The "deep story" identified by the Atlas is largely one of sustained deforestation . Over centuries, the expansion of agriculture, livestock grazing, and the demand for timber for the Spanish Navy and industrialization stripped the plains of their original canopy.
Currently, the story has entered a new chapter: . As traditional agriculture is abandoned, the "Atlas Forestal" tracks the progressive evolution of shrublands back into dense woodlands. Atlas Forestal
Research within the Atlas reveals that the region's forests were once far more diverse. Thousands of years ago, species like the (European Black Pine) and Pinus sylvestris were widely distributed across the Northern Meseta. These forests served as crucial refugia during climate shifts, housing species that are now restricted to high mountain enclaves. 2. A Millennial Story of Deforestation The "deep story" identified by the Atlas is