The Minister of Environment and Energy, María González Corral, called this Wednesday for a real involvement on the part of the Government of Spain in hydrological-forest restoration tasks, focusing especially on watercourses "because they are within its competence".
In the same vein, she censured the fact that, to date, the participation of the central Executive has not been materialized "sufficiently" in concrete actions, provision of resources, or adequate funding.
González Corral raised this demand to the Government of the nation during her appearance before the Committee on Economy and Finance, where she detailed her department's budget project for 2027. That fiscal year foresees an investment of 45.8 million euros aimed at recovering, restoring, and conserving natural heritage, with specific allocations for the restoration of mountains affected by forest fires.
In particular, the 2027 accounts include 6.6 million euros directed mainly to the forest fire in Burgohondo, in Ávila, "which, if necessary, can be expanded given its extraordinary nature and its emergency character," the minister assured, who also announced another 9.2 million euros to continue with the recovery of areas damaged by fires in previous years.
"The commitment of the Junta continues after the fire goes out," González Corral emphasized, recalling that after the fires of the summer of 2026 emergency actions have been approved and restoration work on soils and affected forest masses remains under way.
The head of Environment and Energy also highlighted an item of 11 million euros for afforestation programs and high-value plantations that generate a greater medium-term return, such as grafted stone pine, quality timber, chestnut trees, or truffle holm oaks, in addition to the indispensable maintenance work during the first five years of these plantations.
In the field of the conservation of forest genetic resources, 4 million euros are allocated to the Central Forest Nursery, intended for the management of the germplasm bank and the production of forest material, together with 3.1 million for forest health. Among the latter actions is the second accreditation line of the Calabazanos laboratory, in Palencia, in pine wood nematode.
On the other hand, 11.1 million euros are set aside for restoration and protection actions for "most vulnerable and valuable" natural habitats, such as the Natura network spaces of Alto Sil and Omaña, in León, several special conservation areas in Palencia or the Life Humedales project in the Lagunas de Cantalejo, in Segovia.
"The conservation of natural heritage must be understood, not only as protection of its environmental values, but also as the enhancement of our natural heritage so that it generates economic activity, employment and opportunities for the local population," González Corral has defended.
Boost to natural heritage and sustainable tourism
In another section of her speech, the councillor has advanced that in 2027 the Department will allocate 45.3 million euros to the promotion of natural heritage. She has highlighted the 'Castilla y León Naturalmente' initiative, which covers the maintenance of the 34 park houses and thematic centers, the work of 22 crews in charge of maintaining natural spaces, aid to the town councils of the areas of influence and 1.8 million euros to recover paths, viewpoints and walkways in areas hit by large forest fires in recent years.
In addition, through the Fundación Patrimonio Natural, new facilities will be undertaken in the Network of Protected Natural Areas with an investment of 22.5 million euros.
The plans for 2027 include the renovation of the public-use infrastructure (walkways, viewpoints) of Laguna de la Nava, in Palencia, and the completion of the facilities of three new park houses in the province of Burgos (Alto Ebro and two in Sabinares del Arlanza-La Yecla). It is also planned to complete the visitor centers of Navafría and El Espinar, in Segovia, while in Soria the project for the house of the future natural park of Moncayo will be drafted.
González Corral has finally detailed that, in order to promote economic dynamization and sustainable tourism, different initiatives are planned, such as the expansion of the BTT circuit in Fabero; the glamping in Velilla del Río Carrión (Palencia) and in Galende (Zamora); the conditioning of the dock and the washhouses linked to the underground channel of the mines of Orbó, in Barruelo de Santullán (Palencia); new viewpoints in the surroundings of the Compuerto reservoir and Alba de los Cardaños (Palencia), the circular trail of Riaño (León), the walkway of the Barcena reservoir and the hostel of Oña (Burgos).