Almería forest fire highlights illegal housing and land‑management risks

A forest fire that swept Los Gallardos and Bédar in Almería province killed several people and burned thousands of hectares, underscoring the growing wildfire threat across Mediterranean regions caused by drought, extreme heat and fuel buildup.

Ecological groups say the blaze was exacerbated by illegal isolated houses built without permits on non‑urbanisable forest land, many sold to foreign buyers. They accuse local authorities of allowing such construction and call for stricter urban‑planning rules, incentives for active land management, and financial support for farmers who keep cultivated fields that act as natural firebreaks.

The incident is being used to argue for policy reforms that would reward landowners for maintaining agro‑forestry practices, tax relief, and targeted subsidies, aiming to reduce future fire risk and protect both the environment and rural economies.