Irlanda - Parque Nacional de Killarney - Bosque
killarney.ie
ENGLISH:
Killarney National Park (Irish: Páirc Náisiúnta Chill Airne), near the town of Killarney, County Kerry, was the first national park in Ireland, created when Muckross Estate was donated to the Irish Free State in 1932. The park has since been substantially expanded and encompasses over 102.89 km2 (25,425 acres) of diverse ecology, including the Lakes of Killarney, oak and yew woodlands of international importance, and mountain peaks. It has the only red deer herd on mainland Ireland and the most extensive covering of native forest remaining in Ireland. The park is of high ecological value because of the quality, diversity, and extensiveness of many of its habitats and the wide variety of species that they accommodate, some of which are rare. The park was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1981. The park forms part of a Special Area of Conservation.
Killarney possesses the most extensive area (approximately 120 square kilometres (30,000 acres)) of semi-natural native woodland (woodland dominated by indigenous species) remaining in Ireland. Most of this woodland is encompassed by the national park. There are three main types of woodland in the park: acidophilous oak woodland (Quercus petraea-Ilex aquifolium) on Devonian sandstone; moss-rich yew woodland (Taxus baccata) on Carboniferous limestone outcrops; and wet woodland (also called carr) dominated by alder on low-lying swampy limestone soils on the lake edges. The woods in the park fall naturally into two sectors, along the geologic divide. The oak and yew woodlands are of international importance.
Mixed woodland and conifer plantations also occur in the park. The mixed woodland on Ross Island has one of the richest herb layers in the park's woods.
Grazing and rhododendron invasion threaten the park's woodlands. Rhododendrons affect approximately two-thirds of the oak woodlands. A rhododendron removal programme is under way in the park. The yew woodlands have been negatively affected by heavy grazing for many years.
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ESPAÑOL:
Killarney National Park (en irlandés: Páirc Náisiúnta Chill Airne) está situado junto a la localidad de Killarney, Condado de Kerry (Irlanda). Fue el primer parque nacional establecido en Irlanda, creado cuando la casa Muckross fue donada al estado irlandés en 1932. El parque ha sido desde entonces expandido sustancialmente y engloba más de 102,89 km2 de ecología diversa, incluyendo los lagos de Killarney, bosques de roble y tejo de importancia internacional, y picos de montañas. Tiene manadas de ciervos rojos, las únicas que pueden encontrarse en Irlanda, y el más extenso bosque nativo restante en Irlanda. El parque tiene un alto valor ecológico por su calidad, diversidad, y su extensión de muchos de sus hábitats y la gran variedad de especie que contienen, alguna de las cuales son raras. El parque fue designado una Reserva Mundial de la Biosfera por la UNESCO en 1981. El parque es también conocido por su bello paisaje. El parque está dirigido por National Parks and Wildlife Service.
