The National Park: Cabo cope-Puntas del Calnegre By Alejandra Gálvez Tornel

HISTORY Is a natural park protected in Lorca and in Águilas. The park now is threatened by the proyect of the Marina de Cope urbanisation. It was declared a natural park by the legislation of the Autonomous Community of Murcia. It is included within the SPA Sierra de la Almenara, mulberry and Cape Cope4 and is declared also as SCI(Site of Community Importance).

HABITATS There are 6 terrestrial habitats and 3 marine habitats: Banks of sand permanently coverd by seawater shallow. Sea cliffs vegetated of the Mediterranean coast. Meadows of sea grasses. Reefs. Mediterranean and thermo-Atlantic halophilous scrubs. Bushes halonitrófilos. Thermo riparian galleries and thickets. Scrub and thyme thermophiles, primarily semiarid. Arborescent bushes Zyziphus.

FAUNA Among the wildlife that lives in the park stands the Moorish turtle or eagle, which in Spain are considered endangered species. Also among the reptiles can find copies of natterjack toad, Iberian skink, colirroja eyed lizard or gecko. Among the birds can be found both prey like owls and falcons, like birds inside: lark, lark, curlew, Stonechat, Sardinian Warbler or poor trumpeter finch (found in the category of threat in the Iberian Peninsula ). Among marine species: gulls, shearwaters and shags. Among the mammals that inhabit the park are the fox, rabbit and wild boar.

FLORA There are many elements of the natural heritage botanist. The vascular flora has 322 species and subspecies, including Allium melananthum, conrnicales Periploca angustifolia, Salsola papillosa, jujube Ziziphus lotus, Plantago ovata ispágula, evergreens, orchids, tuera, zamarrillas, black hawthorn... Many of them considered of great interest and which are iberoafricanismos, surviving plants of the era in which Africa and Europe were united.

HERE SOME PHOTOS OF THE PARK

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