Spain's MITECO proposes wildfire prevention grants for small municipalities

Spain's Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) has opened a public consultation period regarding new subsidies designed to protect small municipalities from forest fires. The initiative aims to support territories that are highly exposed to fire risks but possess limited resources due to aging populations and technical staff shortages.

The proposed program includes a total allocation of 20 million euros, managed by the Energy City Foundation. The grants are targeted at municipalities with up to 5,000 inhabitants, potentially benefiting approximately 1,800 localities. Individual aid amounts are expected to range between 8,000 and 20,000 euros.

Priority will be given to municipalities with high fire exposure, specifically those that have seen more than 500 hectares of forest area affected over the last decade. Eligible activities for funding include the drafting and updating of municipal fire risk plans, preventive measures regarding vegetation management, improving urban-forest interface safety, and enhancing evacuation signaling and population warning systems.