"Wildfires in Ávila's forest regions leave a burning impact, calling for reforms in forest management practices"

A forest fire that started in the province of Ávila on the night of July 28 continues to burn, affecting approximately 2,000 hectares in the municipalities of Cuevas del Valle, Mombeltrán, El Arenal, and Arenas de San Pedro.

The fire began shortly after 23:00 hours, on a night with strong gusts of wind and in an area with dense vegetation. The fire chief's office had warned on several occasions that the area had a lot of fuel, which is a determining factor for the fire to spread rapidly.

ECOticias.com reports that the Junta de Castilla y León has indicated that the fire was intentional, but this has not been confirmed by an investigation. The environmental organization Ecologistas en Acción stands in solidarity with the citizens of Barranco de las Cinco Villas, El Arenal, and Arenas de San Pedro who have suffered during the fire.

The firefighters' actions have been exemplary, helping to control the fire and prevent further damage. However, the fire is still not declared extinguished.

Since 2009, there have been other major forest fires in the Valle del Tietar, including in Gavilanes-Pedro Bernardo (2019), Santa Cruz del Valle (2022), and the more than 20,000 hectares of the great fire of La Paramera in 2021. The area affected by the current fire has most of its burned surface area added to that which was scorched in another great forest fire in the year 2009, which ravaged 4,200 hectares in little more than 24 hours and claimed the lives of two people.

The Association of Forest Owners of Ávila demands a reform of forest administration in Ávila province to improve forest management and reduce wildfire risks. The organization emphasizes that the Junta de Castilla y León, as manager of the forest, has not fulfilled its responsibility, as the area had poor management of forested areas, with rural, agricultural, and livestock abandonment increasing and vegetation growing densely, especially pines and gorse shrubs.

Ecologistas en Acción also advocates for mosaic landscapes and less combustible species as effective forest management to prevent such fires. Investment in forest and landscape management in Castile and León is almost non-existent, and the Junta de Castilla y León spends millions on high-impact infrastructure with little or no benefit to the local population.

The environmental organization extends its condolences to the family and loved ones of the water bomber who died in an accident while helping with extinction efforts. They also stand in solidarity with the citizens of the affected municipalities, who have suffered greatly during this fire.

Effective forest management is emphasized, with fires controlled in winter to prevent them accurately and save lives of forests and firefighters. The Junta de Castilla y León promoted a participatory process to plan a strategy for managing the natural environment, but this plan ended up being filed away and forest management has barely changed in the valley.

The Avila NGO demands a change in forest management to prevent such disasters in the future. If intentional, the fire would be a criminal act of great seriousness. The investigation is ongoing.

"Wildfires in Ávila's forest regions leave a burning impact, calling for reforms in forest management practices"