The south-eastern corner of the Iberian Peninsula is home to a series of unique and extraordinary environments: arid ecosystems that are rich in endemic species and capable of providing a great many ecosystem services.
Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park: Covering an area of 49,512 ha, this unique natural park contains some of the most arid environments in Europe. It is of particular interest with regard to climate change, in light of the fact that the effects of climate change have a major impact on ecosystems where water resources are scarce. The problems that need to be addressed in this area will make it possible to evaluate the feasibility of particular measures to aid adaptation to climate change in areas with extreme climatic conditions. In Cabo de Gata, problems resulting from a lack of water availability have been identified in phreatic plant populations (i.e. those that depend on water in the subsoil) as a result of the over-exploitation of aquifers and the lack of precipitation. Other major impacts in this area include erosion, loss of nutrients, and forest fires.
SURFACE AREA
49.512 Ha
POPULATION
6,000 inhabitants
Population of the area of socio-economic influence
MUNICIPALITIES
3, with 14 population centres
Contribute territory to the Natural Park
MAIN ACTIONS TO BE IMPLEMENTED
Management of pine forests and grasslands to aid the recovery of ecosystem services through the creation of biodiversity hotspots.
Increasing resilience and the capacity to provide ecosystem services in the priority habitat of Ziziphus lotus.
Elimination of invasive plant species. Soil conservation and agricultural management in semi-arid ecosystems.
HABITATS OF INTEREST OR PRIORITY(*) HABITATS LISTED IN ANNEX I OF THE HABITATS DIRECTIVE THAT WILL BE DIRECTLY AFFECTED
5220* Arborescent matorral with Ziziphus*.
5330 Thermo-Mediterranean scrub.
6220* Pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea: Meso- and thermo-Mediterranean xerophile*.