New forest law could pay landowners to protect Valencia’s countryside and prevent wildfires

A major change to the way forests are managed in the Valencian Community could see private landowners financially rewarded for protecting woodland, preventing wildfires and preserving ecosystems.

President of the Generalitat Juanfran Pérez Llorca has announced that the regional government will bring forward a new Forest Law in the coming weeks, with the legislation set to introduce a system of payments for environmental services.

Landowners could be paid for protecting forests

The proposed legislation is designed to recognise the work carried out by people who own or manage forest land and encourage them to take a more active role in looking after it.

Under the planned system, financial incentives would be available to landowners whose management helps conserve the natural environment, reduce the risk of forest fires and protect ecosystems.

The Generalitat says the approach would give an economic value to work that can benefit entire communities, particularly in areas where large expanses of woodland are privately owned.

The new law would also establish specific incentives for forest owners and managers, encouraging sustainable management rather than leaving land vulnerable to neglect.

Fire prevention at the centre of plans

The announcement comes after a devastating summer of wildfires in the region, highlighting the challenges involved in managing large areas of forest.

Pérez Llorca made the announcement while presenting plans for the recovery of land affected by the major fire at La Vall d’Uixó.

The blaze, which began on July 25, affected 12 municipalities and burned 9,568 hectares, including 8,509 hectares of forest land.

One of the key issues highlighted by the Generalitat is the proportion of forest land in private hands. In the La Vall d’Uixó fire, only slightly more than 300 hectares of the area burned belonged to the regional government.

This means private landowners can play an important role in preparing woodland before fires occur and helping authorities carry out recovery work afterwards.

A new approach to forest management

The proposed Forest Law is also intended to make it easier for landowners, municipalities, businesses, users and different levels of government to work together.

The Generalitat says reducing administrative barriers could make conservation and maintenance work more straightforward, while also improving the response when woodland is damaged by fire.

The idea of paying landowners for environmental services is based on recognising that healthy forests provide benefits far beyond the boundaries of individual properties.

Woodland can help protect biodiversity, preserve ecosystems and contribute to reducing wildfire risks, while good management can also make it easier to respond when fires do break out.

Law will now go to Les Corts

The Consell is expected to present the proposed legislation to Les Corts in the coming weeks, where it will begin its formal parliamentary process.

If approved, the new framework could mark a significant shift towards financially encouraging private landowners to maintain and protect woodland across the Valencian Community.

For rural areas facing increasingly serious wildfire risks, the measure could provide a new incentive to ensure forests are actively managed rather than simply left untouched.