The Andalusian Ministry of Sustainability has launched a plan of 480,659 euros to recover the pinsapo, an endangered species. Cortes de la Frontera (Málaga) is one of the main sites of the project.
Cortes de la Frontera will become one of the natural laboratories of the Andalusian strategy to save the pinsapo (Abies pinsapo), an endemic tree in danger of extinction that is suffering the effects of climate change. The Junta de Andalucía has planned to invest 480,659 euros in a plan that includes experimental reforestations in several climate refuges in the community.
The municipality of Málaga, located in the Serranía de Ronda, has been selected for its altitude, humidity, and microclimate, conditions that make it an ideal space to test the adaptation of the species to scenarios of greater thermal and water stress. The actions are integrated into the network of areas identified as possible climate refuges for Andalusian biodiversity.
The plan, promoted by the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment, will be developed over 20 months and includes two models of reforestation. The first focuses on strengthening existing populations, with a density of 100 trees per hectare and individual protection. The second aims for new areas of implantation, with a density of 200 trees per hectare. In both cases, work will include land preparation, planting, direct sowing, creation of micro-basins, tree pits, and protection systems against herbivory.
In addition to Cortes de la Frontera, the project will act in other ecologically valuable sites in Andalusia: Algodonales and Villaluenga del Rosario (Cádiz), Lanjarón (Granada), and Bacares (Almería). All of them exceed 900 meters in altitude and present conditions of shade, high humidity, and low sunlight. They have been selected based on technical studies and geospatial data from the Andalusian Environmental Network (Rediam), combined with climate evolution scenarios.
The actions will take place in areas of high environmental value, many of which are integrated into the Natura 2000 Network, and will have scientific monitoring to evaluate the evolution of the species. Alongside the environmental dimension, the project will have a socioeconomic impact: it will generate specialised employment in forestry, logistics, and maintenance, linked to the sustainable management of the territory.
The pinsapo is one of the most unique trees in Andalusia and a forest endemic of great biogeographical value. Its sensitivity to drought, rising temperatures, and decreasing rainfall makes it a key indicator of the impact of climate change on Mediterranean mountain ecosystems. The Andalusian plan adds to previous conservation initiatives, such as the creation of micro-reserves, and seeks to strengthen the resilience of forests.
The deadline for submitting bids to execute the contract is 15 June 2026. The Junta hopes that this strategy will ensure the long-term conservation of the pinsapo and serve as a model for the adaptation of other forest species to climate change.
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