Towards a sustainable path for Navacerrada
While awaiting a court decision to clarify the legality of ending the Navacerrada ski slopes concession, the Ministry has made progress in restoring the landscape and ecosystems of the Sierra de Guadarrama. The conservation area continues to remove artificial structures that threaten its scenery and natural balance. Note: attribution to official sources is included below.
Since the beginning of October, the Autonomous Organism for National Parks, known as OAPN, has come under the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge. It has begun dismantling several abandoned chairlifts on Mount Pinar de Valsaín, owned by OAPN, and Guarramillas, owned by the Community of Madrid. Abandoned for years and long requested by mountain groups and environmentalists, the dismantling forms part of a pilot program aimed at sustainable economic activation for towns around Navacerrada, encouraged by OAPN after tourism activities in the area wind down. The main beneficiaries are Navacerrada, Cercedilla, and the Royal District of San Ildefonso in Segovia, as announced by the ministry. Sources: official ministry statements and board meetings.
The ministry outlined four axes for the program: boosting the local economy, advancing sustainable mobility, promoting historical, nature and sports tourism, and rehabilitating the port and its surroundings. The actions were presented at the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park Board of Trustees and the Coordinating Commission meetings held in 2021, with production funds supported by the European Union. Attribution: ministry announcements and park authorities.
Three years ago, an old abandoned hostel was demolished, marking a visible step in the long process of recovery and land restoration. This note appears in recent project summaries and site reporting from the ongoing program.
In addition to recently launched actions, the program includes building deterrent parking lots in nearby towns, creating interpretive centers for the national park, preparing interpretive trails and routes, burying a high voltage line crossing the park, and demolishing other abandoned structures in Navacerrada. Most actions have an execution window from late 2022 through 2024, with related projects at varying stages of processing. Context: program timelines and project stages are publicly tracked by park authorities.
Towards a sustainable destination
The ministry has confirmed that the demolitions at Navacerrada-Cercedilla align with the Tourism Sustainability Plan born from the 2021 agreement between the Minister of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sports. The plan involves the Madrid regional community and Cercedilla City Council in transforming the landscape into a sustainable destination that supports climate change mitigation. Source: tourism sustainability framework documents.
These initiatives aim to conserve and guide the respectful use of the national park. The recent reopening of the historic RENFE train on the C-9 line, which connects Cercedilla with Navacerrada and Coto, also contributes by offering a sustainable mobility alternative to access the park. This supports regional transportation goals and benefits visitors and residents alike. Attribution: regional transport services and park access planning.
Judicial process continues
The ongoing program proceeds while a judicial decision addresses the end of the occupation concession for Pinar de Valsaín Mountain. The decision will determine the responsible authority and the appropriate next steps. The mountain, owned by OAPN, covers about 7.7 hectares and previously hosted chairlifts for private use, though its occupation title ended on April 3, 2021, making renewal unlikely. Legal context: ongoing court proceedings and concession status.
Due to its autonomy, environmental values, and public interest, the autonomous body has chosen to return the area to its natural state, an action included in the program and awaiting the court’s decision. The National Parks Autonomous Organization will continue working to protect and responsibly use nature and to ensure that future generations can enjoy a living natural heritage. Institutional commitment: ongoing protection and sustainable use.
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