Portal de Turismo de Castilla y León

Welcome to the Amogable Forest Classroom.

As with the other park houses located all over the region of Castile and Leon, this is the recommended gateway to these natural areas. You will be given information about the Nature Reserve in this interpretation centre and help with planning your visit.

It provides information on iconic species and habitats to help you identify and appreciate the cultural and natural heritage in these places in a respectful way, and by doing so foster the conservation and appreciation of biodiversity and cultural heritage.

This is a thematic centre focusing on forest management in Castile and Leon and forestry in the Pinar Grande forest, where the Classroom is located. It aims to present this forest management and the related cultural heritage to the general public in an appealing and educational way, as it has determined the way of life of the people of the region of Pinares Soria-Burgos, and to foster the conservation and appreciation of the natural heritage and cultural heritage that our forests are home to.

The Classroom is located in the heart of the Pinar Grande Forest, which belongs to Soria Municipal Council and the Municipal Association of the 150 villages, near the municipality of Navaleno. This town, with about 750 inhabitants, is located in the Pinares Bajos region, at 1,117 metres above sea level. It is located between the Urbión and Resomo mountain ranges to the north, the Nafria mountain range to the south, and the Cabrejas mountain range to the east.

The Classroom is located inside a two-storey building that was once the home of the engineer of the El Amogable forestry centre.

To reach the classroom, walk about 200 metres from the car park along a dirt and gravel road surrounded by pine trees.

When you arrive at the building, you will find yourself at a fork that takes you to the Amogable Classroom to the left, or to the Adventure Park to the right.

Before you enter, you will find some picnic areas in front of the house. Go to the centre and go into the middle lobby, push the door and enter.

As you enter, there is a counter with the green store on the left wall, where you can purchase typical local products or a souvenir of your visit.

On the right is the reception desk, where the staff of the Classroom will assist you and help you plan your visit. You will find the lift as you pass the counter.

Go towards the corridor on the left wall to begin your visit.

You will find a panel showing several maps of Soria, the towns in the area and the Urbión mountains, with different colours indicating the different forest species found in the region.

In nature, species choose specific habitats to form ecosystems. Forests are complex and full of diversity, and are examples of these interactive environments.

Did you know that 118 different species of vertebrates live in the forests of Castile and Leon? The region is one of the most biodiverse in Europe, with types of forest influenced by their geographical location, altitude, climate and soil characteristics, defining the ecosystem's conditions.

On the next wall, there is another panel that discusses water and the key role it plays.

Forests depend on rainfall, and any failure would force the forest population to migrate. Water plays a crucial role in the lives of plants and animals, and a lack of it or long-term pollution could lead to a catastrophe. Forests have a positive effect on the water cycle by retaining water and releasing it slowly, nourishing springs and aquifers. They also act as natural filters and create a humid microclimate. Overexploitation, fires and the misuse of water resources are critical problems that require collective efforts and solutions.

Move on to the next panel. In the middle is a window that shows the forest surrounding the classroom.

The panel to the right of the window discusses the forest climate.

It is the most important variable in the organisation of ecosystems. The key factor that defines a climate is the amount of rainfall, although temperature and wind also play a role.

Opposite you, on the right hand wall, the panel provides information about the types of soil that can be found in this region, how their different characteristics influence the vegetation.

Two different types of soils, one acidic and one alkaline, with plants in them, are on display at the bottom of the panel.

Soil formation begins with the gradual erosion and decomposition of the base rock by meteorological agents. The roots of plants and animals also wear down the rocks. The contribution of organic matter and the presence of plant communities define the soil's physical characteristics and depth. Analysing the properties of the soil is essential when making decisions about successful reforestation. Direct sunlight also influences the growth of plants, and determines which species will do best in sunny or shaded areas. This is shown in a diagram on the left of the panel.

Wild pines can be found on the top of a mountain; rowan, oak and holm oak trees on the sunny side, and beech trees in the shade.

Continue down the corridor.

The species that have adapted most occupy areas that are favourable for them as environmental conditions change. However, trees cannot live above certain altitudes due to the adverse cold and blizzard conditions. Only certain species of shrubs and grasses can survive beyond these limits. The lack of precipitation in lowland and continental areas creates arid areas. Although warm and cold zones may appear to be similar, they contain different flora due to variations in their temperature.

There is an interactive display case below the panel measuring about 70 centimetres, with buttons to find out more about the different types of forests. When you press them, a light in a drawing comes on to show which forest it refers to.

Each of these forests can be found in Castile and Leon.

Opposite the interactive display, there is another panel with a map of the distribution of forests and information about the Pyrenean oak, the maritime pine and the sessile juniper, three of the most important trees in Castile's forests.

The Pyrenean oak or Mediterranean oak has lobed velvety leaves that stay dry on the tree all winter and fall in the spring, giving way to tender shoots. Its acorns are an essential source of food for forest fauna.

The maritime pine has dark bark, long needles and large conical cones. Its wood is of poor quality, but this tree has been very important in extracting resin.

The juniper is a hardy tree adapted to the climate of the Castilian plateau. It withstands extreme cold and heat and poor soil conditions very well.

To the right of this sign are three tree trunks rising from the ground and reaching up to the roof. At the top, their branches have green and dry leaves and some artificial nests.

In the corner of the room, there is another panel that talks about bushes, which are important because they provide shelter for wildlife, foster soil formation and prevent erosion when there are no trees.

At the bottom of the panel, there are some small holes which you can look through to see different species of shrubs.

There is another window to the right of the panel.

The corridor continues opposite the panel, with panels to the right and left and an interactive display in the centre, containing numbered pieces of wood.

The first panel with information and images of animals such as beetles, birds, birds of prey, insects, moles, roe deer, snakes, cats, owls, badgers and wild boars hangs on the left wall.

Next, in the corner, you will find a small shelf where you can write any suggestions you may have for improving the classroom in the visitors' book.

Continue your visit to the right of this suggestions box. Several logs stand upright in the centre of the room and panels hang between them. Start your visit to the left of the first log. The first panel on the right describes how forests provide a wide range of direct benefits, such as timber, fruits, fungi and grasses, and indirect benefits, fundamental to life on the planet and appreciated by humans and other life forms. A forest contributes to improving air and soil quality, mitigating the harmful effects of pollution and erosion. It also provides shelter for a wide variety of animal and plant species, some of which are under serious threat.

Follow the path, which now turns to the left.

The next panel, which will be to your right, shows how forests are a factory that produces oxygen. Through the process of photosynthesis, they absorb carbon dioxide and release the oxygen that allows animals to breathe into the atmosphere.

Interestingly, the wood used in the construction of this building has led to the fixation and retention of about 360 kg of CO2 that will no longer pollute the air.

The panel opposite, on the wall to the left, provides information about how forests attract clouds and act as large sponges that retain rainwater, slowly releasing it into springs and aquifers, and how their roots keep the soil in place.

These roots not only provide food and support for the trees, but also support the layer of organic matter in the soil. These roots are very important on the river bank, as they help regulate flows and limit flooding.

Finally, trees and shrubs act as an umbrella, protecting the soil from the harmful effect of ultraviolet rays and the force of water during storms.

On the right of the panel, this protection provided by trees is shown in the diagram, with a drawing of a shepherd under a canopy of trees.

The panel opposite shows how forests often act as refuges for endangered species. Animals' chances of survival are higher in dense and diverse forests due to their distance from polluted environments and limited pressure from human activities. The species found there include brown bears and capercaillies in Atlantic forests, lynxes, imperial eagles and black vultures in Mediterranean forests, and micro-mammals, reptiles, amphibians and smaller birds.

On the next wall, there is a smaller panel that talks about the social uses of the forest.

The unique beauty of natural wooded landscapes makes them perfect destinations for leisure and relaxation.

The rise of tourism in the forest has created a network of rural accommodation, restaurants, leisure and sports centres that provide numerous jobs in the rural environment. 300 people make their living from this in this region.

There is another window to the right of the panel and then a curtain of slats on which there is a drawing of a man and a dog in astronaut suits that reads: "Can you imagine a world without any trees?"

Go through the curtain. The exhibition continues on the use of the forest, and now focuses on materials.

The first panel shows a picture of mushrooms, and boxes with text explaining that the forest provides many products for animals, plants and humans.

Historically, the forest has been vital for supplying food, materials and in construction. Forestry boosts the local economy in this region, creating employment and sustaining the population.

More than 1,600 people in the Soria-Burgos pine forest region earn their living by clearing and maintaining the forest, cutting wood, tending livestock or working in sawmills and furniture factories.

Continue along the corridor created by the panels.

Livestock farming and hunting wild animals are practices that have coexisted in forests since ancient times, and played different roles in the relations of humans with these natural environments. Livestock farming, often practised sustainably, has been a traditional source of resources for local communities, providing meat, milk and other by-products. On the other hand, when it takes place in a responsible and regulated way, hunting wild animals can contribute to conservation by controlling populations and protecting biodiversity.

The panel opposite, on the right wall, talks about mycology, or the study of fungi

Soria's forests are a mycological treasure, as they are home to species including boletus and mushrooms. This richness is not only appreciated in the local cuisine, but also attracts scholars and collectors, creating a special connection with the region's wildlife.

The next panel explains that under the trees there are shrubs, some edible fruit, aromatic plants, medicinal plants and many flowers that bees use to make honey.

It is easy to find blueberries, wild strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, wildleaf blackberries, blackthorns and hazelnuts in this region. Aromatic plants such as thyme, sage, lavender and lavandula can be found in the drier areas. There are also some plants with medicinal properties, such as rosemary, bearberry and mistletoe.

There are several wooden boxes to the left of this sign, with an opening in the front where you can smell the different aromatic plants.

Behind it is a beehive, a symbol of the importance of beekeeping in these mountains.

To the left of the beehive, there is information on the other resources obtained from the forest, such as resin and charcoal.

The tools used by the resin harvesters in the resin extraction process are exhibited in front of the panel, in the trunks.

Resin harvesters play a key role in the extraction of resin from pine trees. This traditional task, known as resination, involves making a careful incision in the trees to harvest their valuable sap. Despite modern technology, resination continues to be crucial for obtaining this natural resource, and preserve ancient forestry practices and contribute to sustainability.

In front of the resin panel, there is information about wood.

Timber is the main product that humans extract from forests. No more timber is cut in the region's well-managed forests than is produced each year.

After the tree has been felled, the branches are removed from the trunk and it is divided into logs of different qualities.

Good quality thick logs are used for construction, furniture and doors.

Crooked and poor quality logs are used to make planks by grinding and pressing the particles.

Good quality but small diameter logs are used by the treated roundwood industries for outdoor applications such as fencing, recreation areas and wooden houses.

Finally, logs from softwood species such as poplar and eucalyptus are used in the paper industry.

Several wooden items are displayed at the end of the room.

There are interactive cubes in the display case, which show different uses of wood depending on its quality when they are rotated.

Continue your visit. There is a door leading to the toilets in the wall on the left.

Forestry creates large quantities of waste in the forest, which become a problem when they dry out. Fortunately, this waste can be recycled and transformed into useful products.

For example, the chips are used to make boards, the bark is shredded to form substrate, and the branches and foliage can be chopped in the forest itself or burned in electric or heating plants.

Turning left into the corridor of panels, you will reach the last one.

Although the forest functions as an autonomous organism which is able to renew its organs naturally, it needs human intervention to make sure it continues to exist. In order to exploit forest resources responsibly and sustainably, humans have to constantly renew the forest. This means applying management principles and techniques, presented in detail on the top floor, to maintain a harmonious balance and preserve the long-term health of this valuable ecosystem.

Now go up the stairs.

On the first landing, you will find a model of a griffon vulture on a branch, and some old photographs showing how wood was used, shepherds and transport with a yoke of oxen.

Carting was the main economic activity in the Pinares region two centuries ago, and was based on forests rich in wood for carts and pasture for cattle. Carters transported goods for the Royal Family and the nobility. The Catholic Monarchs acknowledged their importance in 1497, by creating the Royal Guild of Carters. In the region, which had 16 villages and 1,670 inhabitants in 1753, there were 5,079 carts, 1,024 owners and 15,238 oxen.

In front of you is a blue panel that tells the forest history of the region.

The forests in the Pinares region and their management techniques reflect a long tradition of forestry dating back to the Middle Ages. Land ownership and harvesting methods have evolved over the centuries, leading to extensive and productive forests that are managed in a rational and respectful way. The changes in how the forest is used is closely related to the system of ownership, including the co-ownership by Municipal Association of the 150 villages, shared with Soria Municipal Council on a 50-50 basis, in the Pinar Grande forest.

The municipal association was established in 1898, and has administered the forest on an alternating basis with the Municipal Council since 1999. The exploitation of Pinar Grande has undergone major changes throughout history, from its initial use for livestock farming to the Forest Ordinances in the nineteenth century, which marked a transition towards more sustainable practices.

Now turn to the left to continue your visit in a clockwise direction.

The next panel talks about forest management.

Forests are crucial for the life and balance of the planet. Overexploitation can lead to their disappearance, turning forest products into non-renewable resources, similar to oil or coal, and leading to their total depletion.

Forestry involves various disciplines, including topography, cartography, photographic interpretation, dasometry (forest measurement), zoology, botany and ecology. It also includes techniques for plant breeding, reforestation, disease and pest control, and forest harvesting. It focuses on the regulation of hunting, fishing, pasture management and uses for livestock farming, as well as work to provide the forests with the goods and services they need. These measures ensure that forests are sustainable and preserved.

Forestry seeks to prevent forests from disappearing by means of rules and techniques that prioritise the ecosystem's persistence, regeneration and improvement. This practice forms part of sustainable development, and seeks benefits for rural communities and society in general. Trees are sometimes cut to regenerate and improve the forest, while at other times alternative methods are applied to conserve biodiversity, especially when species are endangered or there is a risk of erosion.

Continue along the path to the left and you will reach the left wing.

You will find more panels on the wall at the back. In front of them, there is a wooden stand with arrows pointing to the rings of the trunk, which we can use to work out the tree's age.

Managing a forest means setting objectives, applying forestry techniques and putting the planning into practice. The objectives include protecting and maintaining the forest, sustained production and maximum yields, and promoting additional social uses such as leisure and scenic benefits.

Several wooden fossils are displayed on the floor in the corner on the right.

This panel shows the tools used to study the forests.

New technologies are becoming increasingly widely used in forest management, although much of the data in forest inventories is still collected manually. Specific instruments are used to measure the diameter and height of trees, and to take samples of their wood, among other tasks.

In front of the panel, in the centre of the room, there is a table with a fossilised trunk on display and a map of the Pinar Grande Forest illustrating the layout of the forest, divided into various sections, subsections and units.

Next to the map, there are two enormous models of the forest, protected by a glass display case. The first shows a well-managed forest, with a reasonable density of well cared-for trees, with some scattered stumps and animals; while the next model presents an unmanaged forest, with some burned pine trees, some completely cleared areas and high density in others.

How Pinar Grande is organised is explained in the following panel.

The forestry division organises the forest in terms of production, making a distinction between units in the same ecosystem. These units have common features in their trees and have similar productivity and economic yields. Sections are the main units, and are subdivided into subsections, which in turn are divided into units.

Pinar Grande is divided into 5 sections, each with 4, 5, or 6 subsections, subdivided into 5 units each. Although the division may be defined by rivers or mountains, a well-managed forest has specific markings with white paint around the pines. A well-managed forest, like Pinar Grande, is properly organised in space and time, with different sections at different stages of growth.

There is a diagram of this layout on the right of the panel, which is circular in periods of 20 years.

Forests vary in appearance and are classified according to basic forestry criteria, which are determined by the productive potential of each type of forest mass. Each forest has to be managed in a specific way.

Forestry aims to exploit the forest rationally, improving the quality of the forest's products and increasing the value of its timber. These tasks are essential for preventing problems such as falling trees, the deterioration of natural regeneration and the risk of pests, diseases and fires in forests with vegetation that is too dense.

There is another panel on the right wall past the window.

Felling is a forestry procedure that changes the structure of the forest. The "improvement" measures include clearing to prevent competition from shrubs. Thinning and clearing reduce the forest's density, providing more light and space for trees to grow. "Policing" felling removes diseased trees or trees in poor condition.

Continue your visit and turn left to reach the right wing. Go around the back of the panelled partition in front of the staircase.

There are several panels in this partition.

After trees have been felled, the forest has to recover in order to continue performing its tasks.

The next panel explains that when regeneration is natural, the species in the forest are renewed from seeds, but other conditions are required, such as the forest being in good condition, felling taking place at the right time, the seeds being spread properly, and no diseases or pests being present.

On the left wall, a panel provides information on the main problems faced by the forest, such as drought and predation by animals.

Again on the wall on the right, there is a display case embedded in the wall where various tree seeds with certification labels are displayed. There are two models of different terrains at the bottom.

On the left, a panel starts with a pole for burying seeds. This shows that human intervention is sometimes necessary to completely regenerate the forest.

The final panel in this partition explains that the appearance of the rural landscape has traditionally been influenced by the appropriate division between wooded areas, pastureland and crops. In this context, humans have had to balance the conditions of the environment with the needs of the population in order to create ideal conditions for the landscape.

A bar chart shows the changes in the forested area of Castile and Leon.

Now you will come to the right wing of the floor, where more posters and a table in the centre with a map are displayed.

Starting on the left, a panel talks about the problems affecting the forest, such as fires, pests and diseases caused by fungi, viruses and bacteria. Extreme weather conditions, such as frost, long droughts or ice, also damage them.

Several tents made by pine processionaries are displayed on a metal shelf on the right.

These animals are considered as tree-eaters in the next panel.

In addition to the pine processionary, it also looks at bark beetles, a type of beetle that eats the inside of trunks, and fungi such as armilaria mellea, which settles on roots and destroys their living tissues.

On the right are some displays of trunks with tunnels dug by bark beetles.

On the next wall, there is a discussion of how chemical treatments were used in the past to kill pests, but this polluted forests and rivers. Today they are sprayed with plant-based insecticides called pyrethrin. Nest boxes, odorous traps to attract processionary pine larvae moths and to preserve combatant species such as ants or bats are also used.

In front of the window on the right is a fire detector like the ones used in the forest. They are all connected to the central computer in Soria and send their coordinates. This location of fires is shown in the map in the centre with some threads and a model of a flame.

The following panels talk about forest fires with images and texts.

Forest fires are the main threat to forests, and most in Spain are started deliberately by humans. These destructive events devastate vegetation and wipe out the animals that cannot escape. The fight against forest fires focuses on prevention, with monitoring in the forest a key aspect, especially in summer, involving a network of watchtowers covering the most critical forest areas. In addition to human efforts with traditional tools, modern technology is playing an increasingly important role in this task.

There is a panel that discusses forestry between the two end windows on the same wall.

The appropriate machinery and methods must be used in these uses to prevent damage to the soil or to the remaining trees.

Various tools that were used in the past are on display in the corner on the right.

The panel on the next wall talks about the tools and machinery used for each task.

The selection of the machinery to be used in each situation is based on an analysis of various factors, such as the type of felling, the characteristics of the forest and its topography.

A fire suit, fire beater, picks, shovels and other tools are displayed in the right-hand corner.

As you turn the corner, you will come to the final panels of your visit, which talk about forest management today.

Sustainable forest management involves a harmonious use of the resources provided by forests, ensuring the conservation of nature and respect for biodiversity to safeguard their existence in the future. It is essential that society as a whole recognises the risks associated with the decline in the quality of life due to the loss of forests, and understands the imperative need to manage these ecosystems.

This sustainable management is evident in the certification of wood, which guarantees that the consumer has chosen a quality product that has been grown according to high standards.

A research process carried out by experts in laboratories and in the field is needed to improve the protection, understanding and management of the forest.

The research may sometimes seem abstract, but many of its results are practical and provide valuable data that directly affect the future, especially in sectors such as forestry and rural areas. The identification of active principles in various species can be crucial in combating diseases, and it is essential to remember that what cannot be destroyed, cannot be created.

This audio clip concludes your visit to the Amogable Forest Classroom, which has discussed the forest, its uses, its exploitation, traditions and ancient crafts, as well as the importance of these areas.

If you would like more information, please contact the reception desk or ask any of the staff at the Park House.

Thank you for your visit.