Mangement proposal of Habitat 4060 in southern slope of the Cantabrian Mountain Range (Spain)

Abstract

The vegetation communities of creeper juniper scrub we have studied are included in code 4060: “Alpine and boreal heaths” (Annex I of Habitat Directive 92/43/CEE). They can be found in the southern slope of the Cantabrian Mountain Range, belonging to the following phytosociological association: Daphno cantabricae-Arctostaphyletum uva-ursi Rivas-Martínez, Izco & Costa 1971 (basophilous, temperate oceanic orotemperate hyperhumid, orocantabric creeper juniper scrub of the Juniperion alpinae alliance). Vaccinio microphylli-Juniperetum alpinae Rivas-Martínez & Géhu ex F. Prieto 1983 corr. Loidi & Biurrun 1996 nom. inv. et nom mut Rivas-Martínez & cols. 2011 (acidophilous, temperate oceanic orotemperate hyperhumid, orocantabric creeper juniper scrub of the Juniperion alpinae alliance). Genisto sanabrensis-Juniperetum alpinae F. Prieto 1983 nom. mut. Rivas-Martínez & cols. 2011 (acidophilous, temperate oceanic orotemperate humid-hyperhumid submediterranean, bercian-sanabrian creeper juniper scrub of the Cytision oromediterranei alliance). Vaccinio myrtilli-Juniperetum alpinae Rivas-Martínez 1965 nom. mut. Rivas-Martínez & cols. 2011 (acidophilous, temperate oceanic orotemperate humid-hyperhumid submediterranean north iberic sierran and orocantabric creeper juniper scrub of the Cytision oromediterranei alliance). The map of current distribution of these vegetation communities has been made using ArcGIS 9.2 software. It represents the location of the areas occupied by these kind of vegetation in the Cantabrian Mountain Range at scale 1:10000. This map has been related to the bioclimatic modelling of the territory, concerning the isobioclimates, and also to the biogeographical information. They have been characterized from a floristic point of view, showing the protected flora richness of each of the associations, taking into account the presence of taxa included in the Decree of Protected Flora of Castile and Leon (BOCYL, 2007) and their different threat categories. Finally, on the basis of obtained data, this type of community interest habitat is valued with the aim of establish management proposals for its use and conservation.