The Atlas identifies different "evolution pathways" where forests recover at varying rates depending on local soil and climate.
Currently, the story has entered a new chapter: . As traditional agriculture is abandoned, the "Atlas Forestal" tracks the progressive evolution of shrublands back into dense woodlands. Atlas Forestal
Research within the Atlas reveals that the region's forests were once far more diverse. Thousands of years ago, species like the (European Black Pine) and Pinus sylvestris were widely distributed across the Northern Meseta. These forests served as crucial refugia during climate shifts, housing species that are now restricted to high mountain enclaves. 2. A Millennial Story of Deforestation Research within the Atlas reveals that the region's
The (specifically the Atlas Forestal de Castilla y León ) tells a "deep story" of the Iberian landscape that spans thousands of years, moving from ancient, untouched wilderness to a landscape heavily shaped by human survival and industry. 1. The Ancient "Refuge" (The Holocene Story) the expansion of agriculture
What we see today as a "natural" Mediterranean landscape is actually a "design" resulting from a millennial interaction between humans and ecological systems.
By analyzing charcoal and wood remains in sites like "Las Quintanas," researchers have reconstructed forest changes dating back to the Celtiberian and Roman eras (5th century BC to 1st century AD). 3. The Modern Rebound: Abandonment and Evolution
The "deep story" identified by the Atlas is largely one of sustained deforestation . Over centuries, the expansion of agriculture, livestock grazing, and the demand for timber for the Spanish Navy and industrialization stripped the plains of their original canopy.