The Cortes of Aragón agreed this Thursday, in a plenary session held in the autonomous Chamber, to intensify the resources dedicated to the management of forests and to the prevention and extinction of forest fires.
The proposal, presented jointly by Susana Cobos (PP) and Sergio Marco (Vox), incorporated two amendments from PSOE and Teruel Existe and was approved with the support of PP, Vox, and IU. PSOE, CHA, and TE abstained, except in point 9, where IU cast a contrary vote.
The Aragonese Parliament supported "the commitment expressed by the president of the Government of Aragón to substantially reinforce the resources allocated to forest management, prevention, and extinction of forest fires."
Additionally, the autonomous Executive was urged to "incorporate into the budget planning of the Autonomous Community for the coming years a significant and sustained reinforcement of the resources allocated to the prevention and extinction of forest fires, with multiannual programming, verifiable objectives, and an adequate evaluation of their degree of execution."
The Cortes also demanded "to continue reinforcing the Infoar device, attending to the conclusions derived from the technical balance of the 2026 campaign, through the incorporation and progressive renewal of the necessary human, terrestrial, aerial, technological, and logistical means to face large forest fires with greater safety and effectiveness."
In the same way, the autonomous Chamber has bet on "continuing to advance in the improvement of the professional conditions, training, safety, and working means of forest firefighters, Agents for the Protection of Nature, technical personnel, and other professionals linked to the prevention and extinction of fires, within the framework of their respective legal regimes and the negotiation and dialogue with their representatives."
The Legislature has also recommended "approving a multiannual program for preventive forest management, coordinated with the Forest Plan of Aragón and the Plans for Defense against Forest Fires, which establishes measurable annual objectives in terms of silvicultural treatments, fuel reduction, maintenance of defense areas, tracks and water points, prescribed burns when technically appropriate, and other preventive actions."
Boost to forest uses and the rural environment
In the field of mountain resources, the Cortes have defended "promoting forest uses and the sustainable mobilization of mountain resources, especially favoring those actions that simultaneously reduce forest fuel, generate economic activity, create jobs, and contribute to maintaining the population in rural areas," as well as "reinforcing the use of extensive livestock farming and directed grazing as instruments for managing plant fuel and maintaining the territory."
The parliamentary agreement also urges the regional government to "facilitate the forest management of privately owned mountains, promoting joint planning and management, administrative simplification compatible with environmental guarantees, and advising owners to favor the execution of preventive treatments and sustainable uses."
Likewise, it proposes "promoting, in collaboration with local entities and provincial councils, actions aimed at improving protection against fires in population centers and urban-forest interface areas, through protection strips and rings, silvicultural treatments, and self-protection measures, prioritizing localities located in higher risk areas."
The Cortes have also requested "to maintain and reinforce the Reforestation Plan of Aragon 2024-2027 and to promote, in the areas affected by the forest fires of 2026, the restoration actions determined by the corresponding technical reports, prioritizing the protection and stabilization of soils, the prevention of erosive processes, hydrological-forest restoration, and the regeneration of the vegetation cover, favoring natural regeneration when technically appropriate."
Finally, the regional parliament has proposed "to analyze the compliance with the requirements established in article 50 bis of the Forestry Law and, when these are accredited, to request the General Administration of the State for its collaboration in the forest and environmental restoration work and, if applicable, the declaration of a special action area provided for in said provision, as well as to promote the remaining inter-administrative cooperation mechanisms provided for in the current legislation that are applicable for the recovery of the affected areas."