Aragón authorizes the removal of burnt wood in private forests via a responsible declaration

The Department of Environment and Tourism of the Government of Aragon has enabled the cutting and extraction of timber and firewood affected by forest fires in privately owned forests and in areas not managed by the regional forestry administration. This is done through Order MAT/1643/2026, dated November 9, published in the Official Gazette of Aragon number 219, dated November 12, 2026, in section III of Other Provisions and Agreements (reference BOA20261112025). The requirement to begin the work is the submission of a prior responsible declaration, without the need for an express authorizing resolution.

The end of an administrative hurdle

The order is based on article 106.5 of the revised text of the Forestry Law of Aragon, approved by Legislative Decree 1/2017, of June 20, which empowers the forestry administration to adopt measures for the removal of burnt wood, and on article 50.2 of Law 43/2003, of November 21, on Forests. The Executive argues that the presence of burnt wood encourages forest pests and diseases, increases the risk of new fires, and hinders natural regeneration and hydrological-forest restoration.

The statement of motives further emphasizes that the 2026 fires have particularly intensely affected numerous municipalities and that urgent removal prevents the rapid depreciation of the harvests and contributes to the economic recovery of the affected rural areas. The regulation invokes the principle of minimum intervention from article 4.1 of Law 40/2015 and relies on article 69 of Law 39/2015 to replace prior authorization with a responsible declaration.

Twenty-six fires and three provinces

Annex I of the order delimits the fires and municipalities where the measures apply. The list begins on June 24, 2026, in Alcañiz (Teruel) and closes on August 26 in Villafranca de Ebro (Zaragoza). Among the included incidents are:

• Alcampell (June 25), affecting Alcampell, Azanuy-Alins, Fonz, Peralta de Calasanz, San Esteban de Litera, and Tamarite de Litera.
• Leciñena (June 30), reaching Alcubierre, Leciñena, Robres, and Torralba de Aragón.
• Orés (July 15), with Asín, Biota, Ejea de los Caballeros, Luesia, Orés, and Uncastillo.
• Ejulve (July 20), in Castellote, Ejulve, and Molinos.
• Las Peñas de Riglos (August 10), affecting Bailo, Caldearenas, Jaca, Las Peñas de Riglos, Santa Cilia, and Santa Cruz de la Serós.
• Almonacid de la Sierra (August 14), in Almonacid de la Sierra and Alpartir.
• Recurrences in Loporzano, Plan, Campo, La Fueva, and Foradada del Toscar, with up to three distinct episodes in some districts.

The affected municipalities are distributed among the provinces of Huesca, Teruel, and Zaragoza, with a predominance in the province of Huesca.

Electronic declaration and environmental conditions

The owner of the forest land must submit the declaration to the Provincial Service of Environment and Tourism competent by reason of territory, preferably electronically through procedure 12059 of the electronic office of the Government of Aragon, or in person at the registration offices. The Annex II form requires data on the owner, cadastral and SIGPAC location, affected area, reference fire, main species, estimated volume, machinery, and execution period.

The declaration takes effect upon submission, but binds the interested party and does not exempt them from inspection by the Provincial Services or the Nature Protection Agents. The inaccuracy or essential falsehood of the data implies the loss of effects and the immediate cessation of work.

Annex III establishes the environmental conditions, including:

• Prohibition of stripping fertile soil and opening new access points, except for temporary extraction routes within the estate, which must be restored.
• Suspension of work during rain, snow, or high soil moisture.
• Conservation of singular specimens, trees with cavities, and nesting areas.
• Minimum protection strip of five meters on each side of riverbeds, ravines, and wetlands.
• Selective extraction and mandatory corrective measures in high erosive risk areas, such as slopes exceeding 50%, basin headwaters, and active ravines.

Appeals and pending requests

The General Directorate of Forest Management may establish exclusion zones and modify the annexes through a reasoned resolution published in the Official Gazette of Aragon. Requests for utilization pending resolution are equated to the responsible declaration, unless the interested party expressly states otherwise. Against the order, which exhausts the administrative route, an optional appeal for reversal may be filed before the counselor Luis Francisco Biendicho Gracia within one month, or a contentious-administrative appeal within two months, counted from the day following its publication.

The measure has an immediate effect on forest owners, logging companies, and the city councils of the burned areas, who may mobilize the timber without waiting for express authorization, although under subsequent administrative control and with land restoration obligations.

Source: Official Gazette of Aragon, no. 219, of November 12, 2026, section III (Other Provisions and Agreements) (official reference: BOA20261112025).