Expanding Horizons: The Proposal to Expand the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park.

Guadarrama national park

On December 11 2023, the formal request for the expansion of the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park was made by the Community of Madrid. In October 2023, the Término del Paular farm in the municipality of Rascafría was acquired by the Community of Madrid. The motivation behind this purchase was its proximity to the national … Read more

Roe Deer and Wolves: A Shifting Ecological Balance in Guadarrama National Park

Roe deer – Capreolus capreolus – Corzo

The roe deer holds a special place in the Guadarrama National Park, not only for its beauty but also because it serves as a valuable indicator of human activities within the area. It is a living testament to the history of Guadarrama itself. There have been traces of this species dating back to the Middle and Upper Pleistocene in Pinilla del Valle, showcasing its presence in this region even during crucial Pleistocene refuges in the Sierra, which played a pivotal role in the species’ recovery after glacial periods.

Roe deer historically in the Sierra de Guadarrama

During the 17th century, roe deer populations across Europe suffered a significant decline due to deforestation, livestock farming, and intensive hunting. In the early 19th century, Graells was still hunting them throughout the Sierra de Guadarrama. (Mariano de la Paz Graells, a Spanish naturalist and biologist who lived during the 19th century. He was known for his contributions to the field of natural history and was involved in the study of various aspects of Spain’s flora and fauna during his time.)

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