is composed of 249 protected areas, with ca. 20 of them being marine. This network
includes, among others, the following national and regional protection figures (only
those with marine spaces are mentioned): Natural Park (Parque Natural), Natural
Area (Paraje Natural) and Natural Monument (Monumento Natural) (Fig. 25.1). In
the context of the Alboran Sea, it should be noted that the Cabo de Gata-Níjar
Natural Park (maritime-terrestrial), declared in 1988, is considered the first MPA
sensu stricto (in this case mixed), declared in the Spanish State (Ortiz García 2002).
Spain is an EU member and, therefore, has to fulfil with community policies
regarding the environment. Considering that other protection figures have been
developed at European level, under the framework of the Natura 2000 network,
such as Site of Community Importance (SCI) (previous step without management
plan) and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) (once a SCI has approved a
management plan) (Council Directive 92/43/EEC of May 1992—Habitats Directive)
and Special Protection Areas for Birds (SPA) (Council Directive 79/409/EEC of
April 1979—Birds Directive—actually Directive 2009/147/EEC). It is interesting to
clarify that, currently, some MPAs of the Andalusian coast included in the Natura
2000 network are managed by the Spanish government and others by the Andalusian
government (Fig. 25.1). The Habitat Directive (HD) on the conservation of natural
habitats and of wild fauna and flora aims to promote the maintenance of biodiversity,
taking account of economic, social, cultural and regional requirements. It forms the
cornerstone of Europe’s nature conservation policy, together with the Birds Directive (BD), and establishes the wide EU Natura 2000 ecological network of protected
areas, safeguarded against potentially damaging developments. Over 1000 animal
and plant species, as well as 200 habitat types, listed in the HB annexes are protected
in various ways. The BD is one of the oldest piece of EU legislation for environmental conservation and one of its cornerstones. Amended in 2009, it became the
Directive 2009/147/EC, and it places great emphasis on the protection of habitats for
endangered and migratory birds. It establishes a network of SPAs including all the
most suitable territories for these species. Since 1994, all SPAs are included in the
Natura 2000 ecological network, set up under the HD. The ca. 500 wild bird species
naturally occurring in the European Union are protected in various ways under the
annexes of the BD.
Another tool for the conservation of wild flora and fauna in Spain is provided by
the National Catalogue of Threatened Species (Catálogo Nacional de Especies
⁄
ä
Fig. 25.1 (continued) Natural del Cabo de Gata-Níjar; (22) Isla de San Andrés Natural Monument
and SAC; (23) Fondos Marinos del Levante Almeriense and Terreros and Negra Islands Natural
Monument; (24) Jbel Moussa Nature Reserve, Site d’Intérêt Biologique et Écologique (SIBE) and
Réserve de Chasse Permanente (RCP); (25) Zona marítimo-terrestre del Monte Hacho SAC;
(26) Lagune de Smir SIBE and collateral figures of protection; (27) Koudiet Taifour SIBE and
RCP; (28) Cote Rhomara SIBE and RCP; (29) Cirqued’El-Jebha SIBE and RCP; (30) Al Hoceima
National Park SPAMI and collateral figures; (31) Cap des trois Fourches SIBE and collateral
protection figures; (32) Zona marítimo terrestre de los acantilados de Aguadú SAC; (33) Sebkha
Bou Areg SIBE and collateral figures of protection; (34) Islas Chafarinas National Refuge of
Hunting and SAC; (35) Les îles Habibas SPAMI and collateral figures
25 Marine Protected Areas and Key Biodiversity Areas of the Alboran Sea and. . .
825
includes, among others, the following national and regional protection figures (only
those with marine spaces are mentioned): Natural Park (Parque Natural), Natural
Area (Paraje Natural) and Natural Monument (Monumento Natural) (Fig. 25.1). In
the context of the Alboran Sea, it should be noted that the Cabo de Gata-Níjar
Natural Park (maritime-terrestrial), declared in 1988, is considered the first MPA
sensu stricto (in this case mixed), declared in the Spanish State (Ortiz García 2002).
Spain is an EU member and, therefore, has to fulfil with community policies
regarding the environment. Considering that other protection figures have been
developed at European level, under the framework of the Natura 2000 network,
such as Site of Community Importance (SCI) (previous step without management
plan) and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) (once a SCI has approved a
management plan) (Council Directive 92/43/EEC of May 1992—Habitats Directive)
and Special Protection Areas for Birds (SPA) (Council Directive 79/409/EEC of
April 1979—Birds Directive—actually Directive 2009/147/EEC). It is interesting to
clarify that, currently, some MPAs of the Andalusian coast included in the Natura
2000 network are managed by the Spanish government and others by the Andalusian
government (Fig. 25.1). The Habitat Directive (HD) on the conservation of natural
habitats and of wild fauna and flora aims to promote the maintenance of biodiversity,
taking account of economic, social, cultural and regional requirements. It forms the
cornerstone of Europe’s nature conservation policy, together with the Birds Directive (BD), and establishes the wide EU Natura 2000 ecological network of protected
areas, safeguarded against potentially damaging developments. Over 1000 animal
and plant species, as well as 200 habitat types, listed in the HB annexes are protected
in various ways. The BD is one of the oldest piece of EU legislation for environmental conservation and one of its cornerstones. Amended in 2009, it became the
Directive 2009/147/EC, and it places great emphasis on the protection of habitats for
endangered and migratory birds. It establishes a network of SPAs including all the
most suitable territories for these species. Since 1994, all SPAs are included in the
Natura 2000 ecological network, set up under the HD. The ca. 500 wild bird species
naturally occurring in the European Union are protected in various ways under the
annexes of the BD.
Another tool for the conservation of wild flora and fauna in Spain is provided by
the National Catalogue of Threatened Species (Catálogo Nacional de Especies
⁄
ä
Fig. 25.1 (continued) Natural del Cabo de Gata-Níjar; (22) Isla de San Andrés Natural Monument
and SAC; (23) Fondos Marinos del Levante Almeriense and Terreros and Negra Islands Natural
Monument; (24) Jbel Moussa Nature Reserve, Site d’Intérêt Biologique et Écologique (SIBE) and
Réserve de Chasse Permanente (RCP); (25) Zona marítimo-terrestre del Monte Hacho SAC;
(26) Lagune de Smir SIBE and collateral figures of protection; (27) Koudiet Taifour SIBE and
RCP; (28) Cote Rhomara SIBE and RCP; (29) Cirqued’El-Jebha SIBE and RCP; (30) Al Hoceima
National Park SPAMI and collateral figures; (31) Cap des trois Fourches SIBE and collateral
protection figures; (32) Zona marítimo terrestre de los acantilados de Aguadú SAC; (33) Sebkha
Bou Areg SIBE and collateral figures of protection; (34) Islas Chafarinas National Refuge of
Hunting and SAC; (35) Les îles Habibas SPAMI and collateral figures
25 Marine Protected Areas and Key Biodiversity Areas of the Alboran Sea and. . .
825