Agreement between the Camargo City Council and the Fundación Naturaleza y Hombre

The reserve corresponds to an old quarry, next to which a mass of holm oak trees develops. It is known as the Cantera de Bilbao and it is located in the town of Escobedo, specifically in the neighbourhood known as Barrio Alto.

At present, the Escobedo Holm Oak Reserve and Quarry of Bilbao is an area that is characterized by having had a limestone quarry, which is currently closed and, after the abandonment of this extraction activity, has a considerable degree of naturalization and has been adapted for sport climbing.

The holm oak forest stands out for its high ecological value. It is an adult forest with large trees, which has managed to survive in a territory where the development of plantations with eucalyptus species has proliferated rapidly. Species such as the bay tree or strawberry tree, typically associated with the holm oak, appear, and masses of eucalyptus are relegated to the rockiest areas.

This reserve represents one of the ecosystems of the Cantabrian coast that has been most affected by the extraction processes, which is why its ecological and heritage value is so high. In addition, it is a habitat that intrinsically favours an increase in biodiversity.

Collaborators:

• Camargo City Council