The DOGV corrects the decree number of the Escalona Natural Park

The Official Gazette of the Generalitat Valenciana (DOGV) has corrected the decree number of the Consell declaring the Sierra de Escalona and Dehesa de Campoamor Natural Park: where it stated Decree 137/2026, it should state Decree 131/2026, both dated September 11. The rectification is published in DOGV number 10454, dated September 18, 2026, Section I. General Provisions, under official reference DOGV-C-2026-29501, and amends the title of the regulation disseminated the previous day.

The correction of errors is signed by the Third Vice-Presidency and Conselleria of Environment, Infrastructure, Territory and Recovery, the department that promoted the regulation. The error was detected in the publication of the title of the resolution appearing in DOGV number 10453, dated September 17, 2026 (reference DOGV-C-2026-28621), where the decree appeared numbered as 137/2026.

The original text, signed in Elche on September 11, 2026, by the president of the Generalitat, Juan Francisco Pérez Llorca, and by the third vice-president and conseller, Vicente Martínez Mus, declares the Sierra de Escalona and the Dehesa de Campoamor as a natural park and applies a special protection regime in accordance with Law 11/1994, of December 27, on protected natural spaces of the Comunitat Valenciana.

A space of 9,004 hectares in the Vega Baja

The territorial scope coincides with zone I of high environmental value of the Natural Resources Management Plan (PORN) and covers 9,004.10 hectares distributed among three municipalities of the Vega Baja region:

• Orihuela
• San Miguel de Salinas
• Pilar de la Horadada

The three municipal districts are declared as the socioeconomic influence area of the park, according to article 21 of Law 11/1994. The PORN was approved by Decree 31/2026, of February 27, of the Consell, and the declaration procedure was initiated with Order 9/2023, of May 5, of the Conselleria of Agriculture, Rural Development, Climate Emergency and Ecological Transition.

Reinforced protection, governing board and sanctions

The decree establishes the objectives of the protection regime, which include identifying and georeferencing the significant elements of the natural heritage, defining their state of conservation, and promoting sustainable rural development based on traditional uses. The conselleria competent in the environment will develop a master plan for use and management and will assume management through the general directorate of natural spaces.

The Governing Board of the park is created as a collegiate advisory and participation body, presided over by right by the conseller of Environment. Among its members are representatives of:

• The Provincial Council of Alicante
• The Segura Hydrographic Confederation
• The city councils of Orihuela, San Miguel de Salinas, and Pilar de la Horadada
• The departments (consellerias) competent in agriculture, infrastructure, and tourism
• The universities of the province of Alicante, sports federations, conservation associations, hunting ground holders, and the owners of the three municipalities

The sanctioning regime shall be that of articles 52 to 61 of Law 11/1994, and the regulation will not entail an increase in the department’s expenditure chapters.

Background and European designations

The territory already had protection: Decree 190/2018, of October 19, declared the Sierra Escalona and its surroundings a protected landscape, a designation that is now repealed. Furthermore, the area is recognized as a site of community importance (SCI ES5212012) and as a special protection area for birds (SPA ES0000464), both under the name Sierra Escalona and Dehesa de Campoamor.

The decree entered into force the day following its publication in the DOGV, that is, September 18, 2026, the same day on which the rectification of the number was disseminated.

The correction does not alter the content of the regulation, but it does alter its official identification: owners, city councils, and promoters of activities in the area must cite Decree 131/2026 in any procedure, allegation, or request for authorization before the Generalitat. The new natural park consolidates the protection of a key enclave for the Bonelli’s eagle and the badger, and subjects land uses in the 9,004 affected hectares to the guidelines of the PORN.

Source: Official Gazette of the Generalitat Valenciana, no. 10454, of September 18, 2026, I. General Provisions (official reference: DOGV-C-2026-29501).