Natural Protected Areas
The most unique natural spaces due to their beauty, their biological or geological wealth and their special scientific or landscape interest, are under the protection of different legal figures that guarantee their conservation and allow respectful enjoyment by all.
Created for the general purpose of preserve the most unique natural enclaves, the concept of protected natural space has evolved over time. At the end of the XNUMXth century and the beginning of the XNUMXth, it was sought to preserve an idyllic nature in its original state, later and with a better knowledge of nature, the concept of quality of the environment and quality of life was introduced. In this sense, protected natural spaces are currently considered examples of good environmental practice where a balance is sought between different activities.
Protected Natural Areas are those spaces in the national territory, including inland waters and maritime waters under national jurisdiction, that meet at least one of the following requirements and are declared as such:
- Contain representative, unique, fragile, threatened or of special interest natural systems or elements ecological, scientific, landscape, geological or educational.
- Be especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, geodiversity and associated natural and cultural resources.
At the state level, depending on the assets and values to be protected and the management objectives to be met, Protected Natural Areas, whether terrestrial or marine, are classified into five basic categories: Parks, R.natural reserves, Marine Protected Areas, Natural monuments y Protected Landscapes. To these we must add the categories created by the different regional legislations, so that today there are more than 40 different denominations in Spain to designate Protected Natural Areas.
Today, the Community of Madrid manages 9 Protected Natural Areas in its territory, under various categories of protection, which represent a total of 15% of its surface:
| Protected Natural Area | Area (ha) |
|---|---|
|
Sierra de Guadarrama National Park (*Community of Madrid area) |
21.714,00* |
|
Cuenca Alta del Manzanares Regional Park |
42.583,00 |
|
Regional Park of the Lower Courses of the Manzanares and Jarama Rivers (Southeast) |
31.550,00 |
|
Regional Park Middle Course of the Guadarrama River and its surroundings |
22.116,00 |
|
Picturesque place Pinar de Abantos and Zona de la Herrería |
1.538,60 |
|
El Regajal-Mar de Ontígola Nature Reserve |
629,21 |
|
Montejo de la Sierra Beech Forest Natural Site of National Interest |
250,00 |
|
San Juan Lagoon Fauna Refuge |
47,00 |
|
Natural Monument of National Interest Peña del Arcipreste de Hita |
2,65 |
Parks
Pinar de Abantos and La Herrería area
PICTURESQUE PLACE
It is a place covered with a thick pine forest, among which are introduced forest species of botanical interest. It is located in the mountainous surroundings of the Monastery of El Escorial, and has, without a doubt, an undoubted landscape value, inseparable from the Escorial setting. In the Herrería area, the dominant plant species are gall oaks and ash trees.
Basic data
Area: 1.538,6 has
Municipal Terms: San Lorenzo de El Escorial and Santa Maria de la Alameda
Other figures of protection: Special Conservation Area (ZEC) "Guadarrama River Basin" and Management Plan for Natural Resources of the Sierra de Guadarrama.
Planning and management instrument: Resolution of July 2, 2019, of the Management of the National Heritage Administration Council, which publishes the Agreement of the Council of Ministers of March 29, 2019, which approves the Environmental Protection Plan of the Forest of the smithy.
The Regajal-Sea of Ontígola
NATURAL RESERVE
These are two places of exceptional faunal importance. El Regajal is a natural enclave where there are botanical and, especially, entomological elements (such as some highly endangered endemic butterflies) of extraordinary value. The Ontígola Sea is of great importance for aquatic birds, which find refuge in this humid area among the abundant marshy vegetation that extends over most of its surface.
Basic data
Area: 629,21 has
Municipality: Aranjuez
Other figures of protection: Special Conservation Area (ZEC) "Vegas, slopes and moors of the southeast of Madrid", Special Conservation Area for Birds (ZEPA) "Carrizales y Sotos de Aranjuez" and Protected Wetland of the Community of Madrid.
Planning and management instrument: Natural Resources Management Plan (PORN) of the El Regajal - Mar Ontígola Nature Reserve
Hayedo de Montejo
NATURAL SITE OF NATIONAL INTEREST
Well known for being the only representation of the species in our Community. In addition, it houses in its interior oak specimens of great botanical value. Along with the natural value, the landscape is important, being one of the spaces most demanded by the people of Madrid, for which strict control of visitors is necessary. In July 2017, at the request of the Community of Madrid, in accordance with the joint candidacy of "European Beech Forests" presented together with several European countries, UNESCO declared the Montejo Beech Forest Natural heritage of Humanity.
Basic data
Area: 250 has
Municipality: Montejo de la Sierra
Other figures of protection: Special Conservation Area (ZEC) "Lozoya River Basin and Sierra Norte" and Sierra del Rincón Biosphere Reserve.
San Juan Lagoon
WILDLIFE REFUGE
The San Juan lagoon and its surroundings constitute an important wetland area in the south of the Community of Madrid, located on the left bank of the Tajuña River, in Chinchón, and whose vegetation presents a clear differentiation between the area of the moor and the cliff. The fertile plain area and the alluvial zone, where the lagoon is located, make it a prized place for nesting, resting, sheltering and wintering for a large number and variety of waterfowl, such as common and tufted ducks, mallards and Friezes, Common Teal, Marsh Harriers, Purple Swamp or Purple Heron.
Basic data
Area: 47 has
Municipality: Chinchon
Other figures of protection: Special Conservation Area (ZEC) "Vegas, Cuestas y Paramos del Sureste de Madrid" and Laguna de San Juan Protected Wetland included in the Catalog of Reservoirs and Wetlands of the Community of Madrid, and incorporated into the National Inventory of Wetlands.
Planning and management instrument: Management Plan for the fauna refuge of Laguna de San Juan and its surroundings
Rock of the Archpriest of Hita
NATURAL MONUMENT OF NATIONAL INTEREST
Space declared in 1930, at the request of the Royal Spanish Academy of Language, to commemorate the six centuries of the "Book of Good Love". It is a beautiful place that includes the cliff located near the Port of León, at the beginning of the south, in the place between the Collado de la Sevillana and the Peña del Cuervo, municipality of Guadarrama, province of Madrid, extending this official declaration to the pines and all other spontaneous vegetation that surrounds the scree, together with the spring that springs at the foot of the cliff.
Basic data
Area: 2,65 has
Municipality: Guadarrama
Other figures of protection: Special Conservation Zone (ZEC) "Guadarrama River Basin" and Management Plan for Natural Resources of the Sierra de Guadarrama, Peripheral Protection Zone.
Legislation
