{"id":2281,"date":"2020-01-10T17:55:41","date_gmt":"2020-01-10T16:55:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/bosques\/"},"modified":"2025-12-14T14:06:43","modified_gmt":"2025-12-14T13:06:43","slug":"forests-in-andalusia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/blog\/forests-in-andalusia\/","title":{"rendered":"Forests in Andalusia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em><strong>The domain of trees, our look-alikes &#8211; an invitation to connect with nature.<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/HO27C2F3_10493.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-419 lazyload\" title=\"\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1278\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/HO27C2F3_10493.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-419\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/HO27C2F3_10493.jpg 1278w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/HO27C2F3_10493-380x214.jpg 380w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/HO27C2F3_10493-800x451.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1278px) 100vw, 1278px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>The <a href=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/valle-del-genal\/\">Genal valley<\/a> has a formidable forest diversity.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The forest is the ecosystem where trees predominate. It constitutes the end of the ecological succession and is the <strong>most complex environment<\/strong> in terms of structure. The forest masses of Andalusia <g id=\"gid_1\">are located mainly in the mountain ranges and along the coast<\/g>, occupying land that is not very productive and therefore cannot be used for agriculture. To highlight the importance of two factors in explaining the appearance of Mediterranean terrestrial ecosystems: the presence of extensive livestock farming and fire.   <\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Andalusian forests are very varied<\/strong>, often with a lax tree density and incorporating abundant thickets and grasslands. The presence of <strong>junipers <\/strong><em>(Juniperus<\/em> spp) is a prominent feature of Mediterranean forests.   <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/i00782_1.jpg\" alt=\"rainbows over forests in Andalusia\" class=\"wp-image-3423 lazyload\" title=\"\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/i00782_1.jpg\" alt=\"rainbows over forests in Andalusia\" class=\"wp-image-3423\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/i00782_1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/i00782_1-380x253.jpg 380w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Magic of the forests in Andalusia.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Andalusia the forests are very attractive for their biodiversity, although few of them have preserved a natural character of mixed forest, such as the extraordinary <strong>forests of the Dehesa de <\/strong><strong>Camarate<\/strong> in Sierra Nevada and those of the<strong>Genal<\/strong> <strong>Valley <\/strong> in the Serran\u00eda de Ronda. On the other hand, it is worth mentioning the <strong>dehesa<\/strong>, a highly humanized ecosystem of agro-silvo-pastoral type present mainly in Sierra Morena.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Andalusia&#8217;s forests are dominated by <strong>oaks <\/strong><em>(Quercus <\/em>spp) and <strong>pines <\/strong><em>(Pinus<\/em> spp) complemented by other tree species.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P1110552-e1603404874874.jpg\" class=\"lazyload\" alt=\"Maritime pine forest (Pinus pinaster) and peridotite rocks\" title=\"Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) forest and a rock of peridotite\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P1110552-e1603404874874.jpg\" alt=\"Maritime pine forest (Pinus pinaster) and peridotite rocks\" title=\"Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) forest and a rock of peridotite\"><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Natural forest of Pinus pinaster pines (Pinus pinaster).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pine forests  <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; <strong>Salgare\u00f1o pine<\/strong><em>(Pinus salzmanii<\/em>),<strong>resin<\/strong> <strong>pine<\/strong><em>(Pinus pinaster<\/em>),<strong>slash<\/strong> <strong>pine<\/strong><em>(Pinus sylvestris<\/em>) and <strong>Spanish<\/strong><strong>fir <\/strong><em>(Abies pinsapo<\/em>). They grow in the middle and high mountains and constitute natural relict forests. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; <strong>Aleppo pine<\/strong><em>(Pinus halepensis<\/em>). Adapted to dry conditions and widely distributed throughout the region.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; <strong>Stone pine<\/strong><em>(Pinus pinea<\/em>). Coastal and low mountain thermophilic species.   <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/P1110805-e1603404686386.jpg\" class=\"lazyload\" alt=\"\" title=\"Quercus faginea\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/P1110805-e1603404686386.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"Quercus faginea\"><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>New foliage of gall oak (Quercus faginea).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Deciduous oak forests  <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; <strong>Quercus<\/strong><em>faginea<\/em><em>(Quercus <\/em><em>faginea<\/em>). It needs a mild and humid climate, mainly present in the sierras, usually in mixed forests. This species is semi-deciduous.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; <strong>Alpine gall oak<\/strong><em>(Quercus <\/em><em>faginea<\/em> <em>alpestris<\/em> = <em>Quercus <\/em><em>alpestris<\/em>). It forms a curious high altitude pasture in Sierra de Las Nieves up to 1 850 m.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; <strong>Andalusian oak<\/strong><em>(Quercus canariensis<\/em>). Iberian-Maghrebi endemism, it is the <em>Quercus <\/em>with the greatest demand for humidity and mild climate, especially present in the Campo de Gibraltar.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; <strong>Oaks <\/strong><em>(Quercus pyreanica<\/em>). Scarce, usually in mixed forests. Marcescent species that retains dead leaves during the winter.    <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P1210497.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3718 lazyload\" title=\"\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P1210497.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3718\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P1210497.jpg 800w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P1210497-380x253.jpg 380w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>The cork oak (Quercus suber) is an extraordinary tree due to its corky bark that is usually harvested in a cycle of 7-8 years.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Evergreen oak forests  <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Holm oak <\/strong><em>(Quercus ilex = Quercus ballota = Quercus rotundifolia<\/em>). The Iberian <em>Quercus <\/em>par excellence adapted to a wide range of climatic and soil conditions.   <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cork oak <\/strong><em>(Quercus suber<\/em>). It needs acid soils and more humidity than holm oak.   <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_2514-e1603406057786.jpg\" class=\"lazyload\" alt=\"\" title=\"IMG_2514\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_2514-e1603406057786.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"IMG_2514\"><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Wild olive trees (Olea europaea) offer an abundant and very vigorous fruiting of small olives in late autumn, which benefits the numerous wintering passerines (warblers, etc.).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Acebuchales  <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The wild olive <strong>tree <\/strong><em>(Olea sylvestris europaea<\/em>) is a very thermophilic species found in low altitude areas in Andalusia. It is nowadays restricted to uncultivated stony slopes and field borders.   <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_1911-e1579081358981.jpg\" class=\"lazyload\" alt=\"rivi\u00e8res, Guadiaro, Guadiaro, Guadalquivir, Genil, rhypisylve, for\u00eat riveraine, for\u00eat gallerie\" title=\"The people and the willows form dense and high forests on the banks of the largest rivers of Andalusia.\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_1911-e1579081358981.jpg\" alt=\"rivi\u00e8res, Guadiaro, Guadiaro, Guadalquivir, Genil, rhypisylve, for\u00eat riveraine, for\u00eat gallerie\" title=\"The people and the willows form dense and high forests on the banks of the largest rivers of Andalusia.\"><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Poplars and willows form dense and tall forests on the banks of the most important rivers in Andalusia.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Riverside forests<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These forests grow on the edge of permanent bodies of water, mainly rivers, and are limited by soil moisture and not so much by the surrounding climate. Their trees are usually <g id=\"gid_0\">fast-growing<\/g> and <g id=\"gid_1\">deciduous<\/g>. <strong>Poplars <\/strong><em>(Populus alba<\/em>) and <strong>willows <\/strong><em>(Salix alba, Salix<\/em> <em>fragilis<\/em>) form dense, tall forests around the more abundant rivers.   They are accompanied by <g id=\"gid_0\">poplars <\/g>( <g id=\"gid_1\">Populus<\/g> <g id=\"gid_2\">nigra<\/g>), <g id=\"gid_3\">ashes <\/g>( <g id=\"gid_4\">Fraxinus<\/g> <g id=\"gid_5\">excelsior<\/g>), <g id=\"gid_6\">elms <\/g>( <g id=\"gid_7\">Ulmus<\/g> <g id=\"gid_8\">minor<\/g>) and other small trees such as <g id=\"gid_9\">tamarisks <\/g>( <g id=\"gid_10\">Tamarix<\/g> spp), <strong>alders <\/strong>( <g id=\"gid_12\">Alnus glutinosa<\/g>), <g id=\"gid_13\">chaste trees <\/g>( <em>Vitex agnus castus<\/em>),        shrub <strong>willows <\/strong><em>(Salix<\/em> spp), <strong>oleanders <\/strong><em>(Nerium<\/em> <em>oleander<\/em>) and other shrubs. In these forests, there is an abundance and diversity of lianas, for example, the <strong>wild <\/strong> <strong>vine<\/strong><em>(Vitis<\/em> <em>vinifera<\/em>) or the <strong>sarsaparilla<\/strong><em>(Smilax<\/em> <em>aspersa<\/em>).   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The diversity of strictly forest birds is modest in Andalusia, although the presence of the <strong>Iberian Woodpecker<\/strong><em>(Picus <\/em><em>sharpei<\/em>) is noteworthy. However, large emblematic birds of prey nest in its forests, such as the <strong>Cinereous Vulture<\/strong><em>(Aegypius<\/em> <em>monachus<\/em>), <strong>Spanish Imperial Eagle<\/strong><em>(Aquila <\/em><em>adalberti<\/em>), <strong>Booted Eagle<\/strong><em>(Hieraetus<\/em> <em>pennatus<\/em>) and <strong>European Honey Buzzard<\/strong> (Hieraetus <em>pennatus<\/em>). <em><\/em><em>Pernis <\/em><em>apivorus<\/em>). Forests are also a refuge for <g id=\"gid_2\">large mammals<\/g> and <g id=\"gid_3\">forest bats<\/g>. Among the invertebrates, the <g id=\"gid_4\">insects <\/g>that degrade dead wood<g id=\"gid_5\">(saproxylophagous<\/g>) stand out, with numerous examples of very striking <g id=\"gid_6\">coleoptera <\/g>of the families Cerambycidae and Buprestidae. To conclude, the <strong>diversity of fungi<\/strong> reaches its maximum values in the forests, especially in the forests of Los Alcornocales.   <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/dog-walker-11.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-125 lazyload\" title=\"\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1349\" height=\"95\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/dog-walker-11.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-125\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/dog-walker-11.png 1349w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/dog-walker-11-380x27.png 380w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/dog-walker-11-800x56.png 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1349px) 100vw, 1349px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Marcescente<\/em><\/strong> <em>: t<\/em><em>\u00e9rm<\/em><em>ino<\/em> <em>used<\/em><em>  at  <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/es.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bot%C3%A1nica\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>botany<\/em><\/a> <em>for<\/em> <em>describe<\/em><em>  a  <\/em><em>those<\/em> <em>sheets<\/em><em>  from  <\/em><em>trees<\/em><em>  y  <\/em><em>shrubs<\/em> <em>deciduous<\/em><em>which, after  <\/em><em>see<\/em> <em>completed<\/em><em>  the  <\/em><em>period<\/em> <em>vegetative<\/em><em>  and with the  <\/em><em>change<\/em><em>  from  <\/em><em>color<\/em> <em>from<\/em> <em>foliage<\/em><em>,  <\/em><em>remain<\/em><em>  in the  <\/em><em>tree<\/em><em>  in its  <\/em><em>great<\/em> <em>majority<\/em> <em>during<\/em> <em>all<\/em><em>  the  <\/em><em>station<\/em> <em>cold<\/em><em>  (<\/em><em>autumn<\/em><em>  e  <\/em><em>winter<\/em><em>)  <\/em><em>to<\/em> <em>practically<\/em><em>  the  <\/em><em>output<\/em><em>  of the  <\/em><em>new<\/em> <em>sheets<\/em><em>  in the  <\/em><em>next<\/em> <em>spring<\/em><em>. _ <\/em><em>trees<\/em><em> that <\/em> <em>are<\/em><em>often<\/em> <em>characterized<\/em> <em>by<\/em><em> this <\/em><em>phenomenon<\/em><em> are<\/em><em>oaks<\/em><em><\/em>)<em>.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The ancient and tortuous <strong>pines (P. salzmanii)<\/strong> of the Sierra de Cazorla are part of my list of <strong>zen landscapes<\/strong> of Andalusia that especially touched me. Especially because they are populated by <g id=\"gid_2\">grasshoppers, excessively discreet because they are nocturnal and arboreal<\/g>, but sometimes super abundant. What memories!  <\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The dominance of trees, our plant \u2018sibblins\u2019 &#8211; an invitation to connect with nature. Forests in Andalusia (woodlands ecosystems).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":26594,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[594],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ecosystems-in-andalusia"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2281","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2281"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2281\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26594"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}