The President of the Andalusian Regional Government, Juanma Moreno, has visited the Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche Natural Park in the Huelva municipality of Castaño del Robledo, where he has planted several chestnut trees and where he has highlighted the importance of the chestnut grove as an economic pillar and source of wealth for Andalusia. Thus, he has stressed that it is key to raise awareness about the importance of these ecosystems and their preservation and permanent support and to disseminate and promote ecological values ​​and the importance of the chestnut grove for the sustainable development of the territory, while he has pointed out the agricultural importance of chestnut production in this park, estimated this year at 1,200 tons. It should be remembered that the chestnut is a source of wealth in the regions of Andalusia where it is found and that it is a species of great cultural, socioeconomic and environmental importance. The chestnut grove, in addition to being an agroforestry exploitation, is a Habitat of Community Interest (HIC) according to the Habitat Directive of the European Union. Moreno has referred to some of the initiatives that reflect the commitment of the Junta to the chestnut forest, the development of the Strategic Guidelines for Chestnuts in the Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche Natural Park, drawn up through a participatory process and with measures such as the creation of five groups, the Specific Regulations for Integrated Production or specific campaigns such as “Fight Against Ink”. In addition, he has emphasised the commitment of the Andalusian Government to inland municipalities to address issues such as the demographic challenge, while pointing out that inland tourism is key in the commitment to de-seasonalisation. In this regard, he stated that, in 2023, the interior of Andalusia received a total of 6.5 million tourists and that between January and September, the evolution of the number of tourists in the main inland municipalities has increased by 17.8% on average, to which is added that almost half of the social security affiliates who work in the Andalusian community in tourist activities are concentrated in inland areas. The Andalusian president has highlighted that Andalusia is the leader in Spain in the number of protected areas with almost three million hectares and the community with the largest area of ​​Biosphere reserve with some 1.7 million hectares. In addition, it is the only one with three national parks, more than 50% of the surface area of ​​wetlands in Spain are located in this community and it has 32 natural sites, reserves and landscapes and 24 natural parks, including the Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche Natural Park, which is the second largest in Andalusia and has the largest protected area with private properties and is made up of 20 habitats and 16 species of community interest. To conclude, he invited all Andalusians to visit and enjoy the natural enclaves of Andalusia and to feel proud of the environmental heritage that we have and that we must preserve together. The visit was also attended by the mayor of Castaño del Robledo, Manuel Martín; the Minister of Sustainability and Environment, Catalina García; the president of the Provincial Council of Huelva, David Toscano, and the director of the Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche Natural Park, Antonio José López.