The candidacy for the Biosphere Reserve “Mariñas Coruñesas” was promoted by the Rural Development Association “Mariñas-Betanzos”, with the support of the Provincial Council of A Coruña and the Galician Government, as well as the seventeen municipalities that make up this territory.
The final approval of this Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO took place at the 25th Meeting of the International Coordinating Council of the MaB Program, held in Paris on May 28, 2013.
The “Mariñas Coruñesas” Biosphere Reserve covers a total of 116,724 ha (113,969.7 ha terrestrial and 2,754.6 ha marine), which represents 14.33% of the province of A Coruña’s surface area, distributed across 17 municipalities.
With this surface area, it is the second largest Biosphere Reserve in Galicia, and the largest in the province of A Coruña.
Municipalities that make up the “Mariñas Coruñesas” Biosphere Reserve: Abegondo, Aranga, Arteixo, Bergondo, Betanzos, Cambre, Carral, Coirós, Culleredo, Curtis, Irixoa, Miño, Oleiros, Oza-Cesuras, Paderne, Sada and Sobrado. Population (year 2015): 190,708 inhabitants.
OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY THE BIOSPHERE RESERVE
- Placing the "Mariñas Coruñesas" territory on the world map.
- Bring prestige to the territory, its businesses, and its products.
- Expand markets for products through quality brands.
- Recover traditional economic activities.
- Encourage and strengthen sustainable tourism initiatives.
- Generate training and education opportunities.
- Achieve international, national, and regional support for initiatives and projects linked to sustainable development and environmental conservation.
- Improve environmental conservation and information about natural resources.
NATURE
The territory of the Mariñas Coruñesas Biosphere Reserve is located among rivers, cliffs, and mountains. It is a sublittoral territory with an average altitude of 300 meters, where its coasts, valleys, and mountain ranges framed by the Mero and Mandeo river basins predominate.
The Mariñas Coruñesas occupies a total area of 116,724.3 hectares (113,969.7 ha terrestrial and 2,754.6 ha marine), distributed across 17 municipalities:
To make environmental improvement compatible with social and economic development, the area is divided into three zones:
They fulfill the conservation function. They are delimited around the Natura 2000 Network sites:
Costa de Dexo
Costa da Morte
Betanzos-Mandeo
Abegondo-Cecebre Reservoir
They function as protection areas for the Core Zone, where uses and activities are developed as examples of sustainable development.
They support the majority of populations and activities.
The Mariñas Coruñesas e Terras do Mandeo Biosphere Reserve (MCeTM) includes several protected natural spaces within its boundaries, such as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Natural Monuments and Special Protection Areas for Natural Values (SPNV).
The SACs are:
SIGNS OF IDENTITY
The history of Mariñas Coruñesas is closely linked to its geographical characteristics. The quality of its soils and its temperate climate with marine influence, featuring mild temperatures and moderate rainfall, as well as its strategic position near the city of A Coruña, orient agriculture towards fresh produce.
Outstanding high-quality garden produce includes: “Betanzos” tomatoes, onions, and cabbages; as well as seafood products (Lorbé mussels or sardines).
There are also traditional artisanal products, such as cheeses or Carral bread, to be enjoyed with a wine from the Betanzos region. They say it helps to better walk the paths: “[…] with bread and wine, the journey is made.”
The objectives of the Reserve are directed at recovering, in large part, the interrelationship between humans and nature, and showcasing all of its natural, historical, cultural, artistic, archaeological, ethnographic heritage and varied folklore, resulting from countless cultures.
Submitted candidacy
