Barcelona City Council has started forest maintenance work in Collserola Natural Park this week, focusing on fire prevention strips within the municipal area. This action comes even as the park remains closed to the public due to an outbreak of African swine fever, according to a council statement.
Collserola, a significant green space, holds a large amount of forest mass, making it a fire risk during warmer months. The maintenance work, carried out by the Municipal Institute of Parks and Gardens, will cover 346 hectares in districts bordering the mountain, including Gràcia, Horta-Guinardó, Les Corts, Nou Barris, and Sarrià-Sant Gervasi. The council has allocated €400,000 for removing undergrowth.
Technicians will clear weeds, prioritising the removal of dry and dead vegetation. This aims to achieve optimal forest densities to minimise fire spread during the high-risk period, mainly July and August, though work will continue into September. Three brigades will each cover 22 hectares monthly.
Fire Prevention Efforts Continue
The city council confirmed that the access restriction to Collserola, which began in the second week of March, will not affect these annual fire prevention efforts. The days around the Sant Joan celebration typically see a high concentration of small forest fires, often due to fireworks. Barcelona firefighters usually respond within 15 minutes, preventing these incidents from escalating.
Park and Gardens staff will implement required disinfection measures during their forest cleaning work, acknowledging the presence of African swine fever. The duration of the natural park's closure remains unknown, officials said.
