Balearic wildfire prevention project restores 134 hectares

A Balearic wildfire prevention project restoring 134 hectares of declining woodland on Eivissa, Mallorca and Menorca has been completed, the Balearic Government’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment announced in Palma, Mallorca, on 21 August. The scheme, which began in December 2025, targeted forests at high fire risk and areas damaged by drought, severe weather, pests and disease.

The work was funded with €1.7 million from Spain’s Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge through the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. It is intended to cut the amount of vegetation that can fuel a fire, break up continuous woodland cover and support forest recovery.

Work focused on damaged woodland

Most of the intervention took place on Eivissa, where 101 hectares of pine forest in advanced decline were treated. Drought and infestations of Tomicus destruens and Orthotomicus erosus had damaged the trees, and forestry crews used two specialised excavators to fell and process dead pines.

On Mallorca, crews worked across 21 hectares at the public Menut estate, clearing and processing woodland debris in holm oak forest affected by Storm Juliette. At the sa Roca estate on Menorca, 13 hectares of vegetation that regenerated after the 1995 fire were thinned to encourage holm oak growth and reduce combustible material.

Specialist machinery used on difficult terrain

The forestry excavators were used on steep and hard-to-reach ground where conventional methods are more difficult or may not be viable. The ministry said the equipment also improves efficiency while reducing the physical strain and danger faced by forestry crews working in high temperatures and challenging terrain.

Across the islands, 1,138 hectares of woodland received preventive management in 2025, the first time the annual total exceeded 1,000 hectares.

Topics: Fires · Wildfires · Politics · Economy

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com