Access to the natural areas of the Parc Natural de la Serra de Collserola will remain restricted until at least the end of summer as authorities continue efforts to contain African swine fever, according to the Catalan government.

For Barcelona residents, walkers and cyclists, the restriction means they cannot enter the park’s forest land, unpaved paths or tracks. Barcelona is one of 19 municipalities included in the high-risk zone established after the outbreak was detected in wild boar near Cerdanyola del Vallès in November 2025.

The park authority says people who live inside Collserola may still reach their homes. The restriction is intended to reduce movement through the forest and allow wildlife-control operations to continue.

Forest areas and unpaved routes remain closed

Under the exceptional measures maintained by the Generalitat’s Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food, public access to Collserola’s natural environment is prohibited. The park defines this as forest areas, paths and unpaved tracks.

  • Access to forest land, unpaved paths and tracks is not permitted.
  • Residents within the park can access their homes.
  • Authorities may continue authorised wild-boar control and other essential management work.

Visitors should check the Parc Natural de Collserola’s African swine fever information page before planning a route, as it sets out the restrictions in force.

Measures aim to contain a disease affecting pigs and wild boar

African swine fever is a viral haemorrhagic disease affecting domestic pigs and wild boar. It does not affect people, but is highly contagious among pigs and can cause high mortality in infected animals, according to the Collserola park authority.

In a resolution announced on 30 January, the Generalitat created a specific restriction area for Collserola while maintaining controls in the high-risk area, defined as the area within 0 to 6 kilometres of the initial outbreak. The same announcement said 103 wild boar had tested positive at that point, including 18 newly confirmed cases, all within the 6-kilometre radius.

The Generalitat said the controls are designed to prevent the virus spreading beyond the affected area and to protect Catalonia’s livestock sector. The park’s official information page is the channel for checking the current access rules.

Primary sources: govern.cat, Barcelona City Council, JMPL, Generalitat de Catalunya, govern.cat, Ayuntamiento de Barcelona, Ajuntament de Barcelona, Ramon. Reported by Source Text Link, parcnaturalcollserola.cat, catalannews.com, Carlos Márquez Daniel, 3CatInfo, i, Departament d'Agricultura, Ramaderia, Pesca i Alimentació, JMPL, Barna Diario, Metrópoli Abierta - Urban Life.