The case study: Manzanares River National Park

Manzanares River Natural Park is included on the “Natura 2000” list of protected areas. Even though this Natural Site is located very close to such a populated area as Madrid, its natural heritage is especially rich. Inside its boundaries, there are two Bird Protection Areas and some wetlands considered relevant at a regional scale. Almost the 65% percent of its more than 47,000 hectares are valuable habitats under the Habitats European Directive. As examples of this high biodiversity, the holm oak (Quercus ilex) and ash (Fraxinus Angustifolia) Mediterranean forests could be pointed out. In addition to its rich Mediterranean flora, the Natural Park wildlife stands out (amphibians, reptiles, bats, invertebrates, mammals, birds).

This sensitive area is affected by both regional and long distance traffic. Madrid is moving towards a poli-nuclei Metropolitan Area with the core being located in the central city. This gravitational model is being counterbalanced by a metropolitan ring, which is getting bigger and more active on services and production, so serves as dormitory and business/mix areas. But, even so, every day, near 500,000 vehicles “flock in”, and out, Madrid through the main radial roads. Several urban areas closed to this Manzanares River National Park, especially nearby high capacity roads that connect to the city centre, are growing as a result of urban sprawl and high accessibility by road or public transport. (short distance rail services, bus and high occupancy exclusive lanes, high capacity roads), but also because the attractiveness of this area. This is creating an important pressure to Manzanares River National Park linked to urban development and land use. Moreover, residential and commercial land use has to coexist with leisure activity, especially on weekends, as a natural space for Madrid citizens.

On the other hand, Madrid is a Central Pole of national freight movements and long distance journeys. Thinking on road infrastructure, Madrid City is surrounded by three orbital rings. The outer one (M50) precisely were build in order to avoid crossing traffic in the inner roads. M50 is not already completed. Just the stretch that affects Manzanares River National Park area is missing. Current plans are that this ring should be closed in a near future by tunnel.

Different policy measures could be tested on this discussed over this case study. Cost-benefit valuation will be developed for different policy instruments, with special attention to demand management tools as High-Occupancy Vehicle/Toll (HOT) in metropolitan corridors, toll ring or road pricing (to the M50) and traffic regulations (HGV restrictions). Land Use planning measures could also be valuated.