Artikutza is a natural area located in Navarra, with one of the highest precipitation rates on the Iberian peninsula and dominated by beech forests. A large part of the area was bought by the council of Donostia / San Sebastian in 1919 as a water reserve to secure the city’s water supply.Thanks to its rainfall and being protected from logging and other activities since then, the area is now a hotspot for biodiversity, including microorganisms such as fungi. The soil here also retains high amounts of carbon, providing an important ecosystem service. Some of SMEG’s members had the pleasure to visit Artikutza as part of the CONDEGRES2015 conference to learn about its ecology and enjoy its beauty.
Photos by Anders Lanzén
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Importantly for the ecology, fallen trees and other litter is left on the forest floor
