Natural Park Los Alcornocales
This extensive natural zone, located between the provinces of Cádiz and Málaga, occupies a total area of 170,025 hectares of protected land, and - as can be guessed from its name - it is home to the largest and most wellconserved cork oak forest in Spain and one of the most important in the world. This forest of cork oaks, along with the abundance of other plant species living in the area, were the reason that it was declared a Natural Park in 1989, although the part of the park pertaining to Málaga had already been named a National Hunting Reserve previously (in 1970).
Only 12,289 hectares of the park's enormous total area belong to the province of Málaga; more specifically, to the district of Cortes de la Frontera. This district also contains part (4,531 hectares) ofSierra de Grazalema Natural Park. The part of Los Alcornocales pertaining to Málaga also happens to be one of the most well-conserved areas in the park.
Location
In the east of the province of Cadiz, to the west of the province of Malaga.
Main access roads: N-340, N-342, C-343, C-440 and C-341.
Relief
Los Alcornocales Natural Park covers 168,661 ha, most of which lies within the boundaries of Cadiz, with a small, 12.000-ha section belonging to Malaga (Cortes de la Frontera).
It consists of a series of low sierras with a hydric network comprising several reservoirs and the sources of numerous rivers, notably the Guadarranque, Hozgarganta and Barbate. Deep, narrow river valleys known as "canutos" are common here.
Plant Life
The park boasts a number of major cork oak groves, which are accompanied by scrub comprising gum rockrose and heather interspersed with wild olives, gall oaks, oaks...
In those zones where the cork oak grove has suffered greatest deterioration, species such as hawthorn, tagasaste, Phyllirea Augustifolia and barberry are to be found. Some parts are home to the rockrose and Quercus fruticosa. Of particular interest is the area of forest known as the Laurisilva, whose vegetation, which comprises the ash, laurel and hazel, dates back to the Tertiary Period.
Animal Life
Fauna here is rich and varied. Notable among the park’s ornithological riches are the birds of prey (this is one of the main nesting centres for these species in the province) and scavengers (vultures and Egyptian vultures).
Most of the carnivores typically associated with Mediterranean forests are to be found here: foxes, genets, badgers, weasels, etc. Numerous herbivores also inhabit the area, including the mouflon sheep, deer and roe deer. A large number of reptiles are also to be found in the forests.
Event
The forest is a major source of resource exploitation, notably cork. This activity takes place in summer, though extraction is carried out in a wholly rational manner by the local inhabitants, land plots being divided into nine sectors of which just one is exploited each year. In this manner, the tree trunks are given sufficient time to recover their natural protection.
Cattle farming, mainly pigs, goats and cows, is another key activity. This natural park, like its Montes de Malaga counterpart, has been awarded the Aenor ISO 14001 certificate, which is a recognised seal of approval in terms of environmental management. It indicates continual improvement in the performance of all workers involved in the running of the park.
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