The Minister of Sustainability and Environment of the Government of Andalusia, Catalina García, announced on Monday in El Bosque, Cádiz, the start of the work to reintroduce the bearded vulture in the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. The announcement was made during the institutional event commemorating the 40th anniversary of this protected area, held at the Molino de Abajo Museum.
Catalina García emphasized that the reintroduction of the bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) represents «a milestone for the international conservation» of this emblematic bird, also known as the ‘avanto’ or ‘chivata eagle’, which disappeared from the mountains of Cadiz in the early 20th century. «Today we take a historic step to return one of the most recognized and beloved silhouettes to our skies, and we do so with the firm commitment of the Government to biodiversity,» she stated.
The Minister explained that the work is part of the Recovery and Conservation Plan for the Scavenger Birds of Andalusia, and will involve the collaboration of the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF), a leading entity at the European level. «Today we begin a process that will culminate in the release of the first chicks born at the Guadalentín breeding center, in Cazorla, thus advancing in the restoration of the ecological balance of our mountains,» she said.
During her speech, Catalina García recalled that the Sierra de Grazalema was the first natural area declared a park in Andalusia, in February 1985. «It was a brave commitment of an entire society to protect an exceptional territory, with a unique landscape and natural richness that continues to amaze those who visit it today,» she highlighted.
The park covers more than 53,000 hectares between the provinces of Cadiz and Malaga, and has been key to the conservation of species such as the Spanish fir (Abies pinsapo Boiss.) and numerous mountain habitats. The Minister pointed out that «these 40 years have shown that it is possible to combine environmental protection with the development of tourism, agri-food, and cultural activities in the area, in close collaboration with its inhabitants.»
Acknowledgment to those who care for the Park
During the event, recognitions were also awarded to individuals and entities that have made a significant contribution to the conservation of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. Among them, José Luis López Quintanilla, the Gaditana Society of Natural History, the Park’s Governing Board, the Buenavista Farm School, Fernando Molina Vázquez posthumously, the Association of Livestock Farmers of Benaocaz, the Association of Breeders of the Payoya Goat Breed, the Association of Breeders of the Merina de Grazalema Sheep Breed, the INFOCA firefighting team, the Andalusian Mountain Sports Federation, the Andalusian Speleology Federation, and the Environmental Agents were honored.
In the Minister’s words, «these recognitions are a demonstration of the joint effort that society makes every day to preserve this valuable enclave, which would not be what it is without the dedication of those who work, research, educate, or protect this space.»
The commemorative event also featured the participation of students from the Albarracín Primary School, who were awarded in the ‘Unique Trees of the Natural Park’ contest. The Minister noted that «it is essential to involve the new generations in respecting and caring for nature. Today, we also celebrate the perspective of those children who learn to value their environment and share it with pride.»
Catalina García took advantage of the anniversary to announce that, in the coming months, the Ministry will organize new activities related to the anniversary, including a thematic day in the Malaga side of the park and several commemorative and technical publications, in collaboration with the Councils of Cadiz and Malaga.
At this point, she highlighted the nearly 30 million euros that the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment has allocated to the Cadiz mountains. «Projects in forestry, biodiversity conservation, environmental protection, and public use that have improved this unique space in Andalusia and promoted the socio-economic development of the region,» she emphasized.
In line with this, she recalled initiatives such as the Circular Economy Project of the Sierra de Cadiz, valued at 17 million euros, or the 1.8 million euros for the improvement of the Majaceite trail and other public use facilities in Benaoján, Grazalema, and Villaluenga del Rosario, such as the Puerto del Boyar viewpoint. She also emphasized the 42.2 million euros allocated in the 2025 Budget for the province of Cadiz in matters of Sustainability and Environment.
A historic release on the horizon
Regarding the reintroduction of the bearded vulture, the Minister specified that the process will require specialized technical work, which is already being planned by the General Directorate of Forestry Policy and Biodiversity. «It is a complex procedure, which includes climbing tasks, monitoring, risk assessment, and intensive monitoring of the reintroduced individuals during their first weeks,» she stated.
The choice of the Sierra de Grazalema as a new location marks, in her opinion, a before and after. It will be the first time that a release point for this species is located outside Eastern Andalusia, becoming the most southern in the entire European Union. This location, Catalina García said, «allows connecting European bearded vulture populations with those in North Africa, strengthening the future viability of the species.»
The commemorative event was attended by the Mayor of El Bosque, Rubén Corrales; the Government Delegate of the Junta de Andalucía in Cadiz, Mercedes Colombo; the Director General of Protected Natural Areas, José Enrique Borrallo, and the Territorial Delegate of Sustainability and Environment in the province, Óscar Curtido, among other authorities. Also present were students, teachers, park technicians, Environmental Agents, representatives of local groups, and residents of the region.
The day concluded with words of gratitude from the Minister, who reiterated that «the Government of Andalusia will continue to promote measures that reconcile the conservation of the natural environment with the well-being of the people who inhabit and visit it. The Sierra de Grazalema is a reference of that alliance between nature and society, and today more than ever, we want to project it into the future.»
A legacy that keeps growing
Catalina García concluded her speech by stating that «these forty years not only speak of protection but of identity. The Sierra de Grazalema is part of who we are as Andalusians, of how we understand our relationship with our territory. Reintroducing the bearded vulture to these mountains is a way to close a historical circle, to return to the landscape a symbol that should never have disappeared, and to demonstrate that, with collective effort, it is possible to recover what seemed lost. The return of the bearded vulture to the Sierra de Grazalema will be, as she emphasized, «a new chapter in the success story of conservation in Andalusia».
