The presence of specific natural habitats, as well as a number of animal and plant species of international interest is the reason for this area’s inclusion on the list of Sites of Community Importance in the Mediterranean biogeographic region, and for its subsequent listing as a Special Area of Conservation under the name of “Sierras Bermeja y Real” in 2015. Covering more than 30,000 hectares and southwest of Malaga province, it extends parallel to the coast as a kind of a mountainous barrier from east to west, approaching the sea at its westernmost point with a distance of just three and a half kilometres. An orographic complex of the internal zones of the Betic system, it serves as a border between the region of Genal, the Sierra de las Nieves and the foot of the coastal mountain between Marbella and Estepona. It is made up of various predominantly brown mountain ranges of a non-calcareous nature. The most relevant being those that have christened the area; the Bermeja and Real mountains, alongside others of lesser entity but no less important such as Las Apretaderas, Palmitera and Blanca, the latter of which is of carbonated origin, giving it a blander appearance, not reddish or brown like the rest.

The SAC is framed within the “Middle Mountain Serranías” landscape area, with peaks that reach their maximum to the north (Encinetas peak, 1,473 metres), displaying a relief of embedded canyons and valleys, as well as imposing massifs of ultrabasic intrusive rocks. In this lithology such geological materials dominate, predominantly peridotites and serpentines, which are also responsible for the characteristic colour of the land, although other areas further north feature marble, dolomite and limestone of various types from the Unidad de las Nieves. Owing to their peculiar geological nature, a number of elements have been identified and included in the Andalusian Inventory of Geo-resources due to their special interest: fluvio-karstic canyons such as the one in Angosturas de Benahavís (marble) and the Cahorros del Río Castor de Estepona (marble and peridotites) are two interesting examples, as well as the marble that delimits the Sierras Blancas and Pardas in Igualeja, undeniably attractive landmarks.

In terms of hydrology, the main rivers that flow through the protected area or originate from its mountain ranges are the Padrón, Arroyo de La Cala, Castor, Guadaiza, Guadalmina and Verde, channels that, because of their environmental importance, have been declared SACs outside of the Sierras de Bermeja and Real.

In the protected areas, forest and natural land predominates. The importance of these natural forest areas carried great weight during the process of uniting the area with the Natura 2000 Network, being made up of mainly forests and large areas of dense scrubland with trees, accompanied by grassland. The SAC is home to a number of habitats of community interest, giving the setting high botanical value. The variability of the environment gives these mountain ranges and valleys great potential for hosting a variety of plant formations: heaths, arborescent scrublands of Juniperus bushes, sub-steppe areas of grasses, chestnut forests, cork oak forests, Iberian oak forests made up of Portuguese oak, holm oak , riverine forests, stable formations of vegetation on rocky slopes, Mediterranean wetlands with tall grasses, riverine bushes and even Spanish fir trees, the latter in a very localised and specific way. As an added value, flora species adapted to the extreme conditions that peridotites (altered in serpentines) cause in the soils prevail. Soils rich in iron and magnesium silicates, and lacking calcium, potassium and phosphorus, with a high quantity of heavy metals. These unique characteristics, together with the geomorphology of the area of high slopes, causes the existence of numerous plant species highly adapted to these special conditions, called serpentine endemic species.

Due both to the aforementioned variety of habitats and their location on the migratory routes between Africa and Europe, as well as the remarkable altitudinal range existing from almost sea level to the summits of more than 1,400 metres in a such a reduced geographical distance, these mountains serve as a shelter and range area for numerous animal species, some of which only occupy very localised distribution areas, underling the importance of applying correct conservation measures in this area. The birdlife reigns, with sedentary avifauna being joined by migratory species that use the SAC as a resting place before crossing the Strait. In rocky habitats, the griffon vulture, Egyptian vulture, Bonelli´s eagle and golden eagle stand out, and some of those associated with forest habitats are of great interest such as the nuthatch, chiffchaff, booted and short-toed snake eagles, northern goshawk and hawk. In the bush habitat and open spaces, warblers, stonechats and shrikes are common, and regarding migratory birds, birds of prey such as the black and royal kites, the short-toed and booted eagles and the honey buzzard roam here, with the latter congregating in large groups.

The invertebrates increase the importance of the unique biodiversity of the SAC still. The Spanish funnel-web spider has been recorded in forests of cork oaks, Portuguese oaks and holm oaks, and is an endemic species of southern Spain and North Africa. Associated with the aquatic environment, specific dragonfly species are of enormous relevance, bioindicators of the excellent quality of the waters.

There are currently no public facilities in the area of the SAC, although the interest in nature tourism, bird watching, hiking, outdoor sports and other recreational and leisure activities is steadily increasing. Make sure your visit does not affect the natural environment negatively. Take your waste home with you and avoid environmental incidents such as forest fires by being vigilant. Respect for the environment means being able to continue enjoying these natural treasures long into the future.

The Sierras Bermeja y Real SAC plays an important role as an ecological corridor between Natura 2000 network areas, due to the physical and territorial continuity it shares with the Sierra Blanca and Valle del Río Genal SACs. Alongside other areas of the network, such as Alcornocales and Sierra de las Nieves, with the existence of an important ecological corridor connecting the provinces of Cadiz and Malaga. Its importance is such that the current management plan in force for the area was approved as a single functional unit by the Ministry of Environment and Planning for the Sierras Bermeja and Real, Blanca and Valle del Río Genal, with the particularity that a fourth SAC, the Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja, be located within the one that now occupies it, although in this case, and due to its unique nature, it has its own management plan.

Finally, it should be noted that the SAC is part of two Biosphere Reserves, the Mediterranean Intercontinental and the Sierra de las Nieves, both part of the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Program, thereby increasing its important role within the territories that enjoy environmental protection in Andalusia.