Spain

Ecological characteristics:

This Biosphere Reserve includes the inner mountain nu- cleus of the Cordillera Penibética mountain range which has the Spanish Peninsula’s highest peaks such as the Mulhacen peak at 3,482 m. The steep mountain slopes are a reflection of its past, modelled by glacial erosion. The dominating climate is continental Mediterranean, al- though it has strong variations in mean annual rainfall, ranging with altitude between 350 and 1,600 mm. The vegetation includes vast stretches of grasslands and high mountain scrubland, Pine, Juniper and deciduous and sclerophyllus forests. But what confers an extraordinary value on the Sierra Nevada, in addition to its grandiose landscapes, are the numerous unique and endemic species The peaks of Alcazaba, Mulhacen and Veleta of flora found here, with over 1,700 different species re- A. Miguelez corded, 64 of which are endemic. Mention should be made of Wormwood ( Artemisia granatensis ), Monkshood (Aconitum ) and Stavesacre ( Delphinium staphisagria ). There are also numerous endemic invertebrates and high mountain emblematic species, such as the Mountain Goat, Declaration date: April 1986 the Wall-creeper ( Tichodroma muraria) and the Royal Surface area: 171,646 ha (core: 30 per cent; buffer: 70 per Eagle. cent) Administrative division: 60 Municipalities have their territory in the Biosphere Reserve

Human activities:

Mountain farming activities, with small orchards, sheep and goat-raising. Winter tourism associated with the important skiing resort and summer tourism.

Erigeron frigidus

Protection classifications:

• National Park • Natural Park • Natural Monument • Internationally Important Wetland (Ramsar Conven- Phoenician torgrass tion)(2)

Contact information: SÁNCHEZ GUTIÉRREZ, Javier Parque Natural, Parque Nacional y RB Sierra Nevada Carretera Sierra Nevada, Km. 7 18171 Pinos , Tel: 958 026303 e-mail: [email protected]