Madrid will restore forest after historic wildfire
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The Community of Madrid announced a 10-year plan to restore forests in the Sierra Oeste mountains after a large wildfire burned 24,129.10 hectares across 12 municipalities in July.
The plan will invest 25 million euros over the next two years. Madrid intends to create a diverse “mosaic forest” with oak and ash trees, which are more resistant to fire, pests, and extreme weather, rather than replanting pine trees as was done after the Spanish Civil War.
Ecologistas en Acción, a Spanish environmental group, criticized the plan, stating it lacks a scientific basis and independent study of the affected area. Jesús Bartolomé, a spokesperson for the group, argued that successful restoration requires strong foundations. Luciano Labajos, founder of Ecologistas and a gardening expert, also expressed concern that the plan was rushed and motivated by political goals.
