Por Redaccion 
Minister of Durability and Environment for the Andalusian Government, Catalina García visited to work on improving various public use facilities in the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve, a natural space where a total of €968,910 has been invested in different actions that include the municipalities of Cádiz in Benaocaz, Grazalema, and Villaluenga del Rosario. «With these works, we continue to bet on the magnificent Protected natural spaces that Andalusia has. These works, in addition to preserving and safeguarding the rich heritage, are also an important economic resource for many regions, as they help establish the population in the territory.
Catalina García visited the works with the mayor of Grazalema, Carlos Javier García; Deputy Minister of Durability and Environment, Sergio Arjona; Delegate of the Andalusian Government for Cádiz, Mercedes Colombo; Director General of Protected Natural Spaces, José Enrique Borrallo, and the Territorial Delegate for Sustainability and Environment of Cádiz, Oscar Curido, among other authorities.
The works, which began in May of last year and are funded through next-generation funds, focus mainly on cleaning, cutting, fittings, route adaptation, pavement, installation of metal structures, signage, enclosures, and installation of rural furniture such as rustic grills, among others.
During the visit to Mirador del Puerto Boyar in Grazalema, where the sidewalk was improved, the fence was replaced, and a flying platform was raised to extend the viewing area. They also worked on the parking area and its access, as well as the path that connects the parking lot with the viewpoint.
The rest of the spaces where they are working and whose work will be completed by the end of this month are Mirador vinculante and Agua Nueva in Benaocaz; the Leisure area of Las Cabesuelas in Villaluenga del Rosario, and in Llanos de Rabel, in Grazalema.
The councilor mentioned the «rich biodiversity concentrated in these natural spaces» and the importance of protecting them. «Half a million Andalusians live in these areas, they have projects, they want to live where they have always lived, and they want to leave it to their children and grandchildren,» he added.
Therefore, he emphasized the importance of the Biosphere Reserve protection figure. «This figure guarantees the preservation, protection, and care of nature, always with the human factor. Because it has always been considered that environmental protection and socio-economic development must go hand in hand,» he added.
He also stressed that «the commitment of the Andalusian government to the green revolution led by Andalusia in the country is unbreakable.» To which he added, «Caring for and protecting natural heritage is a commitment to the environment through conservation, enjoyment, and the use of resources.»
40 years of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park
Catalina García also unveiled the logo for the commemorative events that will take place throughout 2025 to mark 40 years since the declaration of the Sierra de Grazalema Park, with the Pinsapo, one of the park’s great emblems, as the protagonist. Among the planned activities, she mentioned, «The celebration of a commemorative event in a municipality in the province of Cádiz, where recognition will be given to individuals associated with the Natural Park.»
The declaration of the Sierra de Grazalema as a natural park took place in 1985 and was the first in our autonomous community. Over the forty years of its existence, the territory has experienced significant tourism, agricultural products, and cultural development, and it is home to a diverse range of animal and plant species that have found an opportunity for survival.
Great efforts have been made to preserve one of our emblematic trees, the Pinsapo Fir (Abies Pinsapo Boiss). Additionally, many other species and habitats have been the focus of conservation programs. Its current area covers 53,411 hectares and includes territories of fifteen municipalities, nine in Cádiz and six in Málaga, making it one of the most popular and visited natural parks by the entire population.
New industrial park in Grazalema
On the other hand, the Minister of Sustainability and Environment emphasized the importance of the strategic environmental declaration for changing the POGO Point to an industrial park in the municipality of Grazalema. This resolution, published in the Official Gazette of the Andalusian Government (Boja), responds to a historic statement by the municipality and represents a key advancement for the socio-economic development of the area while ensuring its natural protection.
He pointed out that the project is part of the Andalusian government’s strategy for economic growth compatible with environmental conservation, offering new opportunities for municipalities located in protected natural spaces. «The specific change in urban planning allows the development of this industrial land in accordance with strict environmental criteria, ensuring that the activities implemented are sustainable and respectful of local biodiversity,» he continued.
With this measure, he concluded, the Board reaffirms its commitment to the economic revitalization of the rural environment, facilitating job creation and population settlement, without compromising the environmental values that make Grazalema a unique enclave in Andalusia.