The desert steppe of Monegros hosts the largest biodiversity in Europe in a spectacular African scenery. From the Dupont’s lark to the great bustard including African migratory birds and birds that live on the steppe, a huge variety of species can be observed there.
Monegros has a surface area of 276.500 hectares and is the largest desert steppe in Europe. Its habitat, unique in Europe, displays the biggest biodiversity on the continent with 5.400 different species; a large number of the species are endemic and every year new species are found there. The lack of water and excessive sunshine are the two main factors that oblige plants and animals to adapt seriously to survive; so it is extremely important to save water, this rare and precious element. It is also the reason why local people consider the Monegros as « a part of Africa in Europe ».
However, it is considered that this impressive landscape is the result of human action all along the millenniums. Iberians, Romans, Visigoths, Arabs are the civilizations that have succeeded and have left their trace; a lot of archeological deposits are the testimony of it.
Nowadays, this singular landscape is formed by a patchwork of steppes, salt areas, ravines, lagoons, hills and wheat fields. Often, the only trees there for miles around are junipers thurifères; but the golden eagles find a place to nest on them, on this lonely dry plain.
The Ebro River crosses this arid landscape without losing a drop of its precious water: its narrow banks clash with the vast dry areas of gypsum. A few scattered pools, known to the shepherds and their flocks, represent a real oasis for the wild fauna.
For this reason, the amount of birds is exceptional: 308 species of birds have been observed (Kees, Woutersen & Maarteen Platteeuw, 1998) of these, 141 were nesting (J.L. Tella y D. Serrano, 1999).
A wintering area for the nesting birds from the North of Europe, a reproduction area for a large number of birds from Africa, a stop-over place for the great transition of migratory birds between Europe and Africa, crossing the strait of Gibraltar, but also the permanent habitat of the birds of the steppes. The Monegros is a privileged region for birds and a paradise for the ornithologists. The presence of 5 special protection zones (ZPS) of the European bird directive proves its importance.
Even if the most well-known species of this region is the great bustard, (imposing because of its great size, it is the largest bird that can fly), the real star is the Dupont’s lark which we can find in this location and in a very small area in Maghreb.
