Spain's biosphere reserve network is second-largest in the world and the best preserved, says UNESCO
Sunday, February 9, 2014 @ 8:25 PM
SPAIN has more nature reserves than anywhere else in Europe and the second-highest number on the planet, according to UNESCO – and has just added another three to its list.
The world heritage charity says Spain is the 'most active' in its biodiversity programmes, with 45 protected nature reserves – the USA has 47, making it the country with the largest number, and México comes third with 40.
In total, UNESCO's natural heritage sites come to 621 and are spread around 117 countries.
Three new biospheres in Spain have been added to the list this week - La Granja and El Espinar, in the provice of Segovia, Castilla y León; As Mariñas Coruñesas and Terras do Mandeo, in the north-western region of Galicia, and the Ebro delta in Catalunya.
But UNESCO has warned that the number may reduce in the foreseeable future because some are in danger of falling short of minimum conservation requirements.
Fortunately, none of these are in Spain, which has been praised for its 'magnificent' environmental conscience in this area and its strong awareness of the 'immense value' of its natural heritage.
Spain's biosphere reserves cover 8.6 per cent of its territory and 7.2 per cent of the world's total, now that the three new ones have been added.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com