Natural reservations
There are a total of 19 protected natural areas in Oltenia de sub Munte:
Buila-Vânturarița National Park (IUCN category II) is located on the territory of Costești, Bărbătești and Băile Olănești and is also a Natura 2000 site for the protection of habitats (ROSCI0015) and birds (ROSPA0025).
On the territory of the national park there are also 12 natural reservations (IUCN category IV), most of them (10) being speleological reserves:
- 7 caves on the territory of Băilor Olănești, in Cheile Cheii: Peștera Caprelor (The Goat Cave), Peștera Clopot (Bell Cave), Peștera cu Lac (The Lake Cave), Peștera cu Perle (Pearl Cave), Munteanu-Murgoci Cave, Pagodelor Cave and Peștera Rac (The Crayfish Cave).
- two caves on the territory of Costești commune, in the Bistrita Gorge: Peștera Liliecilor (The Bat Cave) and the Bistrita Valley Cave.
- one cave on the territory of Olănești Baths, in Folea Gorge: Arnăuților Cave
- two complex nature reserves, on the territory of Olănești Baths, in the Cheia Valley: the Natural Reserve of Mount Stogu and the Natural Reserve of Cheia Valley.
On the territory of the Oltenia de sub Munte Aspiring Geopark there are also 3 other nature reserves (IUCN category IV), in Costești and Băile Olănești and another Natura 2000 site, on the territory of Vaideeni commune:
- Costești Trovantilor Museum Nature Reserve
- Rădița-Mânzu Olănești Nature Reserve
- Mosoroasa Marsh Nature Reserve
- Natura 2000 site ROSCI0128 North of Eastern Gorj
In the immediate vicinity of the territory of the Oltenia de sub Munte Geopark there are two other nature reserves (IUCN category IV):
- Piramidele de la Slătioara Nature Reserve
- Ocnele Mari Nature Reserve