ASAJA CLM leaders resign from environmental council over forest law reform

Leaders of the agricultural organization ASAJA CLM, including President José María Fresneda and Vice President Juan José Laso, have resigned from the Environmental Advisory Council (CAMA) of Castilla-La Mancha. The move serves as a protest against the regional government's decision to proceed with a proposed amendment to Law 3/2008 on Forests and Sustainable Forest Management.

ASAJA CLM argues that the regional government is attempting to implement an automatic prohibition of agricultural activities, including harvesting, when the Potential Fire Propagation Index (IPP) reaches orange or red levels. The organization contends that the regional proposal exceeds the framework established by the 2022 national forest law.

According to ASAJA, the national legislation allows autonomous communities to manage these restrictions through regional prevention plans rather than through direct legislative mandates. The organization warns that such automatic prohibitions could severely impact cereal and herbaceous crop farmers who must complete harvests within specific timeframes.