Meseta Iberica Biosphere Reserve (Portugal)

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 2015, in Portugal. The Meseta Ibérica Transboundary Biosphere Reserve lies along the northern border of Spain and Portugal. It includes a wide variety of landscapes, orographic features and land uses. Altitudes range from 100 m to 2,000 m above sea level. The area contains many flagship species, some of which have been the subject of conservation projects, such as the black stork (Ciconia nigra), Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Bonelli’s eagle (Aquila fasciata), Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo), European otter (Lutra lutra) and Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus). The area also includes built heritage dating back to Roman times and the Middle Ages. The remains of forts, castles and walled enclosures in localities bear witness to frequent wars between Spanish and Portuguese kingdoms during the Middle Ages. The cultural heritage is notable in the architecture, customs, traditions and folklore.