Montseny has been a UNESCO nature reserve since 1978 comprising some 30,000 hectares. It was named Nature Park of Catalonia in 1977. Its unique geography and range of altitudes (from 200m to 1,700m above sea level) support an enormous diversity of animal and plant species.
Flora
Mediterranean forests:
Holm oak, cork, white pine, stone pine, maritime pine, scrubland and other Mediterranean shrubs. The trees are evergreens that conserve their leaves year round and optimise their resources by having small leaves, protective thorns or hard surfaces.
Central European forests:
Beech, oak, chestnut, mixed deciduous trees (fir trees, red pine and/or white pine) and boxwood shrubs. All the trees have wide and fairly soft leaves that fall in autumn, as well as a clear undergrowth dominated by herbaceous plants.
Shrubs and meadows:
Most often they’re plant communities made up of bushes, shrubs and herbs that are found in open spaces in the highest parts of the nature park. You can find scrubland, brushwood and grassland, among others.
Fauna
270 species of vertebrates
and more than 9000 invertebrates.
The wild boar, fox and the common dormouse are some of the most well-known mammals; the goshawk, Eurasian jay or robin are among the most common birds. You’ll also find (but please don’t touch!) various types of amphibian, reptile and fish.
The red frog, the Montseny newt (the only species of vertebrate endemic to Catalonia) or the water shrew are also present. Other species typically found across Central Europe include the hare, the dormouse, the alpine water pipit, the bullfinch, the green lizard and the Pyrenean viper.
Source: Information taken from: Parc Natural del Montseny · Reserva de la biosfera – GUIA DE FLORA bàsica. Authors: Marc Marí, Daniel Guinart and Narcís Vicens. Diputació de Girona, 2009, ISBN: 978-84-96747-35-2