Catalonia Assesses Damage After Mass Tree Falls in Forests. Strong winter winds in Catalonia have toppled thousands of trees. In Ripollès, the damage is three times higher than usual. Authorities are working on how to prevent pest outbreaks and reduce wildfire risks.
In Catalonia, following winter storms, authorities and forestry services faced an unprecedented level of destruction: in Ripollès alone, 23,500 tons of timber fell in just a few days—three times the region's annual volume. Powerful winds, reaching 120–200 km/h, swept through several comarcas, including Maresme, Montsià, Gironès, Alt and Baix Empordà, but Ripollès bore the brunt of the impact. In some areas, locals compare the scene to a 'post-war zone.'
The threat of pests and fires
The main objective now is to prevent a mass outbreak of bark beetles and reduce the risk of forest fires. According to the Consorci d’Espais d’Interès Natural del Ripollès (CEINR), road restoration alone will require around 130,000 euros. The Generalitat is assessing the damage and preparing support measures for municipalities and private forest owners. Altogether, 312 hectares of forest have been affected, mainly fir forests, and in some areas, such as Vilallonga de Ter, nearly 100 hectares have been destroyed.
Geography of destruction
In addition to Ripollès, significant losses were recorded in cities and suburbs: around a hundred trees fell in Mataró, a similar number in Girona, about 50 in Platja d’Aro, 30 each in Begur and Palamós, and 20 in Figueres. In Campelles, 86 hectares were damaged, 36 in Ribes de Freser, and 33 in Planoles. Such scale has been recorded only once before—in 2008, when an 'air column' destroyed forests in Ribes and Campelles.
Causes and consequences
Experts attribute such widespread consequences to a combination of factors: moist soil after rains, shallow roots on slopes, and also 'wet snow' that breaks branches and weakens trees. According to the Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTFC), the vulnerability of forests is increased by a lack of regular maintenance: two-thirds of the region's forest areas are unmanaged, and 76% of the territory is privately owned.
Dilemma: to remove or leave the timber
In Ripollès, some of the fallen trees are located in public forests, and their removal will be organized through special auctions coordinated by the Generalitat. It is important to sell the timber before it loses value. In hard-to-reach areas, such as Bac d’Abella, new access roads will have to be built. For small municipalities, such as Vilallonga de Ter with a population of 400, income from timber sales can provide a significant boost.
However, experts note that leaving large amounts of dead wood in the forest can lead to pest outbreaks, although in moderate quantities it supports biodiversity and helps prevent the spread of fire. In Ripollès, the fire risk is considered moderate, but a dry summer could change the situation.
What’s next
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for all affected areas: in some places, the priority is clearing roads and infrastructure, elsewhere it is preserving the ecosystem. Authorities emphasize that it is impossible to fully avoid the consequences of extreme winds, but proper forest management can reduce vulnerability. Experts advise against artificial restoration and recommend letting nature recover on its own, focusing on forests with trees of different ages and species.
The issue of natural disasters' impact on infrastructure and the environment is becoming increasingly important for Spain. Recently, after a major fire in Burgos, the authorities had to urgently change transport routes and wait for specialists from Madrid — details about the situation with municipal transport in Burgos.
