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- Title
Efficacy of Management Policies on Protection and Recovery of Natural Ecosystems in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve.
- Authors
Rodríguez-Loinaz, Gloria; Amezaga, Ibone; Onaindia, Miren
- Abstract
Knowledge of landscape patterns and dynamics is essential for land use planners and natural resources managers. They need to know how landscapes havc changed in order to determine the consequences and efficacy of the management policies and implement future decision-making. This study characterized the landscape of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, which has been affected by the introduction of exotic tree species since the beginning of the 20th century. We examined the dynamics of this landscape between 1991 and 2009 and the consequences of having been declared a [ESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1984. Most of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve potential vegetation (80%) is mixed-oak (Quercus robur L.) forest, but, currently, this forest is found in only 6.5% of the area. Most of the current vegetation (54%) comprises Pinus radiata and Eutals pus sp. plantations. Over the period studied, land use had changed in only 11.8% of the area, Nearly 30% of the change was the replacement of traditional grasslands, crops and heathtands by P. radiata and Eucalyptus sp. plantations. However 22% of the change had reflected a recovery of the native vegetation, namely mixed-oak and Canrabrian evergreen-oak (Quercus ilex subsp. Ilex) forest, coastal sandy areas, or broad-leaf plantations. This recovery of the native segetat ion has countered the tendency towards landscape degradation ohsertcd since 1957. Thus, despite the small change described, the first effects of cojiservation and environmen- tal recovery policies can be detected. Nevertheless, there remains much to be done recovering the natural ecosystem: the most difficult obstacles include the fact that most of the land is privately owned and an existence of the administrative complexity gives rise to problems that exist between diffirent Administrations.
- Subjects
RESERVA de la Biosfera de Urdaibai (Spain); SPAIN; NATURAL resources management; FOREST management; LANDSCAPE protection; PLANTATIONS; NATURE conservation
- Publication
Natural Areas Journal, 2011, Vol 31, Issue 4, p358
- ISSN
0885-8608
- Publication type
Article