The proposal arises from the commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the declaration of the Sierra de las Nieves National Park, held at the Istán Municipal Theater (Malaga). The event gathered key figures from the Andalusian environmental sector, including mayor José Miguel Marín, and directors general of Protected Natural Areas and Forest Policy and Biodiversity, among others.
Navarro advocated for the province's ambition and the success of the past five years as a basis for initiating a study to expand the park's perimeter. She noted that the initial declaration of the National Park left out a section that, two months later, suffered a devastating fire in 2017, considered one of the worst in Andalusia and Spain due to its virulence and uniqueness, being the first sixth-generation wildfire in the country.
The delegate emphasized the importance of studying the incorporation of Sierra Bermeja, honoring the memory of those who fought the fire, including forest firefighter Carlos Martínez Haro. She highlighted that the natural space has consolidated as an environmental, social, and territorial benchmark, with a global mobilization of 25.74 million euros in public investments, of which 16.5 million were contributed by the Regional Ministry of Sustainability of Andalusia.
Navarro stated that the National Park declaration has been a catalyst for the province's interior, generating benefits such as population retention, economic activity, nature tourism, and new opportunities for young people. She referred to a solid management structure, planning, and investments aimed at conservation, infrastructure improvement, and socioeconomic revitalization.
Significant investments were highlighted, such as the more than four million euros for the visitor center at Conejeras de Parauta, and other projects for forest management, biodiversity conservation, habitat improvement, and silvicultural treatments, totaling millions in specific actions.
In research and fire protection, the completion of the Sierra de las Nieves Infoca base in Istán (four million euros) and progress on the Tolox Subcedefo were mentioned. A tourism sustainability project of 3.9 million promoted by the Sierra de las Nieves Municipalities Association and an investment of 295,000 euros for signage adapted to the national parks manual were also highlighted.
The natural space hosts great ecological diversity, including fir forests covering about 2,000 hectares, a species in danger of extinction. Regarding fauna, it has nearly 200 vertebrate species, including bats, dragonflies, the Iberian ibex, and the Spanish imperial eagle. Geologically, it features peridotite rocks and a notable example of Mediterranean karst.
The delegate recalled the approval of a new Law for Environmental Management, described as "modern and adapted to new challenges," which enhances the protection of natural heritage, the fight against climate change, and administrative simplification, balancing conservation with sustainable development.
