Ecotourism Commitment of the Serranía de Cuenca
Taking Care of What's Ours
Nature Preserved by Its People
Historically, the mountain region has been renowned for its natural environment, a fact that has only been possible thanks to its people’s commitment to nature, as they have lived off the mountains and their bounty since time immemorial. The scenic beauty of these lands has been preserved throughout the region’s long history. Among its many initiatives, the local action group CEDER-PRODESE has joined the Ecotourism Association of Spain to implement a strategy for promoting rural development through ecotourism in collaboration with local stakeholders.
From 1973 to 2007 (the year the Serranía de Cuenca Natural Park was established), the mountain range was a game reserve, a fact that contributed significantly to its conservation, as did the subsequent designation of other protected areas. The main protected areas in the region are: the Serranía de Cuenca Natural Park; the Natural Monuments: the Source of the Cuervo River, Hoz de Beteta, and Sumidero de Mata Asnos; Serrezuela de Valsalobre, Torcas de Lagunaseca, Muela Pinilla and del Puntal, Palancares and Tierra Muerta, and Lagunas de Cañada del Hoyo; as well as the Laguna del Marquesado Nature Reserve and the Cueva de los Morceguillos Micro-Reserve.
The Serranía de Cuenca ZEC-ZEPA natural area is one of the best-preserved mountainous regions in Spain, thanks to the efforts of many generations committed to the environment; which is why the local action group CEDER-PRODESE (a member of the Ecotourism Association of Spain since 2024) is promoting a wide range of initiatives to foster sustainable tourism in the region.
Our Commitment
The companies that are members of the local action group are committed to participating in the region’s circular economy, as well as to upholding, respecting, and promoting the values of the Natura 2000 Network.
Local Action Group Projects
· Memory Bank: Shepherding and Livestock Farming in the Serranía de Cuenca. Its goal is to preserve, document, and share the oral, cultural, and ethnographic heritage associated with traditional shepherding and extensive livestock farming in the Serranía de Cuenca.
· Eco2Nexo. A smart tourism platform that connects technology, nature, and culture, offering activities designed to foster a commitment to the environment, promote learning through fun experiences, and provide rewards through a digital passport that recognizes responsible participation.
· Mycological Museum in Cardente. Its goal is to promote the region’s rich mycological heritage and encourage best practices in mushroom foraging and identification to achieve sustainable mycological tourism.
A firm commitment to ecotourism
CEDER Serranía de Cuenca participated in the Ecotourism in the Natura 2000 Network cooperation project in Castilla-La Mancha, which enabled the Serranía de Cuenca Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Area (SPA) to join the Nature Tourism Sustainability Recognition System within the Natura 2000 Network (SRSTNRN2000). This achievement fulfills the requirements that ensure this protected area possesses the necessary characteristics and management tools to promote public use and tourism activities compatible with its conservation objectives. Also within the framework of this project, several tourism businesses in the region joined the SRSTNRN2000, demonstrating their commitment to providing services based on sustainability principles, their dedication to nature preservation, and their ability to better communicate the value of their offerings to customers.
Having received this recognition from the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge and the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, the destination and accredited companies have been able to join Soy Ecoturista, a network of destinations and companies that promote a tourism product that generates benefits for biodiversity conservation, local development and visitors who thus have access to authentic experiences with a positive impact on the territory.