Catalonia is strengthening its fire defences after a summer that exposed the fragility of towns during heatwaves and high winds. The Government has pledged €75 million over five years, from 2026 to 2030, to maintain protective strips of cleared land around settlements and urbanisations. This increases annual spending from €1.5 million to €15 million.
The move was announced after president Salvador Illa met mayors from Baix Ebre, where July’s wildfire burned about 3,000 hectares and forced residents indoors. Farmers and herders are also pushing for rapid support to recover from the losses.
Alongside the main funding, €2 million will help municipalities draft legally required fire prevention plans, with technical assistance offered to smaller town halls. With 65 per cent of Catalonia covered by forest, Illa stressed that land management has become an urgent climate priority.
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Source: La Vanguardia
