The Generalitat Valenciana is preparing a new law that will introduce direct payments to forest owners who actively protect and maintain their land. President Juan Francisco Pérez Llorca confirmed that the draft legislation, set for debate in Les Corts Valencianes within weeks, aims to reward those who contribute to forest conservation and wildfire prevention while protecting ecosystems. The initiative is described as a pioneering system of payment for environmental services, compensating private landowners who help safeguard the region’s natural resources.
Pérez Llorca stressed the urgency of the measure, saying the law should be in force before the end of the current legislative term. The Consell is still deciding whether to present the proposal as a government bill or a parliamentary initiative. The law will also simplify administrative processes, making it easier for landowners and municipalities to coordinate with public authorities, with businesses involved as well. One of its basic goals is to reduce bureaucratic delays that often hinder forest management and recovery efforts.
The announcement follows the devastating wildfire in La Vall d’Uixó, which burned nearly 9,500 hectares in July and affected 12 municipalities. More than 8,500 hectares of the damaged area were forest land, but only about 300 hectares belonged to the Generalitat. Pérez Llorca highlighted the role of private owners in post-fire recovery, noting that their involvement can speed restoration and reduce future risks. The approach echoes recovery efforts in other regions, including the return of residents to their homes after wildfires in Segovia when the risk level dropped, as reported in a previous update.
On Monday, Pérez Llorca attended the launch of the Integral Plan for Reforestation and Environmental Recovery in La Vall d’Uixó. The Generalitat, working with local councils, has allocated €2.7 million for immediate restoration works. These include clearing fallen trees and sediment near populated areas, opening and widening forest tracks, and improving more than 80 kilometers of access roads. The first phase will also remove hazardous trees along 44 kilometers of the road network, improving safety and giving restoration teams better access.
The plan reserves part of the budget for additional interventions identified by local authorities as recovery progresses. Pérez Llorca said the project is open to input from all affected municipalities and aims to restore the field and protect water resources, strengthening ability to recover to future fires. The second phase will focus on natural regeneration and erosion control, while introducing more resilient native species, such as cork oak, to improve long-term forest health and fire prevention.
Emergency works are already underway and are expected to take eight months to complete. The Generalitat’s approach prioritizes restoring the territory’s functionality and safety while strengthening coordination between regional and local administrations. Recent wildfires have shown that rapid, well-coordinated action is impressive for effective recovery and risk reduction.
Spain’s Mediterranean regions, including the Valencian Community, face increasing wildfire threats amid climate change and shifting weather patterns, with land abandonment adding to the risk. The new law’s focus on incentivizing private stewardship reflects a broader shift in forest policy, recognizing that sustainable management depends on active participation from both public and private sectors. By compensating landowners for their role in conservation, the Generalitat hopes to create a more resilient field and reduce the impact of future disasters.
