Espais Verds del Vallès has been awarded the contract for forest fire prevention work, maintenance of firebreaks, and the upkeep of municipal plots and green spaces in Valldoreix.

This project will strengthen the safety of residential areas adjacent to the forest, improve the conservation of natural spaces, and ensure the maintenance of forest fire prevention infrastructure.

The project includes a wide range of actions aimed at reducing vegetation fuel load, improving the structure of forest stands, and minimizing the risk of fire spread in one of the most valuable natural environments in the Barcelona metropolitan area.

Thanks to this intervention, Valldoreix is ​​making progress in protecting urbanized areas adjacent to the forest, while also promoting improved biodiversity, environmental quality, and ecosystem resilience to the effects of climate change.

SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT IN VALLDOREIX TO PREVENT FOREST FIRES

Valldoreix maintains a close relationship with the surrounding forest environment. Its proximity to extensive woodlands linked to the Serra de Collserola Natural Park makes it essential to develop regular sustainable forest management practices to reduce risks and conserve the area’s environmental values.

This project addresses both the perimeter firebreaks and interior plots and municipal green spaces, applying a comprehensive strategy based on prevention, conservation, and landscape maintenance.

The continuity of these actions is fundamental to complying with current regulations on forest fire prevention.

However, its benefits extend far beyond fire protection.

Proper forest management contributes to improving forest health, promoting biodiversity, and increasing the capacity of ecosystems to adapt to extreme weather events.

In a scenario marked by rising temperatures, prolonged periods of drought, and the accumulation of biomass in Mediterranean forests, preventive vegetation management has become an essential tool to guarantee the safety and sustainability of the territory.

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF FIRE PREVENTION IN THE WILDLIFE-URBAN INTERFACE

One of the greatest challenges in current forest management is the protection of areas known as the wildland-urban interface, that is, those spaces where homes and infrastructure coexist directly with forest areas.

In these environments, the presence of a high fuel load can cause a wildfire to quickly reach inhabited areas, increasing the risk to people and property.

Main risks in the wildland-urban interface

Residential areas located next to forests present several challenges:

    • Greater probability of fire spreading to homes and facilities.
    • Difficult access for emergency services during an intervention.
    • Accumulation of flammable vegetation on plots and in areas near buildings.
    • Risk to strategic infrastructure and basic services.
    • Increased vulnerability during periods of high temperatures and drought.

For this reason, Catalan legislation establishes the obligation to maintain firebreaks around urbanizations, populated areas, and buildings located on forest land.

Fire prevention is not limited to acting when an emergency occurs. Its true effectiveness lies in the work carried out throughout the year to reduce available vegetation fuel and hinder the spread of fire.

Experience shows that properly managed forests have lower combustion intensity and offer better working conditions for firefighting teams. Furthermore, they allow for the establishment of safe zones that facilitate emergency operations when a fire breaks out.

 

FORESTRY WORK IN THE FIRE BURDEN STRIPS OF VALLDOREIX

The creation and maintenance of firebreaks have become an essential tool for municipalities located in urban-forest interface zones.

In Valldoreix, Espais Verds del Vallès is carrying out a series of specialized forestry works designed to reduce the risk of fire spread and improve the safety of homes near the forest.

These actions combine technical criteria for sustainable forest management with a preventative approach that prioritizes the protection of people, property, and the natural environment.

The result: a safer, healthier, and more resilient landscape in the face of forest fires.

Why are firebreaks so important?

Firebreaks act as a safety belt around inhabited areas: they reduce the continuity of vegetation, facilitate access for emergency teams, and decrease the potential intensity of a fire.

In Valldoreix, these interventions will:

    • Reduce the horizontal and vertical continuity of fuel.
    • Improve the structure and health of the forest.
    • Increase the safety of nearby urbanized areas.
    • Create an environment better prepared for extreme fire risk events.
Main planned forestry work

The work carried out by Espais Verds del Vallès includes key actions to guarantee the effectiveness of the firebreak:

    • Selective clearing of undergrowth.
    • Thinning and reduction of tree density.
    • Preventive pruning of trees.
    • Missing and management of forestry debris.
    • Removal of waste from the surrounding forest.
    • Maintenance of interior plots and municipal green spaces.

Each intervention is adapted to the characteristics of the terrain, vegetation, and risk level of each area.

Selective clearing of undergrowth: the basis of prevention

Selective clearing of undergrowth is one of the most effective actions to reduce the spread of fire. In many Mediterranean forests, dense undergrowth acts as a “bridge” that allows flames to advance rapidly and reach the treetops.

This treatment achieves the following:

    • Reduction of the continuity of vegetation fuel.
    • Prevention of high-intensity fires.
    • Conserve shrub species of ecological interest with a higher resistance to combustion.
    • Create a more balanced and fire-resistant forest.

This work not only improves safety but also promotes biodiversity and the natural regeneration of the ecosystem.

Thinning and reduction of tree density: a healthier and safer forest

Many forests in Valldoreix are excessively dense due to the abandonment of traditional forestry practices. This leads to competition for essential resources such as water and sunlight, weakening the forest and increasing its vulnerability to fire.

Forest thinning allows for:

    • Selection of trees in the best phytosanitary condition.
    • Promoting the growth of the most vigorous trees.
    • Improving the overall health of the forest.
    • Reducing competition for resources.
    • Creating separation between canopies to slow the spread of fire.
    • Decreasing the risk of high-intensity fires.

Furthermore, it prioritizes the conservation of less flammable species that are better adapted to the terrain.

Preventive pruning of trees: avoiding crown fires

Preventive pruning is essential to break the vertical continuity of fuel. Removing low branches and vegetation that connects the understory to the canopies prevents a surface fire from becoming a much more destructive crown fire.

This work also:

    • Improves tree stability.
    • Reduces the risk of branch fall.
    • Promotes the future development of preserved trees.
    • Breaks vertical continuity to prevent fire spread.

Is a key action in urban-forest interface areas, where safety is paramount.

Biomass and forest waste management: safety and circular economy

Proper management of forest biomass is as important as clearing or pruning.  The accumulation of plant debris can become a source of risk if not handled properly.

The project includes:

    • Chipping of plant debris.
    • Transformation of plant waste into biomass (waste valorization), when feasible.
    • Removal of combustible materials from the land.
    • Disposal of non-forest waste.

Responsible biomass management allows for:

    • Reducing fuel load.
    • Decreasing the probability of fire spread.
    • Improving environmental safety.
    • Promoting circular economy models.

 

MAINTENANCE OF MUNICIPAL PLOTS AND GREEN SPACES

In addition to work on the firebreaks, the contract includes maintenance work on interior plots and municipal green spaces in Valldoreix.

These spaces play a key role in the overall fire prevention strategy, as they can act as connecting elements between forest areas and urbanized areas.

The planned actions will:

    • Control excessive vegetation growth.
    • Reduce accumulations of vegetation fuel.
    • Improve the safety of numerous public spaces.

They also contribute to improving the landscape integration of green spaces and increasing the environmental quality of the surroundings.

The regular management of these spaces also helps prevent incidents related to falling branches, the presence of weakened trees, or the proliferation of invasive species.

 

FIRE PREVENTION AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Forest fire prevention and biodiversity conservation are not incompatible objectives. In fact, efficient and sustainable forest management seeks to integrate both aspects within a single action strategy.

The planned work in Valldoreix incorporates measures aimed at preserving plant species of ecological interest and improving the quality of the habitats present in the area.

Environmental criteria applied during the work

The actions include:

    • Conservation of shrub species of ecological interest.
    • Prioritization of healthy and well-structured trees.
    • Control of invasive species when necessary.
    • Maintenance of a balanced distribution of vegetation.
    • Reduction of excessive competition between specimens.

These measures allow for the creation of more resilient ecosystems in the face of fires, droughts, and other phenomena associated with climate change.

 

FOREST BIOMASS AND THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

The valorization of biomass generated during forestry work represents an opportunity to transform potential waste into a useful resource.

The wood and plant debris from these operations can be used for various energy or environmental purposes, promoting circular economy models linked to the forestry sector.

This approach allows for waste reduction, resource optimization, and the promotion of economic activities related to the sustainable management of the land.

Furthermore, the use of biomass helps to decrease the uncontrolled accumulation of plant fuel in forests, one of the main factors associated with an increased risk of fire.

 

BENEFITS OF FORESTRY WORK FOR VALLDOREIX

The implementation of this project provides significant advantages for both safety and environmental conservation in the area.

Safety Benefits
    • Reduced risk of forest fires.
    • Greater protection of homes and residential areas.
    • Improved accessibility for emergency teams.
    • Increased safety on roads and in public spaces.
    • Reduced likelihood of fire spreading to populated areas.
Environmental benefits
    • Improved health of forests.
    • Biodiversity conservation.
    • Restoration of degraded areas.
    • Reduction of waste in the environment.
    • Increased resilience to climate change.
Benefits for residents
    • Better-preserved green spaces.
    • Enhanced landscape quality.
    • Safer and more accessible environments.
    • Improved integration between urban areas and natural spaces.
    • Increased environmental well-being.

 

ESPAIS VERDS DEL VALLÈS PROMOTES FOREST AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN VALLDOREIX

The execution of these forestry works strengthens forest fire prevention in Valldoreix, improves the conservation status of forest areas near the Serra de Collserola mountain range, and ensures safer conditions for residents, infrastructure, and natural spaces.

The combination of selective clearing, forest thinning, preventative pruning, biomass management, green area maintenance, and environmental improvement makes this action a strategic tool for adapting the territory to climate change.

With this project, Espais Verds del Vallès consolidates its experience in forestry work, maintenance of buffer zones, and sustainable land management, contributing to the creation of safer, more resilient environments better prepared to face future environmental challenges.

 

We care for our clients.
We care for the environment.

If you would like more information about our services or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at espaisverds@tma.es.

At Espais Verds del Vallès, we work for a greener, safer, and more sustainable future for all!

 

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