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The regions of Omaña and Luna are the result of a farm system that was basically established during the Middle Ages and continued to be operational until the middle of last century. This system included, associated to each inhabited nucleus, land allocated to grasslands, woods to supply timber and croplands.The high mountain landscapes in the extreme north, west and south of the Reserve are note worthy because of their high ecological value, in addition to the landscapes modelled by human and livestock activities, scattered all over Omaña.The Reserve harbours a good number of singular species of fauna and for some this is the limit of their southern distribution. Thus we find seriously endangered species such as the Brown Bear and the Western Capercaillie and species endemicto Cantabria such as the Broom Hare or endemic to Spain, such as the Iberian Desman, in addition to very singular species such as the Grey Partridge, the Wolf and large populations of Trout, with very specific characteristics adapted to mountain water courses.In general the bird, mammal, amphibian and reptile communities are widely and richly represented.The zone has considerable and interesting flora, with numerous species endemic to the Iberian Peninsula. It conserves samples of deciduous and marcescent forests in excellent condition.To be noted are the Birch groves, considered to be unique in the Iberian Peninsula, the vast Quercus Pyrenaica groves and the presence of clumps of another recently described (2002) species of Oak (Quercusorocantabrica). Also of interest are the riparian forests, combined with traditional agro-systems in a mosaic of outstanding landscape and cultural value.