The initiative consisted of evaluating the role played by the Network of Spanish Continental National Parks in terms of preserving the genetic diversity of three species of trees that are the protagonists of the configuration of Spanish forests and ecosystems: the holm oak (Quercus ilex), the cork oak (Quercus suber) and the wild olive (Olea europaea var. sylvestris).

The main actions carried out were based on a field sampling campaign in the National Parks of the Peninsula, as well as outside them, in order to establish comparisons between the populations of these three emblematic species. In these samplings, the purpose was to collect the leaves of different specimens of holm oak, cork oak and wild olive tree in order to be able to carry out, at a later stage, genetic tests of the populations in the laboratory and establish the different phylogeographic analyses.

To read the conclusions of the study click here.