Background The Ordunte Mountains in the Basque Autonomous Region have been designated a Natura 2000 protected area because of their wealth of important habitat types, including: The only active blanket bog in the Basque region, representing the southern boundary for this type of habitat in Europe and the eastern boundary for the Iberian Peninsula; The largest area of peatland enclaves in the Basque region; A matrix of pastures formed by mountain grasslands with matgrass (Nardus stricta ) and dry moors used by bovine and equine livestock; Natural woodlands containing acidophilic beech and Pyrenean oak forest characteristic of a fundamentally siliceous location; and Alders on ravines and banks hosting populations of paleotropical ferns of community interest: Woodwardia radicans and Trichomanes speciosum . However, several negative pressures are seriously threatening the conservation and permanence of the most characteristic habitats in this SCI, particularly extensive unregulated farming. Changes to sheep management practices and the use of heavier species have caused trampling and shepherding patterns that are difficult to withstand in certain enclaves. The traditional use of fires to create pasture has diminished woodland and bush areas, leading to ground deterioration and impoverishment. A major fire in the 1980s significantly damaged the blanket bog (Zalama bog), completely burning 40% of the peat. Such fires have caused two major negative effects: Increased speed of erosive processes washing peat and water down the mountain slopes. These processes were already strong because of the sandy substratum, high precipitation, constant wind, and trampling by livestock and hikers; and Homogenisation of indigenous woodlands, reducing their capacity for regeneration. More recently, a rapid expansion in exotic forest species has decreased the area of natural woodland. Objectives The project aims to maintain and/or restore the “favourable” conservation status of habitats and species of Community importance in the Ordunte SCI. It seeks to work together with different specialists to improve long-term sustainable management of the area, also attending to socio-economic needs. Specific actions will focus on: Restoring the blanket bog habitat, by stabilising its perimeter area; bank regeneration; and the correction of certain impacts on the channels through which it drains; Promoting sustainable pasture use, by introducing livestock management guidelines; and protecting the fens-Sphagnum habitats in the Salduero-Pozonegro pastureland; Promoting natural woodland recovery, by eliminating pine and eucalyptus plantations with less production use, to allow the recovery of acidophilic beech; improving the structural complexity of the Pyrenean oak forest and its resilience, favouring the passage from "scrubland" to "selection forest", with high and vigorous trees, different age classes and seed regeneration; eliminating pine trees from the shores according to the needs of each stretch to enable the natural recovery of riverside alder groves; and creating an inventory of populations of Woodwardia radicans and Trichomanes speciosum present at the Ordunte SCI and establishing basic criteria for the restoration and maintenance of their habitat; and Promoting the socio-economic development of the area, by boosting public use of the area, in ways compatible with the conservation of the SCIs natural resources; and raising awareness about the natural values of the location and what is involved in becoming part of the Natura 2000 network. Expected results The project expects to consolidate the relationship between experts in hygro-peat bog habitats and forestry habitat management within the Natura 2000 network and deliver the following specific results: Recovery of blanket bog habitat by: stabilising 1 ha of perimeter blanket bog; recovering 2000 m2 of still exposed bank with geotextiles; and achieving near total coverage of the recovered bank (0.6 ha) with native flora; Achieving sustainable pasture use by reducing livestock pressure on Salduero-Pozonegro fens-Sphagnum by at least 50%; and creating five water troughs, five scratching posts, salt points and five shade areas for livestock; improving 200 ha of pastures outside hygro-peat bog enclaves, to support and improve livestock activity in the area; demarcating and signposting 5 km of roads so that vehicles avoid crossing the fens-Sphagnum; and introducing good livestock practices; Recovery of natural woodland by clearing of pine and eucalyptus plantations from 209 ha of potential beech forest area (a 27.3% increase in the surface area of habitat 9120); improving the structural complexity of 51 ha of Pyrenean oak forest; recovery of 10 ha of alder groves near SCI Ordunte streams; and the location and inventory of new populations of Woodwardia radicans and Trichomanes speciosum at SCI siliceous ravines; and Promoting socio-economic development of the area by the refurbishment of the 20 km Peñalarga path with signs, viewpoints and information points; increased public and educational use of the area, including information points at specific sites; and a specific communications plan to raise awareness of the natural values of the site, the project and the Natura 2000 network in general.