In the north western part of the province is situated the Sierra Pelada y Rivera del Aserrador Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, in the municipal districts of
Aroche,
Cortegana,
Rosal de la Frontera and
Almonaster la Real.
In it can be found the biggest breeding colony of black vultures in Andalusia and one of the biggest in
Europe. It measures 12,226 hectares. It's a mountainous area, with average altitudes of 350-400 metres, where the vegetation is characterized by the presence of
eucalyptus and pine trees; Mediterranean scrub; woods with black poplars, ash trees, alders and willows; and meadows with holm oaks and cork oaks. As for fauna, the
most notable species – in addition to the black vulture – are other birds of prey such as the golden eagle, the Eurasian eagle-owl, the short-toed eagle, the booted
eagle, the Spanish imperial eagle and the griffon vulture. Here also live the warbler, the black stork, the otter, the fox, the badger, the wild cat, the ichneumon,
the weasel, the genet, the polecat, the wild boar and the red deer.
Also in the north west of the province is the Peñas de Aroche Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It's a semi-mountainous area measuring over seven hundred hectares.
It has an abundance of thickets in which the black vulture has another quiet place in which to nest undisturbed. In addition, one can also observe red kites, Eurasian
eagle-owls, Bonelli's eagles, short-toed eagles, golden eagles, Spanish imperial eagles, hobbies, black storks, and turtle doves, in addition to otters, wild boars and
the occasional lynx.