"The protection of this space recognizes the importance of its forest masses, especially pine forests, and its floristic, geological, geomorphological and faunal diversity. Its location in the southernmost mountainous core of the Iberian System, separating the hydrographic slopes from the Atlantic and Mediterranean facades, gives it a high biogeographic value.
The relief of the area is dominated by high moorlands or “molars” on which the effects of karst modeling can be seen, highlighting the sickles and canyons, as well as lapiaces and ruiniform reliefs locally called tormagales or enchanted cities, with excellent representations such as the Enchanted City of Valdecabras and The Alleys of Las Majadas."
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The flora and fauna here is:
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Open Pine Forest:
Black pine forests dominate the vegetal landscape, making up one of the largest forest masses of this species in Spain. These pine forests are accompanied by woody species such as junipers, holm oaks, arlo, guillomos, junipers or hawthorns. Seasonally you can see striking flowers such as teapots and several species of orchids.
Habitat and deer go to open areas in search of food, as well as medium-sized carnivores, the fox, the marten or the badger. We would also find other smaller mammals in these enclaves, the red squirrel, the field mouse or the black-faced dormouse.
Umbria area:
The areas of rainwater penetration into the dolomitic rock, very abundant in the Enchanted City, create a shady environment with greater humidity than in the surrounding lands, which encourages the presence of unique flora adapted to these characteristics.
In these shady areas, species typical of Atlantic environments (yew, holly, maple) and vegetation associated with riverbanks (blackthorn, elderberry, peony) persist. Furthermore, these places are chosen by some birds such as the common blackbird or the robin, which prefer less sunny terrain and bushes with fruit.
Rocky surfaces:
The rocky substrate present and the large number of existing holes favor the development of a very particular flora called rupicola with a great variety of species (doradillas, virgin's slippers, ivy, Rhamnus pumila). These communities are part of habitats considered priority conservation for the European Union.
The holes and crevices of the dolomite also constitute a very favorable habitat for the refuge and reproduction area of ??many reptiles such as the ocellated lizard or the Iberian and long-tailed lizards. The blackbird or the blackbird are birds with a great predilection for these places to nest or look for food."
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