ASAJA requests controlled burns in Castilla y León

The agricultural organization ASAJA has requested that the Ministry of Environment and Energy in Castilla y León facilitate controlled burns of pastures and low scrubland. The group has addressed its request to Minister María González Corral, seeking a change in current regulations to allow farmers to manage these areas through prior notification and adherence to basic safety standards.

ASAJA argues that current regulations have limited this traditional practice for decades, causing thousands of hectares of pasture to transform into dense scrubland. This change makes the land difficult for sheep, cattle, and horses to graze. The organization suggests that controlled burns could serve as a more cost-effective and efficient alternative to mechanical clearing, which they claim is expensive and consumes significant amounts of fuel.

Beyond land management, the group asserts that recovering these pastures would support extensive livestock farming and create opportunities for young people entering the sector. Furthermore, reducing dense vegetation is presented as a strategy to mitigate the spread of forest fires.