The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment, through the Directorate-General for Natural Environment and Forest Management, has launched a new forest fire prevention campaign and invasive species control using the technique of technical fire or controlled burning. This strategy involves the selective removal of flammable vegetation, thereby reducing the fuel load in forests and minimising the risk of fires.
Firefighting teams conduct controlled burns as part of the 2025 forest fire prevention campaign. Photos: CAIB.
These actions are part of the annual prevention planning, although it is in spring and autumn when the use of this technique is intensified. According to this year’s forecasts, approximately 38 hectares in Mallorca will be intervened, specifically in the Serra de Tramuntana and s’Albufera, as well as 3.7 hectares in Ibiza and another 3.7 in Menorca. Each of these burns must have a technical document outlining the objectives, environmental criteria, and execution guidelines.
An effective method to minimise forest fires
The use of technical fire not only contributes to fire prevention but also facilitates the operational response in case of emergency. During a forest fire, the firefighting teams can use these burns to create firebreaks and reduce fire intensity, thus protecting vulnerable areas.
The interventions will be carried out over the next few weeks, before May 1, the date when the high fire risk period in the Balearic Islands begins. From that point onwards, regulations prohibit any burning in forested areas as a preventative measure.
The manager of the Balearic Nature Institute (IBANAT), Tomeu Llabrés, has highlighted the importance of these burns also as a training tool for forest teams: “The use of technical fire not only helps in landscape management and fire reduction but also allows our brigades to specialise and improve their skills in this technique.”
Control of invasive species
In addition to its role in managing fire risks, technical fire is used to combat invasive plant species, such as Pennisetum sp., which has a significant impact on local ecosystems. The Director-General for Natural Environment and Forest Management, Anna Torres, has emphasised that “through controlled burning, specimens are removed before they spread their seeds and expand into new territories.”
Call for public collaboration
The Balearic Government stresses the importance of public collaboration to prevent forest fires. Citizens are urged to take extra precautions and respect current regulations to protect the islands’ forests and biodiversity.
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