{"id":2228,"date":"2019-12-26T07:16:07","date_gmt":"2019-12-26T06:16:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/valle-del-genal\/"},"modified":"2025-12-14T11:33:41","modified_gmt":"2025-12-14T10:33:41","slug":"malaga-genal-valley-natura-2000-network","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/blog\/malaga-genal-valley-natura-2000-network\/","title":{"rendered":"Natura 2000 Network Genal Valley"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>M\u00c1LAGA &#8211; An isolated and little known forest, a Mediterranean region full of rurality and biodiversity.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-4 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Sylvia-melanocephala.png\" data-id=\"19862\" alt=\"Sylvia melanocephala Spain\" class=\"wp-image-19862 lazyload\" title=\"Sylvia melanocephala\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"545\" height=\"545\" data-id=\"19862\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Sylvia-melanocephala.png\" alt=\"Sylvia melanocephala Spain\" class=\"wp-image-19862\" title=\"Sylvia melanocephala\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Sylvia-melanocephala.png 545w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Sylvia-melanocephala-380x380.png 380w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Sylvia-melanocephala-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 545px) 100vw, 545px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Trithemis-kirbyi.png\" data-id=\"19879\" alt=\"Trithemis kirbyi Malaga\" class=\"wp-image-19879 lazyload\" title=\"Trithemis kirbyi\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" data-id=\"19879\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Trithemis-kirbyi.png\" alt=\"Trithemis kirbyi Malaga\" class=\"wp-image-19879\" title=\"Trithemis kirbyi\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Trithemis-kirbyi.png 400w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Trithemis-kirbyi-380x380.png 380w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Trithemis-kirbyi-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Oenanthe-leucura.png\" data-id=\"19863\" alt=\"Oenanthe leucura Genal Valley\" class=\"wp-image-19863 lazyload\" title=\"Oenanthe leucura\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"299\" height=\"299\" data-id=\"19863\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Oenanthe-leucura.png\" alt=\"Oenanthe leucura Genal Valley\" class=\"wp-image-19863\" title=\"Oenanthe leucura\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Oenanthe-leucura.png 299w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Oenanthe-leucura-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 299px) 100vw, 299px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Salamandra-salamandra-longirostris.png\" data-id=\"19912\" alt=\"Salamander salamandra salamandra longirostris Andalousie\" class=\"wp-image-19912 lazyload\" title=\"Salamandra salamandra longirostris\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"454\" height=\"454\" data-id=\"19912\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Salamandra-salamandra-longirostris.png\" alt=\"Salamander salamandra salamandra longirostris Andalousie\" class=\"wp-image-19912\" title=\"Salamandra salamandra longirostris\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Salamandra-salamandra-longirostris.png 454w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Salamandra-salamandra-longirostris-380x380.png 380w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Salamandra-salamandra-longirostris-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 454px) 100vw, 454px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>Genal Valley <\/strong>connects Gibraltar and Ronda, used by smugglers and bandits as well as travelers and soldiers. It is surrounded by mountains, covered with <g id=\"gid_1\">ancient forests<\/g> and dotted with <g id=\"gid_2\">15 white villages<\/g> perched on the slopes and populated by just 7,000 inhabitants. Here <strong>one breathes rurality and tradition<\/strong>&#8230; an authentic territory par excellence.  <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P1070843_1.jpg\" alt=\"White village Serrania de Ronda\" class=\"wp-image-3464 lazyload\" title=\"\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P1070843_1.jpg\" alt=\"White village Serrania de Ronda\" class=\"wp-image-3464\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P1070843_1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P1070843_1-380x253.jpg 380w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>With their low and (formerly) lime-painted houses, their narrow streets in medieval style and their steep slopes that betray their location on the slopes of the mountains, the Comma villages attract the attention of the traveler and consecrate the Andalusian popular architecture as one of its strongest signs of identity.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The steep river valley is surrounded by natural spaces all visible from natural <g id=\"gid_0\">viewpoints<\/g>: to the southwest <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/blog\/the-strait-of-gibraltar-natural-park\/\">Strait of Gibraltar<\/a><\/strong>to the west    <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/blog\/parque-natural-los-alcornocales\/\">Los Alcornocales<\/a>,<\/strong>  to the northwest <g id=\"gid_0\"><g id=\"gid_1\">Sierra de Grazalema<\/g><\/g>to the north, the mountain ranges of the city of Ronda, to the northeast <g id=\"gid_2\"><g id=\"gid_3\">Sierra de Las Nieves<\/g><\/g>to the east <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/sierra-bermeja\">Sierra Bermeja<\/a><\/strong>to the southeast <strong>Sierra Crestellina<\/strong> and to the south the <strong>Mediterranean Sea<\/strong> and already the <strong>coast of Africa<\/strong>, an incredible panorama that allows us to appreciate the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/?p=38334\">Serrania de Ronda<\/a><\/strong> in all its splendor.   <\/p>\n\n<ul style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:700\" class=\"wp-block-list is-style-checkmark-list has-accent-4-background-color has-background\">\n<li class=\"has-accent-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-1\">The forest of forests<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-accent-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-2\">White villages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-accent-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-3\">Autumn colors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-accent-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-4\">Dragonflies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-accent-1-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-5\">Karst<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The most beautiful valley in Andalusia<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Genal River is one of the last <strong>wild rivers<\/strong> in Andalusia that was recently saved from a dam construction project thanks to the union of the inhabitants of the valley. The <strong>source of the Genal<\/strong>, located in the municipality of Igualeja, has been declared a <strong>Natural Monument<\/strong>. A modest river, short in length and shallow &#8230; but what a character! In winter, the rains and storms feed a stream that becomes an agitated river and a paradise for <g id=\"gid_3\">native fish<\/g>. In the spring, the water flows merrily and welcomes populations of<g id=\"gid_4\"> dragonflies and frogs<\/g>. In summer, the stream withers and offers a pleasant refuge from the Mediterranean heat; it dries up towards its mouth and forms a small stony plain. In autumn, the first rains revive the river, fresh grass grows on its banks and the autumn fruits are the pretext for beautiful walks. The Genal dies the river Guadiaro in the place of <strong>Las Juntas del Rio<\/strong>.       <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P1140722.jpg\" alt=\"riparian forest, Genal Valley - Natura Network\" class=\"wp-image-3405 lazyload\" title=\"\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P1140722.jpg\" alt=\"riparian forest, Genal Valley - Natura Network\" class=\"wp-image-3405\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P1140722.jpg 800w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/P1140722-380x253.jpg 380w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Few Iberian rivers have escaped the dam construction fever. The Genal is an exception and hosts a threatened biodiversity justifying the conservation of the Genal Valley &#8211; Red Natura. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The forest is dense and omnipresent throughout the valley. The Genal is a true <g id=\"gid_0\">&#8220;forest of forests&#8221;,<\/g> mainly a <g id=\"gid_1\">cork oak grove<\/g><g id=\"gid_2\">(Quercus suber<\/g>) with persistent foliage and a <g id=\"gid_3\">chestnut grove<\/g><g id=\"gid_4\">(Castanea sativa<\/g>), with spectacular golden foliage in autumn (the <g id=\"gid_5\">&#8220;<g id=\"gid_6\">Copper Forest<\/g>&#8220;).<\/g> Other areas are alternatively occupied by <strong>resin pines<\/strong><em>(Pinus pinaster<\/em>), <strong>holm oaks<\/strong><em>(Quercus rotundifolia<\/em>) and <strong>gall oaks<\/strong><em>(Quercus faginea<\/em>).   On the other hand, the slopes of Sierra Bermeja are covered by forests of <strong>Spanish firs<\/strong><em>(Abies pinsapo<\/em>) and <strong>resin pines<\/strong> <em><\/em>. As for the banks of the Genal, they are bordered by a narrow riparian forest; and the lowlands are covered with wild olive trees. Not forgetting the cultivated plots of olive, almond, orange, cherry and other fruit trees, with staggered blooms and that offer us the best of nature. Few regions offer such a rich diversity of forests and fruit trees.     <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_1882_1-e1580928638335.jpg\" class=\"lazyload\" alt=\"Genal Valley forest, cork oak grove (Quercus suber), chestnut grove (Castanea sativa)\" title=\"\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_1882_1-e1580928638335.jpg\" alt=\"Genal Valley forest, cork oak grove (Quercus suber), chestnut grove (Castanea sativa)\" title=\"\"><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>The cork oak (Quercus suber), with persistent foliage, offers a landscape of eternal spring and the chestnut (Castanea sativa), with its spectacular golden foliage in autumn, gives us the &#8220;Copper Forest&#8221;.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"\/?page_id=5628\">Our experiences in the Genal Valley<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The valley is bordered by mountains, rocky ridges protrude on all sides along the road. The magnificent <g id=\"gid_0\">Jaraestepar (<\/g> 1 427 meters) is a bare ridge, covered with sparse grass and very stony that houses a splendid karst landscape in <g id=\"gid_1\">Los Riscos de Cartajima<\/g>. If we look to the sky we are sure to be surprised by the <strong>griffon vultures<\/strong><em>(Gyps fulvus<\/em>).  <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG-20190331-WA0060.jpg\" alt=\"White village, Benarraba, Genal valley, Church\" class=\"wp-image-3771 lazyload\" title=\"\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG-20190331-WA0060.jpg\" alt=\"White village, Benarraba, Genal valley, Church\" class=\"wp-image-3771\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG-20190331-WA0060.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG-20190331-WA0060-380x214.jpg 380w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG-20190331-WA0060-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG-20190331-WA0060-1536x864.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>In winter, the clouds rise from the valley and flirt with the village of Benarrab\u00e1.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Colors of Genal: the different shades of green of its forests combined with the blue of the sky and the Mediterranean Sea, the white of the rocky peaks, the villages and the winter fogs, the red of Sierra Bermeja and the trunks of the cork oaks, offer us a very attractive chromatic palette.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/dog-walker-11.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-125 lazyload\" title=\"\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1349\" height=\"95\" src=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/dog-walker-11.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-125\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/dog-walker-11.png 1349w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/dog-walker-11-380x27.png 380w, https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/dog-walker-11-800x56.png 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1349px) 100vw, 1349px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>Genal Valley is above all a rural territory<\/strong>, populated by people of the land, who know the traditions, the agricultural culture, the trees and the small herds and who have favored the polyculture. The villages were built by the Berbers at the time of Al-Andalus and have stood the test of time. Their names betray their origin and sound like poetry. After the Christian conquest, life in the Moorish paradise became more difficult as rebellions arose, but in vain &#8230; the result was conversion or exile.   <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An isolated and little-known forest, a Mediterranean region full of rurality and biodiversity. Genal Valley, Natura 2000 Network.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":26704,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[561],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-natural-protected-areas-in-andalusia"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2228","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2228"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2228\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g3-guides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}