Text by María Jiménez Rodríguez, Managing Director / Vía Verde de la Sierra Foundation

The recent periods of heavy rain and wind that affected Andalusia in January and February caused significant damage to numerous infrastructures. Among those seriously impacted is the Vía Verde de la Sierra.

Due to the extensive damage suffered, the entire route had to be closed to both pedestrians and vehicles for safety reasons. This was necessary because of the many structural damages, affecting both the surface (landslides in tunnels, fallen trees, loss of gravel and asphalt, etc.) and the infrastructure along the route (interpretation centres, accommodation facilities, playgrounds, etc.), making it impossible to guarantee the physical safety of users.

This closure has not only meant the shutdown of one of the most important nature-based tourism resources in the Sierra de Cádiz, but has also led to a series of very serious problems for the municipalities along the route. These include the loss of jobs, the suspension of activities by companies operating directly on the greenway (such as bicycle rental businesses and tour guides), significant economic losses for restaurants and accommodation providers both along the route and in the surrounding towns, and the inability to access nearby agricultural and livestock farms.

All of this represents an unprecedented economic and environmental crisis in the region, as the Vía Verde is a key source of employment for the municipalities it passes through, generating both direct jobs (more than 50 positions) and indirect employment (service providers, restaurants, and local product sales).

The damage is extensive, and repairing it is beyond the capacity of our organisation without support from other institutions. Given the urgency of the situation, and the impossibility of delaying these works—thereby prolonging the difficult circumstances already faced by local businesses, farmers, and livestock breeders—the Vía Verde de la Sierra Foundation has requested emergency funding from all relevant authorities. The aim is to repair the damage as soon as possible and restore the safe and proper functioning of the Vía Verde de la Sierra.

To date, none of these requests has received a response, and the route therefore remains partially closed. Only those sections without tunnels have been reopened. For more information on accessible sections, please visit: www.fundacionviaverdedelasierra.com