The Sierra de las Nieves is located in the interior of the province of Málaga and extends across its central-western region. Although it does not correspond to any natural region, it constitutes a territory of global biogeographic importance, clearly influenced by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, encompassing territories belonging to distinct geographic areas such as the Serranía de Ronda, the Antequera Depression, the Guadalhorce Valley, and the Western Costa del Sol; together, they form part of one of Andalusia’s most valuable natural ecosystems.
This region is notable for its biodiversity, with a significant presence of mountain gall-oak and the Spanish fir—a unique species—since the National Park is home to the world’s largest area of Spanish fir forests and a landscape characterized by stark contrasts that has been shaped by the Sierras Blancas, where limestone and dolomite rocks predominate; the Sierras Bermejas, where peridotite rocks predominate; and the so-called Tierras Pardas, which have traditionally been used for agriculture by the villages in the region.
In these municipalities, people and the environment coexist in harmony, following the model of sustainable development, resulting in a protected area recognized both nationally and internationally.