ES056
Northern slope of Guadarrama mountain range


IBA Justification

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2011 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:
Species Red List1 Season Year(s) Size IBA criteria
Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus NT resident 2006 87–100 pairs A1, A4ii, B1iii, B2, C1, C2, C6
Spanish Imperial Eagle Aquila adalberti VU resident 2009 min 6 pairs A1, B2, C1, C2, C6
Red Kite Milvus milvus LC resident 2010 20–30 pairs A1, B2, C1, C6

1. The current IUCN Red List category. The category at the time of the IBA criteria assessment (2011) may differ.


IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2011. The most recent assessment (2007) is shown below.

IBA conservation assessment
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2007 good very high medium
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes population medium

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Species Actual vs Reference Units % remaining Result
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 2 / 2 pairs 100 good

State (condition of the trigger species' habitats)
Habitat Quantity (% remaining) Quality (% carrying capacity) Result
Wetlands (inland) good (> 90%) good (> 90%) good

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Residential and commercial development now most of population/area (50-90%) rapid decline (>30% over 3 gener­ations) very high
Human intrusions and disturbance now whole of population/area (>90%) slow decline (1-10% over 3 gener­ations) high
Climate change and severe weather now whole of population/area (>90%) slow decline (1-10% over 3 gener­ations) high
Transportation and service corridors now most of population/area (50-90%) moderate decline (10-30% over 3 gener­ations) high
Agricultural expansion and intensification now most of population/area (50-90%) slow decline (1-10% over 3 gener­ations) high
Natural system modifications now most of population/area (50-90%) slow decline (1-10% over 3 gener­ations) high
Energy production and mining now some of population/area (10-49%) slow decline (1-10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Biological resource use now some of population/area (10-49%) slow decline (1-10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Invasive and other problematic species and genes now some of population/area (10-49%) slow decline (1-10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Pollution now some of population/area (10-49%) slow decline (1-10% over 3 gener­ations) medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Some of area covered (10-49%) A comprehensive and appropriate management plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the populations of qualifying bird species Substantive conservation measures are being implemented, but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity medium

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation % overlap with IBA
1930 Peña del Arcipreste de Hita Monumento Natural de Interés Nacional <1
1930 Pinar de la Acebeda Nature Area of National Interest 1
1987 Sierra de Guadarrama - ZEPA Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) 55
2000 Sierra De Guadarrama Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) 55
2000 Valles del Voltoya y el Zorita - ZEPA Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) 19
2000 Valles Del Voltoya y El Zorita Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive) 17
2007 Humedales del Macizo de Peñalara Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance <1
2010 Sierra Norte de Guadarrama Parque Natural 51
2013 Sierra de Guadarrama Parque Nacional 17

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Forest 26 Broadleaved deciduous woodland; Native coniferous woodland; Broadleaved evergreen woodland
Grassland 26 Dry siliceous grassland; Humid grasslands
Shrubland 26 Scrub
Artificial/Terrestrial - Arable land
Wetlands (inland) - Rivers and streams

Land use

Land use % of IBA
forestry 26
hunting -
agriculture -
tourism/recreation -


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Northern slope of Guadarrama mountain range (Spain). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/northern-slope-of-guadarrama-mountain-range-iba-spain on 03/12/2024.