are directed directly by the regional government. As for the rest, it is possible to differentiate those Biosphere Reserves linked to provincial and local entities, from those that are directed by foundations or associations of various kinds. This variety in the management bodies is representative of the success example of adaptive management that Biosphere Reserves of the Spanish Atlantic region have become, so their management is designed from the development needs of local communities to regional priorities.

The set of Biosphere Reserves in the Spanish Atlantic region, given their proximity to the biogeographical boundary and as transition to the Mediterranean territories, has a large number of unique components of the natural heritage and biodiversity. They harbor a remarkable richness of natural and seminatural habitats that are threatened with disappearance in the whole of the European Union or that have a very small territorial representation (marshes, dune ecosystems, rivers and lagoons, peat bogs, wet heathland, dry heathland, orophilic scrubs, hay meadows, deciduous and evergreen forests, rocky habitats, caves not exploited by tourism, etc.), as well as an important group of endemic or threatened wild species or subspecies.

According to distribution analysis of habitat types in the Iberian Peninsula [17], the Biosphere Reserves in the Spanish Atlantic region have been delimited over the areas that harbor the highest diversity of habitat types (**Figure 9**), so the distribution of the number of habitats per 10×10 km2 grid is similar to the rest of the Spanish Atlantic region (**Table 2**). It is worth highlighting the maximum interval of habitat types (>30 types), which reaches a proportion that far exceeds


(between 4 and 9 times) the value reached in the entire Atlantic Biogeographic region and even

habitat are located in littoral Biosphere Reserves (Mariñas-Mandeo, Rio Eo-Oscos-Burón), due to the great diversity of the Atlantic coastal environments. In contrast, Urdaibai, Allariz, and Gerês-Xurés Biosphere Reserves do not include grids of more than 20 habitat types. The remaining 13 Biosphere Reserves are in an intermediate situation, housing grids of up to 30 habitat types.

The total amount of habitat types housed by each Biosphere Reserve of the Spanish Atlantic region (**Table 4**) is directly proportional to their territorial distribution over the number of

ber of habitat types are Mariñas Coruñesas, Terras do Mandeo (49 habitats), Río Eo, and Oscos e Terras de Burón (48 habitats). The high diversity of habitat types housed in these two is due to the fact that they include coastal, sublittoral, and continental areas. Excluding the coastal areas, Picos de Europa would be the Biosphere Reserve with the largest number of habitats of community interest (41 habitats), followed by the Somiedo Biosphere Reserve (37 habitats). On the contrary, Allariz Biosphere Reserve is the one with the smallest number of habitat

Similarly, Mariñas Coruñesas y Terras do Mandeo and Río Eo, Oscos e Terras de Burón Biosphere Reserves are the ones that hold the largest set of priority habitat types, with a total amount of 12 types, due to the presence of coastal priority types that are not able to be found in the rest of the Biosphere Reserves in the Spanish Atlantic region. However, it is also worth highlighting the presence of 11 priority types in Terras do Miño and Os Ancares Lucenses Biosphere Reserves or of 10 types in Picos de Europa and Valles de Omaña and Luna Biosphere Reserves. Biosphere Reserves of the Spanish Atlantic Region host an amount of 78 types of habitats, of which 19 are considered priority (**Table 4**). That is, the Spanish Atlantic Biosphere Reserves contain 88% of the diversity of habitat types identified in the Spanish Atlantic region and 64% of the diversity of habitats in the European Atlantic region (compared with **Table 1**). Regarding to priority habitats, the Biosphere Reserves of the Spanish Atlantic region still play a more important role: they include 100% of priority types in Spanish Atlantic region and 63% of priority habitats identified in the whole European Atlantic biogeographical region (compared with **Table 1**).

Some of the identified habitats in the Biosphere Reserves of the Spanish Atlantic region are widely distributed in all the 18 Biosphere Reserves, since they are characteristics of the Spanish Atlantic landscape [38, 39]. These types correspond to habitats linked to the Atlantic river courses (3260 water courses of plain to montane levels with the *Ranunculion fluitantis* and *Callitricho-Batrachion* vegetation, 6430 hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities of plains and of the montane to alpine levels, 91E0\* alluvial forests with *Alnus glutinosa* and *Fraxinus excelsior*), dry heathland (4030 European dry heaths), and oak forests (9230 Galician-

The set of Biosphere Reserves in the Spanish Atlantic region hosts a large group of interesting species for nature conservation (protected and catalogued species). The implementation of Natura 2000 network has led to standardization regarding the inventorying of natural values through the Standard Data Forms (SDFs). These register the habitats and species of community interest in each Natura 2000 area, allowing a homogeneous treatment of the data hosted in the database of the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity [40], dependent on the European

grids (**Figure 9**). So Biosphere Reserves with a greater num-

Biological Conservation and Nature Protection Strategies in Spanish Atlantic Region

grids with more than 30 types of

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.72515

37

in the European Union (**Table 2**). The four UTM 10×10 km2

types included in Annex I of the DC 92/43/CEE, with 13 types.

Portuguese oak woods with *Quercus robur* and *Quercus pyrenaica*).

habitat types by UTM 10×10 km2

NP: presence of National/Natural Park.

**Table 4.** Typology of the management bodies and richness of habitat types in Biosphere Reserves of the Spanish Atlantic region.

**Figure 9.** Habitats richness per UTM grid 10×10 km2 in Biosphere Reserves of the Spanish Atlantic region (prepared from [17]).

(between 4 and 9 times) the value reached in the entire Atlantic Biogeographic region and even in the European Union (**Table 2**). The four UTM 10×10 km2 grids with more than 30 types of habitat are located in littoral Biosphere Reserves (Mariñas-Mandeo, Rio Eo-Oscos-Burón), due to the great diversity of the Atlantic coastal environments. In contrast, Urdaibai, Allariz, and Gerês-Xurés Biosphere Reserves do not include grids of more than 20 habitat types. The remaining 13 Biosphere Reserves are in an intermediate situation, housing grids of up to 30 habitat types.

The total amount of habitat types housed by each Biosphere Reserve of the Spanish Atlantic region (**Table 4**) is directly proportional to their territorial distribution over the number of habitat types by UTM 10×10 km2 grids (**Figure 9**). So Biosphere Reserves with a greater number of habitat types are Mariñas Coruñesas, Terras do Mandeo (49 habitats), Río Eo, and Oscos e Terras de Burón (48 habitats). The high diversity of habitat types housed in these two is due to the fact that they include coastal, sublittoral, and continental areas. Excluding the coastal areas, Picos de Europa would be the Biosphere Reserve with the largest number of habitats of community interest (41 habitats), followed by the Somiedo Biosphere Reserve (37 habitats). On the contrary, Allariz Biosphere Reserve is the one with the smallest number of habitat types included in Annex I of the DC 92/43/CEE, with 13 types.

Similarly, Mariñas Coruñesas y Terras do Mandeo and Río Eo, Oscos e Terras de Burón Biosphere Reserves are the ones that hold the largest set of priority habitat types, with a total amount of 12 types, due to the presence of coastal priority types that are not able to be found in the rest of the Biosphere Reserves in the Spanish Atlantic region. However, it is also worth highlighting the presence of 11 priority types in Terras do Miño and Os Ancares Lucenses Biosphere Reserves or of 10 types in Picos de Europa and Valles de Omaña and Luna Biosphere Reserves.

Biosphere Reserves of the Spanish Atlantic Region host an amount of 78 types of habitats, of which 19 are considered priority (**Table 4**). That is, the Spanish Atlantic Biosphere Reserves contain 88% of the diversity of habitat types identified in the Spanish Atlantic region and 64% of the diversity of habitats in the European Atlantic region (compared with **Table 1**). Regarding to priority habitats, the Biosphere Reserves of the Spanish Atlantic region still play a more important role: they include 100% of priority types in Spanish Atlantic region and 63% of priority habitats identified in the whole European Atlantic biogeographical region (compared with **Table 1**).

Some of the identified habitats in the Biosphere Reserves of the Spanish Atlantic region are widely distributed in all the 18 Biosphere Reserves, since they are characteristics of the Spanish Atlantic landscape [38, 39]. These types correspond to habitats linked to the Atlantic river courses (3260 water courses of plain to montane levels with the *Ranunculion fluitantis* and *Callitricho-Batrachion* vegetation, 6430 hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities of plains and of the montane to alpine levels, 91E0\* alluvial forests with *Alnus glutinosa* and *Fraxinus excelsior*), dry heathland (4030 European dry heaths), and oak forests (9230 Galician-Portuguese oak woods with *Quercus robur* and *Quercus pyrenaica*).

The set of Biosphere Reserves in the Spanish Atlantic region hosts a large group of interesting species for nature conservation (protected and catalogued species). The implementation of Natura 2000 network has led to standardization regarding the inventorying of natural values through the Standard Data Forms (SDFs). These register the habitats and species of community interest in each Natura 2000 area, allowing a homogeneous treatment of the data hosted in the database of the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity [40], dependent on the European

**Figure 9.** Habitats richness per UTM grid 10×10 km2

NP: presence of National/Natural Park.

36 Selected Studies in Biodiversity

from [17]).

region.

in Biosphere Reserves of the Spanish Atlantic region (prepared

**NP Managing entity Habitat number**

**Table 4.** Typology of the management bodies and richness of habitat types in Biosphere Reserves of the Spanish Atlantic

Mariñas-Mandeo Foundation/association 49 12 37 Río Eo-Oscos-Burón Regional government 48 12 36 Picos de Europa Regional government 41 10 31 Somiedo ✹ Regional government 37 8 29 V. Omaña y Luna Local entity/consortium 36 10 26 Terras do Miño Provincial Deputation 35 11 24 Ancares Lucenses Provincial Deputation 35 11 24 Las Ubiñas-La Mesa ✹ Regional government 35 8 27 Redes ✹ Regional government 34 8 26 Ancares Leoneses Local entity/consortium 34 8 26 Muniellos ✹ Regional government 33 7 26 Babia Local entity/consortium 33 9 24 Valle Laciana Foundation/association 32 8 24 Urdaibai Regional government 32 6 26 Alto Bernesga Local entity/consortium 30 8 22 Argüellos Local entity/consortium 29 7 22 Gerês-Xurés ✹ Regional government 28 8 20 Área de Allariz Foundation/association 13 2 11 Total 78 19 59

**Total Priority Non-priority**


considered of interest for conservation under Directives 92/43/EEC and 2009/147/CE. This has enabled the delimitation of a profuse set of Natura 2000 areas, which have served as support for the core areas of the set of Biosphere Reserves established in the Spanish Atlantic region. The synergy created between the importance of the hosted values and these new instruments for the protection, planning, and management of the territory have made possible the start-up of new projects and initiatives for nature conservation and sustainable development in this

Biological Conservation and Nature Protection Strategies in Spanish Atlantic Region

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.72515

39

The peatland ecosystems, present throughout the entire Iberian Atlantic region, have been the subject of several restoration projects in Natura 2000 areas. It should be highlighted LIFE Parga-Ladra-Támoga project (LIFE00 NAT/E/007330), that has been complemented by LIFE Tremedal project (LIFE11 NAT/ES/000707), should be highlighted. In both cases, actions have been carried out to restore peatland habitat types (7110\*, 7130\*, 7140, 7150, 7210\*, 7230) and other types of wetlands (3110, 3190, 6410, 6510, 91E0\*), as well as the taxa of interest for the conservation that they harbor, with special attention to the priority species *Eryngium viviparum*\* and others such as *Spiranthes aestivalis* or *Narcissus pseudonarcissus nobilis*. This kind of projects is of great interest not only for the environmental benefits they generate but also because they allow for the increase of knowledge as they generate up-to-date and homogeneous information on the distribution and conservation status of the key elements for biodiversity, gathering experiences for its better management and restoration [41]. In a complementary way, the generated information allows improving and increasing the communication and awareness of society about the values and environmental services that provide the ecosystems for biodiversity conservation and specifically the types of habitats and species of interest for conservation. The forest ecosystems have also been the subject of several LIFE projects, highlighting the LIFE BACCATA project, which aims to improve the conservation status of the yew forests (*Taxus baccata*), considered a priority habitat type (9580\*) that has a scarce distribution at the European Union level, and which is present in the Iberian Atlantic region [42]. The relevance of this project is high, since it includes the increase of the area occupied by this habitat type by 7% and an improvement in the conservation status by 26%, complemented by a genetic characterization of *Taxus baccata* in the Spanish Atlantic region, in order to determine the variability and degree of genetic connectivity between populations and the kinship structure. The dissemination, diffusion, and awareness of society about the conservation of forests in general, and of yew forests in particular, are also included in LIFE BACCATA project, together with the transfer of its results for replication to the different agents involved throughout Spanish and European territory.

Other conservation projects have focused on species of interest for conservation, with special attention to those considered in danger of extinction. In this case, there is no doubt that in the Cantabrian Mountains two species have received the greatest investigative and conservative

The territorial area formed for the most of the Biosphere Reserves of the Spanish Atlantic region (Os Ancares Lucenses, Los Ancares Leoneses, Muniellos, Somiedo, Valle de Laciana, Babia, Valles de Omaña y Luna, Las Ubiñas-La Mesa, Alto Bernesga, Los Argüellos, Redes, and Picos de Europa) forms a continuum in which various instruments and actions for the conservation of *Ursus arctos*\* have been set in motion. These instruments and initiatives include the monitoring of the Cantabrian brown bear population and brown bear habitat improvement actions,

effort: the brown bear (*Ursus arctos*\*) and the capercaillie (*Tetrao urogallus*).

territory, fundamentally through the LIFE Programme of the European Union [13].

**Table 5.** Richness of species in Biosphere Reserves of the Spanish Atlantic region.

Environment Agency (EEA). The core areas of the Biosphere Reserves in the Spanish Atlantic region have been included almost completely within the Natura 2000 areas, so an analysis of their SDFs has been carried out to compare diversity of the species of community interest present in each of the Biosphere Reserves of the Spanish Atlantic region has been carried out (**Table 5**).

The total number of present species in the Biosphere Reserves of the Spanish Atlantic region is high as a whole and depends to a large extent on the diversity of birds, since they are the most numerous group by far. In this way, Biosphere Reserves with the largest number of species (>80 species) are Urdaibai, Gerês-Xurés, Río Eo-Oscos-Burón, Mariñas-Mandeo, and Terras do Miño, which in turn are those that have a greater number of bird species (>60 species). Also, noteworthy are a set of flora (11) and fish (7) species of Gerês-Xurés, invertebrates (13) in Picos de Europa, or mammals in Picos de Europa (13) and Rio Eo-Oscos-Burón (11).
