• Since 1993, more than 10,700 kilometers of natural trails have been put into service, with more than 130 routes spread throughout the country.
• The Natural Trail Network has become a backbone of the rural environment around which various activities are energized.

On October 4th, the “Natural Paths” Program of Spain commemorated its 30th anniversary with a technical conference that brought together those involved in managing the activities of the Natural Trails Network, such as companies, developers, and representatives of other services linked to the routes, to strengthen the lines of collaboration between all its stakeholders.

Since its inception, the Nature Trails Program has promoted the rehabilitation and refurbishment of old railway lines, canal service roads, towpaths, historic routes, livestock trails, and coastal and mountain paths, giving them new tourist, sports, and cultural uses for hikers and cyclists. This has helped the Network consolidate its position as a backbone for the social and economic development of rural areas , as a network of companies has grown around these trails and paths, organizing activities.

In total, over these 30 years, more than 10,700 kilometers of nature trails have been put into service, with more than 130 routes spread throughout the country, with a cumulative investment by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) amounting to approximately 270 million euros for a program that has the collaboration of other public administrations responsible for the management and maintenance of the routes.

Celebration

The day of celebration highlighted the three basic objectives of the Natural Trails Program:

• Promote healthy mobility of body and spirit
• Development of alternative tourism to sun and beach tourism
• The preservation of the natural environment

A network of tourist services has been developed around these objectives, encompassing sports, culture, gastronomy, and nature. This means supporting the development of the local economy through the employment opportunities it creates.

Originally, Nature Trails aimed to rehabilitate old railway lines or disused paths to serve as tourist routes, such as the Carrilet (Girona), the first path built in 1993, or the "Vías Verdes de la Sierra" Nature Trail (Andalusia), the oldest Nature Trail. Gradually, interest and demand grew—as did public investment—until historic paths, livestock trails, public land rights-of-way, trails, and towpaths (which run along the banks of canals and irrigation ditches) were established.

What's remarkable about this network is that it has managed to transform rural areas into a world of opportunity , harnessing the potential of Nature Trails to address the demographic challenge and turning them into a resource to foster entrepreneurship. In fact, economic diversification in rural areas is achieved through the synergies between nature, gastronomy, and the enhancement of cultural heritage.

The event also opened up other avenues for the future: innovation and the digitalization of Nature Trails can also be a resource for businesses, leveraging synergies with initiatives implemented by the government, such as the monitoring of trails using sensors.

The 30th anniversary of Caminos Naturales is accompanied by an advertising and communications campaign whose audiovisual materials can be viewed here: http://www.caminosnaturales.es .