Doñana is a vast protected natural area in southern Spain, encompassing the Andalusian provinces of Huelva, Seville and Cadiz. This area includes both the Doñana National Park, established in 1969, and the Doñana Natural Park, also known as the Doñana environment or preparque, created in 1989 and expanded in 1997. In total, it covers 122,487 hectares, of which 54,251 hectares correspond to the national park and 68,236 hectares to the natural park.

This ecosystem, characterized by its extensive marshes, becomes a vital refuge for numerous species of aquatic birds during the winter, hosting up to 200,000 individuals annually. The strategic geographical location of Doñana, between two continents and near the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Atlantic and the Mediterranean converge, makes it a crucial point for the migration, breeding and wintering of more than 300 species of European and African birds throughout the year. The Doñana marshes are a sanctuary for waterfowl from all over Western Europe and many species stop here on their transit between Africa and Europe.

Within Doñana operate several scientific institutions dedicated to the conservation of its rich biodiversity and the sustainable development of the surrounding areas. This preservation effort has led Doñana to be recognized as the largest ecological reserve in Europe and to be declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994. Over the years, the park has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors; in 2006, 376,287 visits were recorded. The origin of the name Doñana is attributed, according to some sources, to Doña Ana de Silva y Mendoza, wife of the VII Duke of Medina Sidonia. Others suggest that it refers to Ana Mallarte, who was married to Sancho de Herrera, lessee of the pastures in the region known as El Palacio in 1545. In 2015, Doñana received 300,287 visitors, ranking it as the eleventh most visited national park in Spain.

In 2023, Doñana was excluded from the green list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to management problems on the part of the Junta de Andalucía, which has not implemented effective measures to halt the deterioration of its biodiversity. This exclusion marks a negative milestone, as Doñana is the first park to be removed from this list. However, the IUCN has indicated that the listing could be reconsidered if the park's management and conservation practices are improved.