The region of Los Monegros is located in the wide depression formed by the Ebro River, in the center of the Autonomous Community of Aragon (Spain).

The most defining physical aspect of this area is the scarce and irregular rainfall (absent 80% of the days throughout the year), which creates a mostly arid climate.

The dominant landscape is made of extensive semi-desert plains, traditionally used for cereal agriculture (wheat and barley) and to extensive sheep grazing; all decreasing due to low productivity and profitability. Between cultivated plots there are still remnants of natural vegetation, of great biological interest.

With one of the lowest population densities in Spain (hardly eight inhabitants/sq km), Monegros is a true haven for steppe birds, with some of Europe's best concentrations of such interesting species as Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Dupont's Lark or Lesser Short-toed Lark.

Unfortunately the whole region is undergoing a huge process of transformation, due to new, modern irrigation systems, bringing water from the Pyrenees through the man-made Monegros Canal, and causing the irretrievable loss of natural steppe habitat.

In an effort to preserve some of the best remaining steppe bird habitats, and under EU regulations, several SPAs (Special Protected Areas) and SACs (Special Areas of Conservation) have been designated and included within the Natura 2000 Network, with the purpose of avoiding their conversion into irrigation projects.