UNESCO awards the category of Biosphere Reserve to those areas that have an ecosystem that can serve as an example for others of combining the environment with sustainable use.

Amongst the 53 that exist in Spain, Sierra Nevada is one of them. It was included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 1986 and in 2022, the awarding body (MAB) urged the Spanish authorities to extend the size of the Sierra Nevada biosphere reserve in order to fully comply with its functions.

The MAB, by the way, is the Man and the Biosphere Programme, which came into being in 1971 to lay down the scientific basis for bettering the relationship between people and their environment.

At the moment, the B.R. occupies the area of the Parque Natural and is managed jointly by the Parque Natural and the Parque Nacional and is known as Espacio Natural Sierra Nevada.

There are 60 municipalities within the natural park, 27 of which are in Granada and 32 in Almería. They are all within the B.R. although in some cases only partially. In fact, the only municipalities that lie completely within the B.R, are Trevélez, Capileira, Bubión and Pampaneira.

The expansion of the B.R. requires those municipalities that are only partially in it to be fully incorporated. Those within the province of Granada are: Bérchules, Bubión, Busquístar, Cádiar, La Calahorra, Capileira, Carataunas, Cástaras, Cogollos de Guadix, Dílar, Dúrcal, Güejar-Sierra, Huéneja, Lanjarón, Padul and Soportújar.

Those within the Province of Almeria are: Abla, Abrucena, Alboloduy, Alhabia, Almócita, Alsodux, Bayárcal, Beires, Bentarique, Canjáyar, Fiñana, Fondón, Illar, Instinción, Láujar de Andarax and Nacimiento.

This means that the Biosphere Reserve will grow from 172,000 hectares to 322,000 hectares; i,e., almost double in size.

Each one of those municipalities would have to approve this in a Plenary Meeting of the Town Council. So far, although none has said that they wouldn’t do it, some have shown reluctance basically because they consider that this will entail development restrictions.

However, the Director of the Parque de Sierra Nevada, Francisco Muñoz, says that total inclusion, “Neither imposes limits nor includes new legislation, as it is only a formal recognition.” On the contrary, he claims, this international recognition could mean grants.

(News/Noticias: Sierra Nevada, Granada, Andalucia)