An ancient practice with modern relevance - exploring the socio-ecological dimensions of traditional livestock migration in Spain
Imagine a 400-kilometer green corridor connecting the mountains of Cuenca with the pastures of Sierra Morena, a natural highway traversed twice yearly by thousands of sheep, goats, and cattle moving with seasonal precision as ancient as the landscape itself.
This is the reality of the Cañada Real Conquense, one of Spain's most important transhumance routes where a millennia-old practice reveals itself as a surprisingly modern solution to contemporary ecological and social challenges. Transhumance, far from being a relic of the past, constitutes a complex socio-ecological system where nature, culture, and economy intertwine in a fragile balance maintained today by fewer than 200 livestock operations nationwide .
The phrase "se hace vereda al andar" (the path is made by walking) encapsulates the essence of this living heritage: the routes remain open precisely because they are used, because herds and their shepherds traverse them generation after generation.
This article explores transhumance along the Cañada Real Conquense from a socio-ecological perspective, examining how this UNESCO-recognized heritage generates environmental benefits, preserves traditional knowledge, and confronts contemporary challenges 4 .
Transhumance is defined as a form of pastoralism consisting of the seasonal long-distance movement of livestock between different geographic or climatic zones along established migratory routes 4 . Unlike nomadism, these movements are periodic and predictable, responding to seasonal cycles: toward mountain pastures in summer and toward warmer valley areas in winter.
Spain boasts a world-unique network of livestock routes: approximately 125,000 kilometers of drove roads, cordeles, and veredas constituting 1% of the peninsular territory (about 400,000 hectares) 1 .
This natural infrastructure, protected by law since the Middle Ages with the Honrado Concejo de la Mesta, represents an unparalleled cultural and ecological heritage in Europe.
Establishment of the Mesta and formalization of transhumance routes across the Iberian Peninsula.
Golden age of transhumance with millions of animals moving seasonally across Spain.
Gradual decline due to industrialization, rural depopulation, and changing agricultural practices.
Recognition as cultural heritage and renewed interest for its ecological and social benefits.
The Cañada Real Conquense, also known as the Cañada de los Chorros, is one of the most significant transhumance routes on the Iberian Peninsula. Stretching over 400 kilometers in length, it traverses from north to south the provinces of Cuenca, Albacete, Ciudad Real, and Jaén, connecting the high-altitude pastures of the Serranía de Cuenca with the winter pastures of Andújar in Sierra Morena 6 .
Interactive Map of Cañada Real Conquense
Begins in the sierras of Tragacete and Albarracín, dominated by pine forests, limestone cliffs, and river canyons, with altitudes exceeding 1,000 meters.
Descends toward the La Mancha plain (600-700 meters altitude) where original holm oak forests have been largely replaced by vineyards and cereal crops.
Crosses the Campo de Montiel plateau (700-900 meters) with its limestone moors, holm oak forests, and juniper groves surrounding the exceptional Lagunas de Ruidera karst lake complex.
A recent study conducted within the context of the "Caminos de vida: trashumancia, patrimonio y territorio" project evaluated the nutritional status of a herd of 90 goats of the Murciano-Granadina breed during a transhumant journey of 282 kilometers over 23 days 7 .
| Measurement Day | Milk Production (g/goat/day) | Body Condition (scale 1-5) | NEFA (mmol/L) | BHB (mmol/L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 820 | 2.8 | 0.11 | 0.75* |
| Day 13 | 720 | 3.0 | 0.10 | 0.58 |
| Day 26 | 670 | 3.0 | 0.12 | 0.59 |
| Day 40 | 630 | 3.1 | 0.11 | 0.56 |
Milk Production During Transhumance Visualization
| Biomarker | Metabolic Function | Normal Threshold | Interpretation in Study |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEFA | Indicator of fat mobilization | < 0.3 mmol/L | Normal values: adequate energy balance |
| BHB | Ketone body from incomplete fat oxidation | < 0.8-1.0 mmol/L | Initially elevated level that normalizes, suggesting metabolic adaptation |
The results showed that, despite the progressive reduction in milk production (23% at the end of the journey), associated with the advanced stage of lactation, the animals maintained an adequate energy balance and improved their body condition by 0.3 points 7 .
Transhumance represents an exceptional model of sustainable resource management, where human activity not only avoids ecosystem degradation but actually maintains and enriches them.
The drove roads function as green corridors that allow genetic flow between species populations and seed dispersal, favoring biodiversity in increasingly fragmented landscapes 1 .
Controlled grazing reduces flammable biomass in woodlands, creating vegetation discontinuities that hinder the spread of forest fires.
Transhumance contributes to maintaining population in depopulated rural areas, generating direct (shepherds) and indirect (crafts, services, tourism) employment.
Socio-Ecological Benefits Distribution
Despite its multiple benefits, transhumance faces critical threats that explain its progressive decline. According to the White Paper on Transhumance (2013), in Spain there remain fewer than 200 transhumant livestock operations using the drove roads, compared to the current nine million sheep (there were 25 million in the past) .
Many sections of drove roads have been occupied by crops, infrastructure, or private enclosures, fragmenting routes and hindering livestock passage.
Shepherds face increasing administrative complexity and digitalization that complicates their work.
The harshness of the profession (work every day of the year, no vacations) and limited economic prospects deter young people.
The "Caminos Trashumantes" platform has digitized the Cañada Real Conquense, offering workshops, encounters with local communities, and herd accompaniment experiences.
Training centers for new incorporations have appeared throughout the Peninsula, combining traditional knowledge with new technologies.
Declaration as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2019 (extended in 2023) and proclamation of 2026 as International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.
Transhumance along the Cañada Real Conquense embodies the profound wisdom of the saying "se hace vereda al andar." These paths are preserved precisely because they are traveled, because generation after generation of shepherds and herds have kept them alive, weaving a network of vital connection between ecosystems, communities, and traditions.
Beyond its cultural and historical value, transhumance reveals itself as a model of extraordinary relevance in a context of global ecological crisis: it manages resources sustainably, maintains biodiversity, prevents fires, sequesters carbon, and contributes to the vitality of rural areas.
"The paths then serve for public activities like environmental education, hiking, etc. They are biodiversity corridors that connect the different ecosystems of the Peninsula." - José Fajardo, spokesperson for the Platform for the Defense of Livestock Routes of Castilla-La Mancha .
The future of the Cañada Real Conquense and transhumance in general will depend on our ability to reconcile tradition and modernity, to find formulas that allow shepherds like Paco Valle to continue their work under dignified conditions, and to recognize the integral socio-ecological value of this millennia-old practice.
Preserving transhumance is not just conserving a heritage of the past, but investing in a more resilient and sustainable future for society as a whole. The path is made; we only need to decide if we will continue walking it.