COUNTRY France/Spain

NAME Massif Mont Perdu-Tres Serols (French proposal, 1995); Monte Perdido: Circos y Cañones (Spanish proposal, 1997); Mont Perdu/Gavarnie (management charter, including in the Spanish proposal); Pyrenees-Mont Perdu (IUCN 1997)

IUCN MANAGEMENT CATEGORY II

Parc National des Pyrénées Occidentales: II

Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido: II

Natural World Heritage Site - Criteria - i, iii

Cultural World Heritage Site - Criteria - iii, iv, v

BIOGEOGRAPHICAL PROVINCE 2.16.6 (Iberian Highlands)

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION Situated in the Central Pyrénées mountain range on the international boundary between France and Spain. 42°38'N, 0°10'W. In France, to the North, it is located in the Hautes-Pyrénées Department in the Midi-Pyrénées Region. The southern part of it, in Spain, includes the municipalities of Torla, Fanlo, Tella-Sin, Puértolas, Bielsa y Broto in the Huesca Province of the Autonomous Community of Aragón

DATE AND HISTORY OF ESTABLISHMENT The nominated site includes two bordering national parks: the entire Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park in Spain and the eastern part of Pyrénées Occidentales National Park in France. These were established by Spanish Royal Decree of 1918 (extended from 2,100ha to 15,608 in 1982) and by the French Governmental Decree on 1967, respectively. The Spanish National Park received the Council of Europe European Diploma category A in 1,988, which was renewed in 1993, it has also been established as a Special Protection Area under the 1979 Birds Directive. It includes the core area (8,116ha) of the Ordesa-Viñamala Reserve (51,396ha), which was internationally recognised as a Biosphere Reserve in 1977. Viñamala National Hunting Reserve was established in 1966 and it is coincidental with Ordesa-Viñamala Biosphere Reserve. In France the Gavarnie, Troumouse and Estaubé "Site Classé" (Classified Reserve) was established in 1941. There is a buffer zone surrounding the nominated site which includes to the north the remaining area of the Gavarnie, Troumouse and Estaubé "Sitre Classé" (France) and in Spain: to the west the remaining area of the Viñamala National Hunting Reserve, coincidental with Ordesa-Viñamala Biosphere Reserve; to the south two buffer zones of the Spanish national park; and to the east another buffer zone and the Los Circos National Hunting Reserve established in 1966. A Cooperation Charter between France and Spain was signed in September 1988. Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1997 and modified in 1999.

AREA The site covers an area of 31,189ha, of which 20,134ha are in Spain: the entire "Ordesa y Monte Perdido" National Park (15,608ha), and a buffer zone of 4,526ha; and 11,055ha in France: the eastern part of Pyrénées Occidentales National Park (7,451ha) and part of Gavarnie "Site Classé" (3,559ha).

LAND TENURE In France mainly owned by the communities of the Barèges and Aure valleys and in Spain mainly by the municipal governments of the five localities included. There are also some State and private ownership. (España-France, 1997)

ALTITUDE From 600m to 3,352m (Monte Perdido/Mont Perdu)

PHYSICAL FEATURES The site, a limestone massif, is a mountain landscape with lakes, waterfalls, rocky outcrops, glacial cirques and canyons. The four glacial cirques: Gavarnie, Estaubé, Troumouse and Baroude are located to the north; to the south there are three canyons and a gorge: Ordesa, Añisclo, Pineta and Escuaín. Three distinct geomorphological regions are found. First, in the north, three convergent valleys are surmounted by crests oriented north-south comprising schistose and sandstone. The cirques of Estaubé and Troumouse are separated in the south-east by a crest dominated by Munia Peak (3,133m). The second region comprises a line of steep limestone steps stretching for 20km, most of the summits of which are higher than 3,000m. Third, high sandstone and schistose plateaus, at about 2,000m are found to the south-west of the "Tres Serols". (AMPPM, 1995).

CLIMATE Altitude and topography significantly affect the local climate. The two main climate regimes are oceanic climate to the north and a continental perimediterranean climate to the south side. Average annual temperature is 5°C, mean winter temperature in February is -1°C and the mean during the summer (July) is 12°C. Rainfall varies from 900mm to 2,000mm, annual mean rainfall is 1600mm. Seasonal distribution of rainfall is approximately winter (16%), spring (30%), summer (22%), and autumn (32%).

VEGETATION Five vegetation types have been described: submediterranean, collinean, montane, subalpine and the alpine type. The submediterranean type is mostly found in valleys in the south and is dominated by Quercus ilex rotundifolia in rocky sites, and Quercus faginea in deep soils. The collinean vegetation is dominated by Quercus sessiliflora The montane areas are characterised by beech Fagus sylvatica, Abies alba and Pinus sylvestris. Ramonda myconi, endemic to the Pyrénées,is found in this habitat and others species such as the Pyrenean saxifrage Saxifraga longifolia, Antirrhinum sempervirens and Pinguicula longifolia occur in the same habitat. The subalpine vegetation is dominated by black mountain pine Pinus uncinata, Vicia argentea (R) and the endemic Borderea pyrenaica. The alpine area holds a high proportion of endemic species to the Pyrénées, including Saxifraga iratiana and Androsace pyrenaica (AMPPM, 1995). The flora includes more than 1,500 species, of which 50 are Pyrenean endemic species (España-Francia, 1997).

FAUNA The site supports many species typical of the Pyrénées. Mammals include the marmot Marmota marmota, Mustela erminea, ungulates such as Capreolus capreolus and Rupicapra p. pyrenaica, with the population estimated at 800 individuals, and Spanish ibex Capra p. pyrenaica now only three female individuals. A small brown bear Ursus arctos population remains in the Pyrenees, but not in the nominated area. The insectivorous Pyrenean desman Galemys pyrenaicus, occurs in lowland elevation. The avifauna includes Lammergeyer Gypaetus barbatus, in decline throughout Europe, Bonelli's Eagle Hieraëtus fasciatus, Lagopus mutus, Tetrastes bonasia, Tetrao urogallus, Pyrrhocorax graculus, Parus palustris, Certhia familiaris, Tichodroma muraria, Oenanthe oenanthe, Phoenicurus ochrurus, Prunella collaris, Anthus s. spinoletta, and Montifringilla nivalis. Reptiles include the montane lizard Archaeolacerta bonnali, restricted to high elevations. Among the amphibians, species of interest include Euproctus asper, Rana temporaria and R. pyrenaica. Other noteworthy fauna include cave- dwelling species such as a collembolan Tricanthella frigida, an endemic found in Gavarnie cirque at 2,500m, and coleopteran Tipnus unicolor and Speonomus bolivari (AMPPM, 1995).

CULTURAL HERITAGE There are human settlements in the area since the Palaeolithic (40,000-10,000 BC). The Massif has played a major role in the communication between Spanish and French communities bordering the site. Cultural similarities are found in both sides of the nominated area, especially the use of terraces. Striking terraces and cultural monuments constitute a significant symbol of past occupation in the region.

LOCAL HUMAN POPULATION Socio-economic activities have declined during last 50 years, although transhumant grazing still occur, with livestock being grazed on the massif in summer. The only two economic activities occurring the nominated site are related to grazing and trekking (España-Francia, 1997).

VISITORS AND VISITOR FACILITIES A total of two million tourists visit the site each year. Two places are most visited, Torla in Spain, and Gavarnie village in France. The Cirque de Gavarnie is a glacial amphitheatre with a rock-face popular with climbers, and with one of the highest waterfalls (423m) in the Pyrénées. Measures have been taken to limit visitor pressure, especially those using cars, in order to encourage pedestrians to visit the protected areas. In general, entrance to the site is controlled by national park managers. Four mountain refuges are available between 2,000 and 2,600m altitude: Góriz in Spain; La Brèche- Boucharo, Les Espuguettes and Barroude in France. Other accommodation is available in villages and two hotels outside the site.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND FACILITIES According to the Cooperation Charter, two species are considered of particular research interest: Rupicapra p. pyrenaica, and Capra p. pyrenaica (AMPPM, 1995). No further information is available.

CONSERVATION VALUE The site represents a exceptional geophysical landscape. Around 20km of Pyrenean mountains cross the site from west and north-west to east and south-east. The massif play a hydrographical role as a watershed, and contains important and spectacular cirques. The site has served as a refuge during glacial periods, leading to a high degree of endemism in fauna and flora. Many species are restricted to Monte Perdido such as Saxifraga iratiana and Androsace pyrenaica, Rupicapra p. pyrenaica, Capra p. pyrenaica, and Rana pyrenaica.

CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT The conservation plan is oriented towards limiting road construction and vehicle use. Farming is recognised as an integrated activity for local communities. Other programmes include the management of the large numbers of visitors to the site.

Management plans: Spain: Plan Rector de Uso y Gestión del Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido, approved in 1995 by Royal Decree; France: Plan d'Amenagement approved in 1990, to be reviewed and approved in 1997 (España-Francia, 1997).

MANAGEMENT CONSTRAINTS An estimated two million tourists visit the site each year. Activities include hiking, riding, climbing, skiing and fishing. According to reports in the IUCN Bear Specialist Group Newsletter, restrictions of hunting and limitations on motorised vehicles have not been welcomed by local people and hunters.

STAFF The French national park has a Director and a Deputy Director managing seven technical staff (scientific, development, grazing and communication), seven administrative staff and 34 rangers in charge of vigilance and guidance. The Spanish national park has a Conservation Director managing a staff of two technicians (Deputy Director and Head of Conservation), four administrative staff and 12 rangers (España-Francia, 1997).

BUDGET The budget for each national park, excluding the budget for personnel, is approximately:

P.N.P.: 14 millions FF

P.N.O.M.P.: 300 millions Pts.

Additional budget is provided to the local municipalities to implement conservation measures in the buffer zone by the Estate in Spain and by the State and the Regional government in France (Eapaña-Francia, 1997).

LOCAL ADDRESSES

In France:

At national level:

Ministère de l'Environnement - Direction de la Nature et des Paysages. 20, avenue de Ségur. 75007 Paris.

At local level:

Parc National Français des Pyrénées Occidentales. 59, rue de Pau. 65000 Tarbes.

In Spain:

At national level:

Ministerio de Medio Ambiente - Organismo Autónomo Parques Nacionales. Gran Vía de San Francisco, 4. 28071 Madrid.

At regional level:

Consejería de Agricultura y Medio Ambiente. Gobierno de Aragón. Edificio Pignatelli. 50071 Zaragoza.

At local level:

Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido, Plaza de Cervantes, 5. 22071 - Huesca.

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DATE January 2000