A very diversified fauna and flora
In the Basque Country, oak trees grow in the mountains and valleys closest to the coast, while beech trees rise to altitudes of over 700 m. Large areas have been replanted with eucalyptus and pine, while the plains are devoted to agriculture. The protected areas are a favored habitat for eagles, griffon vultures, hawks, otters, foxes, roe deer, red deer and wild boar. These species are complemented by several indigenous breeds of sheep, cattle and horse, such as the pottok (local pony), the betizu (breed of cow) and the latxa sheep.
In Navarre, forests cover 64% of the territory, mainly consisting of Scots pine, beech and oak. The Pyrenean areas are home to isard, roe deer and red deer. The king bird here is the bearded vulture, but important species such as the capercaillie and the black woodpecker can also be seen. In the Atlantic region and pre-Pyrenean ranges, birds of prey find their preferred habitat in gorges, such as the Lumbier gorge, carved by the River Irati through the limestone massif of the Sierra de Leyre. Golden eagles, red kites and vultures can be seen here. The Bardenas, a steppe landscape dotted with bushes, is home to the Sirli de Dupont.
In Rioja, the forests on the banks of the Ebro are called sotos, and are a veritable oasis of willow, ash, alder and white poplar. In the densely vegetated mountains of the Iberian System, the predominant habitat is heath, beech, coniferous and mixed forests. The area is home to protected species such as the Circaetus, Golden Eagle, Grey Partridge, Pallid Harrier, Booted Eagle and Great Horned Owl. La Rioja's north-western mountain range, made up of escarpments and cliffs, is home to the Egyptian vulture, peregrine falcon, golden eagle, Bonelli's eagle and griffon vulture.
Many natural parks
In the Southern Basque Country, these protected areas represent 23% of the territory (note that there are no nature parks on the French side...). Among them, the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, located in an estuary on the Bay of Biscay in the Basque Country, covers an area of great ecological diversity of 23,000 ha, made up of marshes, cliffs and river plains. The Mundaka estuary, at the heart of the reserve, is a prime location for birdwatching. In addition to this exceptional reserve, the Basque Country boasts nine protected nature parks. The Aiako Harria mountains, at the eastern end of Guipúzcoa, and theAizkorri-Aratz mountains, home to Euskadi's highest peak, Aitxuri (1,551 m). Urkiola Park also features a series of mountain ranges and limestone ridges, the highest of which is Anboto. Another coveted peak is the Croix de Gorbeia in the Gorbeia Nature Park. At the heart of this park is the Itxina Protected Biotope. The Armañon Nature Park stretches across the Encartaciones mountains, west of Vizcaya and bordering Cantabria. For birdwatching, head for the forests of Izki Nature Park or the valleys of Valderejo Park, while you can observe plants and country life in Pagoeta Nature Park, near Zarautz. While the Basque Country knows how to protect its mountains and forests, the same cannot be said for its beaches and waters, which are known to be particularly polluted.
In Navarre, natural areas are widely supported and protected by the Community, which has introduced numerous laws to preserve the environment and save energy. In fact, Navarra's political commitment to natural diversity is a national benchmark in this field. In addition to its protected areas, which account for 24% of the territory, the region has opted for renewable energies (hydroelectric dams, solar panels, wind farms). Navarre's energy consumption includes 75% renewable energies. A political commitment that deserves to be emphasized - the government is even aiming for 100%. The autonomous community is also home to the National Centre for the Study of Renewable Energies (CENER, in Sarriguren).
Extensively irrigated (with 7,450 km of waterways), Navarre is home to numerous forests, and is home to almost a third of the country's flora. Half of Navarre's territory is protected under various forms of nature conservation. In addition to the three emblematic nature parks, Señorío de Bértiz, Urbasa and Andía, Bardenas Reales, declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, Navarre also boasts three Integral Biological Reserves, dedicated to the protection of endemic species and often closed to the public, some forty Nature Reserves (including the Lumbier and Arbaiun Gorges, Larra and the Pitillas Marshes), some thirty Nature Enclaves, some thirty bird and wildlife protection areas, and two substantial Wetlands (the Pitillas Marshes and the Las Cañas Marshes).
In Rioja, 33% of the territory is part of the European Natura 2000 network, which aims to preserve the biodiversity of natural land and sea sites. In the Rioja region, the Sierra Cebollera Natural Park dazzles visitors. Located in the Sierra de Cameros, it is home to a park of "natural" sculptures, eight works created by national and international artists from natural materials (wood, rock). Also worth a visit is the Sotos del Ebro Nature Reserve in La Rioja, which covers almost 500 ha and is home to Europe's largest colony of white storks, as well as the La Rioja Biosphere Reserve, which covers almost a quarter of the region and is partly classified by UNESCO.
