Protected areas
Liébana, the most protected region of Cantabria
Liébana has most of its surface area protected, almost 75% of the area of the region. It is, by far, the region with the highest percentage of protected area in Cantabria. Of the 8 municipalities that form it, Pesaguero and Tresviso have 100% of their surface area protected. Vega de Liébana and Camaleño, have around 75% of their surface area protected. Cillorigo, Cabezón de Liébana and Peñarrubia also have a large part of their surface area protected. The municipality of Potes, even though it is the capital of the region, has 25% of its surface area protected.
Liébana is the main entrance to the Picos de Europa National Park. Its well-preserved natural heritage has made it a destination for the practice of nature tourism and its modalities (active tourism and ecotourism) that is supported by its wide range of accommodations. The PNPE covers an area of 67,455.59 ha, of which 14,974.54 ha are in Liébana (land in the municipalities of Camaleño, Cillorigo de Liébana and the entire municipality of Tresviso). This territory is almost entirely included in the Liébana Special Conservation Area (ZEC ES1300001) and in the Liébana Special Protection Area for Birds (ZEPA ES0000198) of the Natura 2000 Network. It also overlaps with the scope of the Picos de Europa Biosphere Reserve.
The Liébana Special Area of Conservation is a set of mountain peaks over carboniferous limestones, sandstones and Paleozoic shales with subalpine formations, forests and scrublands of the Cantabrian high mountains that, among others, are home to the main populations of macro vertebrates in the region. It covers most of the brown bear habitat in Cantabria, while the Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA) is a refuge for emblematic species such as the brown partridge. These areas not only protect the native fauna, but also represent the commitment of the region to the preservation of its valuable natural heritage.
Liébana also stands out for including several areas of special protection for birds, such as the ZEPA Desfiladero de la Hermida (ES0000248) and Sierra de Peña Sagra (ES0000249). The former encompasses the best representation of the forest avifauna and of the alpine and subalpine floors of Cantabria, and is home to the last populations of Cantabrian capercaillie and good populations of ptarmigan, both sub-endemisms at the eastern limit of distribution in the Cantabrian Mountains. The Desfiladero de la Hermida SPA has rocky bird communities (large birds of prey and vultures, among others) in a good state of conservation and the presence of riverside communities and mountain pastures.
The rivers of Liébana are also protected areas of the Natura 2000 Network, as is the case of the Río Deva SAC, formed by the rivers of its basin, as well as the Bullón and Quiviesa rivers.
The Sierra de la Peña Sagra is the mountain range that closes Liébana to the east and is included in the SAC Valles Altos del Nansa y Saja y Alto Campo.