© Photograph: Cinema Sur

Natural Park of Alcornocales: Those almost 168.000 ha that occupy the Park are limited in the south with  the municipality of Tarifa and cover until Cortés de la Frontera in the northwest of the county of Málaga. The main characteristic of this space is that contain the biggest cork-oak forest in the Iberian Peninsula and one of the most important in the world, presenting a high conservation grade. Also contain some exceptional galleries forests (riparian forest), located in the denominated "canutos", deep, narrow valleys dug by the rivers effect (gorge). Also Special Protection Area for Birds (SAC), and declared Site of Community (SCI). This space, in turn, has granted the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas (CETS) on behalf of the "Federation of Nature and National Parks of Europe" (EUROPARC).

© Photograph: Cinema Sur

El Estrecho Natural park : The youngest Natural Park in Andalusia natural park network possesses a surface of some 19.000 ha, divided in half approximately, between terrestrial and marine habitats. Its limits are inside the Municipal Terms of Algeciras, Barbate and Tarifa. The qualities for which was declared protected site covers  from characteristic eminently natural up  to cultural of national importance. Also Special Protection Area for Birds and declared as Site of Community Interest.

© Photograph: Francisco Jiménez

Natural Site marshlands of Palmones river: Although practically it is outside of the district of Alcornocales, we have included for its ornithological high value. Located in the Bay of Algeciras,  about 5 kms to the north of this city. It has an extension of 58 ha. Area of marsh and coastal dunes, with reed (Phragmites australis), salicornia (Salicornia ramossisima) and rush (Juncus sp.). Important for species like the short-eared owl (Asio flammeus), the osprey (Pandion haliaetus), the common shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), the squacco heron (Ardeola ralloides), etc. Also declared Special Protection Area for Birds and Site of Community Interest.

Natural Monument Dune of Bolonia: Located inside the N P of the Estrecho, in the municipality of Tarifa. This Natural Monument consists on an active dune of more than 30 meters high located in the isthmus of Punta Camarinal, in the south Atlantic coast of Cádiz.

Besides the previous site in the district are declared also as Site of Community Interest "Acebuchales Acebuchales de la Campiña Sur de Cádiz ", although in this case the reasons of its declaration are more related with the presence of Habitats of Community Interest that with the ornithology.