Andalusia positions itself as the autonomous community with the highest investment in Spain for the conservation, adaptation, and modernization of livestock routes. The total allocated amount reaches 87,865,837.80 euros, enabling the improvement of 1,852 kilometers of these historic routes since 2019.
Minister Fina Martínez highlighted that these routes are vital public infrastructure with environmental, agricultural, and social functions, and that the priority is their conservation to ensure they continue serving the territory. The National Network of Livestock Routes, comprising over 125,000 kilometers nationwide, finds its largest contributor in Andalusia with 32,684.19 kilometers (26.5% of the total) and approximately 112,500 hectares. Castilla y León follows with 28,479 kilometers.
The extensive Andalusian network, managed by the Consejería de Sostenibilidad y Medio Ambiente, consists of 5,156 livestock routes traversing the region. After decades of neglect and deterioration, the Andalusian Government has implemented unprecedented planning and budgetary efforts since 2019 to restore their functionality and adapt them to new rural challenges.
In the province of Jaén, 312 kilometers have been repaired with an investment of 11.5 million euros, strengthening a key network for the province's olive groves and agricultural activity. Other provinces have also received significant investments: Seville (336 km, 17.7 million €), Huelva (327 km, 12.6 million €), Cádiz (239 km, 13.3 million €), Córdoba (127 km, 11 million €), Granada (143 km, 8.1 million €), Almería (243 km, 6.3 million €), and Málaga (125 km, 7.1 million €).
Beyond the figures, livestock routes serve as fundamental communication arteries for economic activity and sustainable development, as well as natural heritage connecting ecosystems and facilitating species mobility. They also promote recreational use and help preserve Andalusian traditions such as pilgrimages.
