This initiative, covering over 200,000 hectares with planned actions in about 34,000, represents a significant change in the approach to forest prevention and management. The Minister of Interior, and the Minister of Agriculture, detailed this long-term strategy today, which has already begun to be implemented in five priority axes: Igualada-Martorell-Santa Coloma de Cervelló, Perafita-Manresa, Girona-Celrà, Argentona-La Roca, and Rasquera-Perelló.
The plan, with a minimum budget of 36.8 million euros, includes strengthening the Special Forest Fire Prevention Group (GEPIF) and doubling resources for the Forest Defense Associations (ADF). Additionally, the recovery of cultivated areas and the promotion of extensive livestock farming will be boosted, key measures to act as natural firebreaks and reduce the continuity of forest fuel.
“"The Catalan territory is not sufficiently prepared for the new context of climate change and mega-fires."
The strategy is based on a diagnosis that highlights the territory's vulnerability to new types of fires and adverse climatic conditions. The confinement axes, defined with the Forest Action Group (GRAFO) of the Firefighters, aim to halt the advance of fire and protect an estimated population of 850,000 people across approximately two million hectares.
The actions are divided into three levels: protection strips for inhabited areas (with 75% of the territory already covered), priority protection perimeters (with 34 delimited and two new projects in Les Gavarres and Montmell-Pontons-Mediona), and the aforementioned confinement axes. Actions worth 2.85 million euros have already been tendered for 700 hectares, and nearly one million euros more are pending tender for an additional 195 hectares.
