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Agradecimientos El texto presentado se ha podido elaborar gracias al apoyo documental y técnico de María Villa, técnico responsable de la Carta Europea de Turismo Sostenible en el Parque Nacional y Parque Natural de Sierra Nevada y la colaboración desinteresada de las Empresas CETS Sierra Nevada que han participado en las entrevistas y encuestas realizadas proporcionando información valiosa., This article will study the usefulness of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Sierra Nevada as a tool to promote sustainable tourism in protected areas. It aims to show how the adoption of the CETS has led to a real involvement of companies with the territory, increasing the sense of belonging and active associationism, as well as to the implementation of collective and individual actions that contribute to improving environmental, economic, and social sustainability in the territories, to attract responsible tourists motivated by ecotourism and to the mitigation and adaptation of the territory to Climate Change., El presente artículo estudiará la utilidad de la Carta Europea de Turismo Sostenible de Sierra Nevada como herramienta para promover el turismo sostenible en espacios protegidos. Se pretende mostrar cómo la adopción de la CETS ha supuesto una implicación real de las empresas con el territorio incrementado el sentimiento de pertenencia y el asociacionismo activo, así como a la puesta en marcha de actuaciones colectivas e individuales que contribuyen a mejorar la sostenibilidad ambiental, económica y social en los territorios, a atraer turistas responsables motivados por el ecoturismo y a la mitigación y adaptación del territorio al Cambio Climático.

The presence of microplastics (MPs) has been studied so far in almost every Earth water ecosystem, with increasing attention paid to rivers and lakes, including some remote places. However, differences in MPs concentration and characterization among nearby lakes has rarely been examined. This work was carried out in the framework of the "74 High Mountain Glacial-Lake Oases" Citizen Science initiative. The main objective was to analyze the abundance of MPs in the surface of 35 glacial lakes of Sierra Nevada National Park in Southern Spain. After the sampling, MPs were extracted and qualitative parameters as the shape, size, color and nature of MPs were determined by using a stereomicroscope. In addition, the number and concentration of these particles were quantified and statistically related to some characteristics of the lakes and environmental variables. The main results showed that MPs were present in all lakes, with a maximum abundance of 21.3 particles/L. Fragments were the predominant shape (59.7%) followed by fibers (38.8%) and very scarce spheres. MPs 0.05), but the concentrations were related to the presence of meadows surrounding the lakes (p-value = 0.035). This result indicates a main anthropic origin of MPs in these lakes caused by outdoor and leisure activities of mountaineers, in addition to atmospheric transport which may provides a relevant source of MPs to all lakes. The great abundance of MPs in these remote lakes is a major concern that deserves further investigation and can serve as a base to improve regulations about waste management and to adopt stricter objectives to avoid the microplastic contamination in natural preserve areas. Also see: https://micro2022.sciencesconf.org/427223/document, In MICRO 2022, Online Atlas Edition: Plastic Pollution from MACRO to nano

El reducto glaciar del Corral del Veleta fue el más importante de los desarrollados en Sierra Nevada durante la Pequeña Edad del Hielo (PEH) permaneciendo visible hasta mediados del siglo xx. En la actualidad, solo perduran de él restos de hielos glaciares y permafrost bajo mantos de bloques. Su particular significado geomorfológico, ambiental e interés científico le otorgan un valor patrimonial relevante en el conjunto de los paisajes de cumbres del Parque Nacional de Sierra Nevada, lo que demanda su total conservación y preservación., The small glacier located in the Veleta cirque was the most important of those existing in Sierra Nevada during the Little Ice Age (LIA) and the only one persisting until the mid-20th century. At present, only patches of glacial ice and permafrost remain under the debris cover. The singular geomorphological, environmental and scientific interest of this cirque make it unique within the landscapes of the high lands of Sierra Nevada National Park, and justify the need to preserve it.

Después de un incendio forestal es común la retirada de la madera quemada, pero se sabe poco sobre cómo esta práctica afecta a la recolonización de la zona quemada por parte de especies del género Quercus como la encina. En un pinar de repoblación quemado de Sierra Nevada (sur de España) se estableció una parcela de 18 ha con tres tratamientos experimentales de la madera quemada: Extracción (corte y desramado de los árboles, con apilamiento de los troncos y astillado de las ramas), Ramas (corte del 90 % de los troncos, sin extracción) y Control (sin acciones). Dentro de esta parcela sobrevivieron algunos rodales de pinos (1.5 ha en total), y al lado de ella quedaron unos rodales de encinas (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota) productoras de bellotas desde donde se produjo dispersión biótica. En la parcela se monitoreó la emergencia, supervivencia y tamaño de plántulas de encina a lo largo de siete años. Se establecieron 801 plántulas de encina antes de la implementación de los tratamientos, ya por rebrote o dispersadas poco después del incendio. Después del manejo post-incendio emergieron 447 plántulas en toda la parcela, previsiblemente como consecuencia de la dispersión por arrendajos (Garrulus glandarius): el 62.9 % bajo los pinos vivos y el 37.1 % en el resto de la parcela. La emergencia fue mayor en el tratamiento Control en los primeros años. El factor tratamiento perdió importancia tras la paulatina caída de los árboles quemados, ya que en los últimos años la mayor parte de las bellotas fue dispersada hacia los rodales de pinos vivos. Estos rodales incrementaron la probabilidad de supervivencia pero redujeron el crecimiento, efecto posiblemente asociado a la competencia por nutrientes, luz y agua. Concluimos que pequeños núcleos de pinos que sobreviven un incendio, al igual que los árboles quemados durante los primeros años, pueden atraer dispersores de bellotas y que en el caso de los pinos vivos será necesaria una segunda perturbación para liberar a las encinas reclutadas de la competencia del dosel. Las prácticas de manejo post-incendio que favorezcan estas estructuras pueden favorecer la regeneración natural del ecosistema. The extraction of the burnt wood is a common practice after wildfire, yet its effects on the recolonisation by Quercus species are poorly known. We established an 18-ha plot in a burnt pine reforestation in Sierra Nevada (S Spain), with three experimental wood-management treatments: Salvage Logging (felling the trees, chopping off the main branches, piling the logs, and masticating the remaining branches), Partial Cut (felling 90 % of the trees without further actions), and Control (no actions taken). Some clusters of pines survived within the limits of the plot and were left standing (totalling 1.5 ha), and adjacent to the plot were some unburnt, acorn-producing Holm oaks (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota) from which biotic dispersal occurred. We monitored emergence, survival, and size of oak seedlings in the plot for seven years. We found 801 oak seedlings the first year, corresponding either to post-fire resprouts or to acorns dispersed right after the fire and before treatment implementation. After post-fire treatment implementation, 447 seedlings emerged throughout the plot, likely due to dispersal by European jays (Garrulus glandarius): 62.9 % under live pines and 37.1 % in the rest of the plot. Emergence was greatest in the control treatment during the first years. The treatment factor lost importance in later years, as acorn dispersal became more directed towards the live pines. Seedlings under pines had greater survival but lower growth, likely due to competition for nutrients, light, and water. We conclude that small patches of pines that survive a fire, as well as dead standing trees during the first years, can attract acorn dispersers and that, in case of the surviving pines, a second disturbance will be needed to release the recruited oaks from competition. Management practices that favour these structures can aid the natural recovery of the ecosystem. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales Comunidad de Madrid Ministerio de Ciencia, Cultura y Deporte

Después de un incendio forestal es común la retirada de la madera quemada, pero se sabe poco sobre cómo esta práctica afecta a la recolonización de la zona quemada por parte de especies del género Quercus como la encina. En un pinar de repoblación quemado de Sierra Nevada (sur de España) se estableció una parcela de 18 ha con tres tratamientos experimentales de la madera quemada: Extracción (corte y desramado de los árboles, con apilamiento de los troncos y astillado de las ramas), Ramas (corte del 90 % de los troncos, sin extracción) y Control (sin acciones). Dentro de esta parcela sobrevivieron algunos rodales de pinos (1.5 ha en total), y al lado de ella quedaron unos rodales de encinas (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota) productoras de bellotas desde donde se produjo dispersión biótica. En la parcela se monitoreó la emergencia, supervivencia y tamaño de plántulas de encina a lo largo de siete años. Se establecieron 801 plántulas de encina antes de la implementación de los tratamientos, ya por rebrote o dispersadas poco después del incendio. Después del manejo post-incendio emergieron 447 plántulas en toda la parcela, previsiblemente como consecuencia de la dispersión por arrendajos (Garrulus glandarius): el 62.9 % bajo los pinos vivos y el 37.1 % en el resto de la parcela. La emergencia fue mayor en el tratamiento Control en los primeros años. El factor tratamiento perdió importancia tras la paulatina caída de los árboles quemados, ya que en los últimos años la mayor parte de las bellotas fue dispersada hacia los rodales de pinos vivos. Estos rodales incrementaron la probabilidad de supervivencia pero redujeron el crecimiento, efecto posiblemente asociado a la competencia por nutrientes, luz y agua. Concluimos que pequeños núcleos de pinos que sobreviven un incendio, al igual que los árboles quemados durante los primeros años, pueden atraer dispersores de bellotas y que en el caso de los pinos vivos será necesaria una segunda perturbación para liberar a las encinas reclutadas de la competencia del dosel. Las prácticas de manejo post-incendio que favorezcan estas estructuras pueden favorecer la regeneración natural del ecosistema., The extraction of the burnt wood is a common practice after wildfire, yet its effects on the recolonisation by Quercus species are poorly known. We established an 18-ha plot in a burnt pine reforestation in Sierra Nevada (S Spain), with three experimental wood-management treatments: Salvage Logging (felling the trees, chopping off the main branches, piling the logs, and masticating the remaining branches), Partial Cut (felling 90 % of the trees without further actions), and Control (no actions taken). Some clusters of pines survived within the limits of the plot and were left standing (totalling 1.5 ha), and adjacent to the plot were some unburnt, acorn-producing Holm oaks (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota) from which biotic dispersal occurred. We monitored emergence, survival, and size of oak seedlings in the plot for seven years. We found 801 oak seedlings the first year, corresponding either to post-fire resprouts or to acorns dispersed right after the fire and before treatment implementation. After post-fire treatment implementation, 447 seedlings emerged throughout the plot, likely due to dispersal by European jays (Garrulus glandarius): 62.9 % under live pines and 37.1 % in the rest of the plot. Emergence was greatest in the control treatment during the first years. The treatment factor lost importance in later years, as acorn dispersal became more directed towards the live pines. Seedlings under pines had greater survival but lower growth, likely due to competition for nutrients, light, and water. We conclude that small patches of pines that survive a fire, as well as dead standing trees during the first years, can attract acorn dispersers and that, in case of the surviving pines, a second disturbance will be needed to release the recruited oaks from competition. Management practices that favour these structures can aid the natural recovery of the ecosystem., Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales, Comunidad de Madrid, Ministerio de Ciencia, Cultura y Deporte

18 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables, 1 plate, 93 references. This research is part of REDBOME (www.ugr.es/;redbome/) and GLOBIMED (www.globimed.net) networks on forest ecology., The ecological impacts of forest plantations are a focus of intense debate, from studies that consider plantations as "biological deserts" to studies showing positive effects on plant diversity and dynamics. This lack of consensus might be influenced by the scarcity of studies that examine how the ecological characteristics of plantations vary along abiotic and biotic gradients. Here we conducted a large-scale assessment of plant regeneration and diversity in plantations of southern Spain. Tree seedling and sapling density, plant species richness, and Shannon’s (H0) diversity index were analyzed in 442 pine plantation plots covering a wide gradient of climatic conditions, stand density, and distance to natural forests that act as seed sources. Pronounced variation in regeneration and diversity was found in plantation understories along the gradients explored. Low- to mid-altitude plantations showed a diverse and abundant seedling bank dominated by Quercus ilex, whereas high-altitude plantations showed a virtually monospecific seeding bank of Pinus sylvestris. Regeneration was null in plantations with stand densities exceeding 1500 pines/ha. Moderate plantation densities (500–1000 pines/ha) promoted recruitment in comparison to low or null canopy cover, suggesting the existence of facilitative interactions. Quercus ilex recruitment diminished exponentially with distance to the nearest Q. ilex forest. Richness and H0 index values showed a hump-shaped distribution along the altitudinal and radiation gradients and decreased monotonically along the stand density gradient. From a management perspective, different strategies will be necessary depending on where a plantation lies along the gradients explored. Active management will be required in highdensity plantations with arrested succession and low diversity. Thinning could redirect plantations toward more natural densities where facilitation predominates. Passive management might be recommended for low- to moderate-density plantations with active successional dynamics (e.g., toward oak or pine–oak forests at low to mid altitudes). Enrichment planting will be required to overcome seed limitation, especially in plantations far from natural forests. We conclude that plantations should be perceived as dynamic systems where successional trajectories and diversity levels are determined by abiotic constraints, complex balances of competitive and facilitative interactions, the spatial configuration of native seed sources, and species life-history traits., Financial support was provided by a Juan de la Cierva contract (2006-1342) to L. Gómez-Aparicio and the GESBOME project (RNM 1890) from the Excellence Research Group Programme of the Andalusian Government.

The ecological impacts of forest plantations are a focus of intense debate, from studies that consider plantations as "biological deserts" to studies showing positive effects on plant diversity and dynamics. This lack of consensus might be influenced by the scarcity of studies that examine how the ecological characteristics of plantations vary along abiotic and biotic gradients. Here we conducted a large-scale assessment of plant regeneration and diversity in plantations of southern Spain. Tree seedling and sapling density, plant species richness, and Shannon's (H') diversity index were analyzed in 442 pine plantation plots covering a wide gradient of climatic conditions, stand density, and distance to natural forests that act as seed sources. Pronounced variation in regeneration and diversity was found in plantation understories along the gradients explored. Low- to mid-altitude plantations showed a diverse and abundant seedling bank dominated by Quercus ilex, whereas high-altitude plantations showed a virtually monospecific seeding bank of Pinus sylvestris. Regeneration was null in plantations with stand densities exceeding 1500 pines/ha. Moderate plantation densities (500-1000 pines/ha) promoted recruitment in comparison to low or null canopy cover, suggesting the existence of facilitative interactions. Quercus ilex recruitment diminished exponentially with distance to the nearest Q. ilex forest. Richness and H' index values showed a hump-shaped distribution along the altitudinal and radiation gradients and decreased monotonically along the stand density gradient. From a management perspective, different strategies will be necessary depending on where a plantation lies along the gradients explored. Active management will be required in high-density plantations with arrested succession and low diversity. Thinning could redirect plantations toward more natural densities where facilitation predominates. Passive management might be recommended for low- to moderate-density plantations with active successional dynamics (e.g.;toward oak or pine-oak forests at low to mid altitudes). Enrichment planting will be required to overcome seed limitation, especially in plantations far from natural forests. We conclude that plantations should be perceived as dynamic systems where successional trajectories and diversity levels are determined by abiotic constraints, complex balances of competitive and facilitative interactions, the spatial configuration of native seed sources, and species life-history traits. © 2009 by the Ecological Society of America.