El Pardo is a forested area located in the North of Madrid. Occupies an area of 16,000 hectares, which makes it the great green lung of the community of Madrid and at the same time, a place of reference for those locals who wish to enjoy nature and outdoor routes. However, due to its environmental richness and its close historical relationship with the Spanish monarchy, more than 90% of such extension is considered special protection under the management of national heritage area and its access is completely restricted by one fence surrounding the perimeter of 90 kilometers in length.

This fact causes that in recent years has been questioned by various sectors of society the opening to the public of all “el monte de El Pardo” Would it be possible? What consequences could I have? Is it really so important to preserve an ecosystem as well, preventing the access of persons?

Since its inception “el monte de El Pardo” has been considered as “the lung” of Madrid by different generations. However, this designation has also a scientific basis since it is located to the Northwest of the city, where come precisely from the Highlands and mountain fresh winds that drag the clouds of pollution is trying to hold on to the sky from the City.

“El Monte de El Pardo” is regarded as one of Europe’s best-preserved Mediterranean forests, mainly composed of meadow Oaks, but they are also very recognizable, among 120 types of plant species identified there, pines, Cork oaks, ash trees, poplars, Juniper and Cistus.

It is also an interesting place from the point of view of wildlife, as in many species of birds inhabit (is included as an area of special protection for birds (ZEPA) in the Natura 2000 European network). Spanish imperial Eagle, for example, that there are only some 60 individuals in the world, has a nesting and, above all, young people wintering area in El Pardo. In addition, there are other types of Eagles, as the real and other smaller in El Pardo: “calzada” and “Perdicera”. Another amazing example of the wildlife value of El Pardo is the cinereous Vulture, which is the European bird of larger, also in danger of extinction, and has in the Brown one of their last refuges. Finally, there is a wide variety of reptiles and of larger animals, such as rabbits, deer, fallow deer and wild boar.

“El Monte de El Pardo”, besides having all this environmental wealth, is a unique location around the world being situated a few kilometers from a great city like Madrid.

According to many experts, although in the past 50 years the rich fauna of El Pardo has been slightly reduced with the disappearance of some species such as bear, Wolf, Otter and Lynx, this remains very remarkable, rare species to exist as cranes or black storks, and a huge number of herbivores as fallow deer, deer and wild boar. This good state of preservation is due mainly to establishment of a reserved and protected area and to the limitations on public transit. The majority of experts who have dedicated themselves to the study of this site agree that the only way to preserve the ecosystem of El Pardo, in particular some of the habitats and species which the European Union is committed to protect the Natura 2000 network, it is maintaining privacy and if possible, improving existing protection measures.

Many people will think that this fact leads to deprive fans of nature and to the realization of paths either on foot or by bike from the enjoyment of a unique landscape around the world. However, it is important to highlight that in the free access area to the public there are numerous ecological paths and viewpoints that make possible the enjoyment of all these species walk Madrid.