June 22, 2017

Every year, the MADbird fair in the Spanish capital brings together associations and institutions linked to bird conservation and observation in the wild, such as SEOBirdlife and EUROPARC-Spain. Major photography, optics, and IT firms also participate. During this rural tourism event, workshops and roundtable discussions related to territorial sustainability and the respectful use of biodiversity have been organized.

Natural Paths offers the public 129 trails totaling more than 9,500 kilometers spread throughout the country. This network of trails was launched in 1993 and aims to enhance and utilize old railways, canals, towpaths, cattle trails, footpaths, and even former public roads . Its implementation has brought the population closer to the natural environment , promoting knowledge of nature and landscapes , as well as rural development in the areas through which they run.

This project, run by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food, and the Environment, is still operational and is being implemented thanks to the collaboration of local governments, which are responsible for submitting proposals for trails that could be converted into Nature Trails and their subsequent maintenance. It falls under the 2014-2020 National Rural Development Program and is co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) .

The Nature Trails are divided into eight sectors based on their location: Northwest, Northeast, East, South, Central, Balearic, and Canary Islands. Each of the 129 trails has its own information sheet containing all kinds of related information, such as location, map, duration, difficulty, municipalities it passes through, adjacent cultural and natural heritage, and GPS coordinates . Virtual tours and various publications and manuals are also available for users.