Sierra de las Nieves set to be finally declared a National Park next year

The Sierra de las Nieves will be Andalucía's third official National Park

If central-government time projections are correct, Malaga province will have its first official National Park from mid 2018.

The Sierra de las Nieves looks set to be given the extra protected status some eighty years after it was first suggested. The natural park, covering most of the mountainous area in nine municipalities on the western side of the province, is currently a Unesco Biosphere Reserve but has been waiting for coveted National Park status for a long time.

The environment ministry has said that the plans for the upgrade are well on course for next year. María García, minister, said she "was convinced" that the enclave should enjoy this categorisation for its biodiversity, although she was sorry that the first attempts "went back as far as 1934".

The designation of the area as a National Park is currently passing through many bureaucratic stages before finally being put before parliament.

When all complete, the Sierra de las Nieves will be Andalucía's third official National Park. The others are Sierra Nevada and Doñana.

Source: Sur in English FERNANDO TORRES ' MALAGA.