This paper analyses protected areas in Galicia (Spain) by adopting the perspectiveof critical human geography. The paper begins by providing an overview of criticalliterature on protected natural areas. Then, it traces the evolution of the protectedareas in this case-study geographical region, correlated to the different socio-politicaland cultural contexts in which decision-making occurred. In this context the finalsection discusses the evolution of protected areas in Galicia in light of the theoreticalsection. The paper argues that protected areas in Galicia have to be understoodas political products and, despite the common (and rhetoric) mention of existingprotected areas in planning documents, tourism promotion, or signposting, thecontribution of these protected areas to effective spatial planning and conservationmanagement is marginal.