The Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB) has launched a significant €1.35 million investment in forest fire prevention, specifically targeting wooded areas beyond the Collserola Natural Park. This programme, running from 2025 to 2027, aims to protect urbanisations across 22 metropolitan municipalities from potential blazes.
New Protection Zones Established
Initial work started this week, focusing on creating perimeter protection zones around urbanisations in Gavà and Torrelles de Llobregat. These zones are designed to stop fires from reaching residential areas, thereby safeguarding local communities. Sant Cugat del Vallès also sees similar actions as part of this wider initiative. Jordi Bou, CEO of Espais Naturals del AMB, stated on Tuesday that the funding represents "a line of aid for municipalities," directly benefiting communities living near forested areas, according to AMB invests in fire prevention. The programme's territorial scope includes the Ordal mountains, the Garraf massif, and the Marina mountain range, all vital natural spaces.
Broader Forest Management Efforts
The metropolitan forest action programme (Pmaf) includes other important forest management tasks, such as silvicultural improvements and path upgrades. The AMB will also carry out forest actions on specific plots, enhancing the overall health and resilience of these ecosystems. The programme additionally plans for a retaining wall, forest clearings on public properties, and new water points, all critical for effective fire response. These efforts complement existing fire plans within the Collserola Natural Park, which has its own dedicated prevention strategies, according to Catalonia's new fire prevention strategy. The AMB's broader approach recognises other significant wooded areas within the Barcelona conurbation, home to millions of residents.
Future of Preventive Silviculture
Jesús Fernández, Head of Green Infrastructure at AMB, explained the programme's evolving focus. He noted, "We wanted to give more weight to forest management with preventive silviculture and silvopasture, managing forests through herds." This forward-thinking strategy aims to build more resilient natural spaces for the future, protecting residents and the environment from increasing fire risks, especially during dry summer months. The AMB expects these comprehensive measures to enhance safety for many years to come.
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Originally published by La Vanguardia Catalonia. Read original article.
