Editing Melilla (section)

=== Protected Natural Areas ===
[[File:Aguadú2.jpg|thumb|[[Aguadu Cliffs|Aguadú Cliffs]]]]
[[File:Pferruginea_04_JGuallart.jpg|thumb|[[Patella ferruginea|Rusty limpet]], an endangered species]]
The city of Melilla has two protected areas classified as [[Special Area of Conservation|SACs (Special Areas of Conservation)]] within the [[Natura 2000 network]]:

* [[Barranco del Nano]]. Protected due to its military zone status, it stands out as a habitat for the [[Tetraclinis articulata|araar (''Tetraclinis articulata'')]], a conifer native to the Atlas forests, and the presence of [[Helianthemum|cat's-head rockrose (''Helianthemum caput-felis'')]] and [[Cistus heterophyllus|Cartagena rockrose (''Cistus heterophyllus'')]]. Among the animal species, it is sometimes possible to spot the [[Canis aureus|golden jackal (''Canis aureus'')]] from the Moroccan side, and reptiles such as the [[Testudo graeca|Greek tortoise (''Testudo graeca'')]] and [[Chamaeleo chamaeleon|common chameleon (''Chamaeleo chamaeleon'')]] are frequently found.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archived Copy |url=http://www.melillamedioambiente.com/media/gmiragaya/LicNano.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412170847/http://www.melillamedioambiente.com/media/gmiragaya/LicNano.pdf |archive-date=12 April 2020 |access-date=12 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.laverdad.es/nuestra-tierra/medio-ambiente/201602/23/la-vida-rebrota-en-el-barranco-del-nano.html | title=La vida rebrota en el barranco del Nano | date=17 June 2016 }}</ref>
* [[Aguadu Cliffs|Aguadú Cliffs]]. A maritime-terrestrial space that includes cliffs, beaches, and marine bottoms, all especially rich in plant and animal species. The cliff nesting bird colonies, such as those of [[Larus audouinii|Audouin's gull (''Larus audouinii'')]], are particularly noteworthy. In the marine bottoms, the presence of [[Patella ferruginea|rusty limpet (''Patella ferruginea'')]], an endangered species of mollusk found in abundance here, is remarkable. At depths of 15 to 20 meters, some of the best Mediterranean [[Corallium rubrum|coral reefs]] in Spain can be found. On the terrestrial platform, various species of arthropods and terrestrial mollusks endemic to the area are abundant.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archived Copy |url=http://www.melillamedioambiente.com/media/gmiragaya/LicAguadu.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412170844/http://www.melillamedioambiente.com/media/gmiragaya/LicAguadu.pdf |archive-date=12 April 2020 |access-date=12 April 2020 }}</ref>