Generalitat authorizes rice straw burning from mid-September

The Directorate General for the Prevention of Forest Fires has published a resolution that extraordinarily authorizes the burning of vegetable waste from stubble and rice straw in certain wetlands of the Valencian Community located in the forest influence zone, that is, less than 500 meters from forest land. The measure, dated 11 August 2026 and signed by the Director General José Antonio Rueda Guijarro, was published in the Official Gazette of the Valencian Government on 17 August 2026, with reference number DOGV-C-2026-27062.

The resolution responds to a request from the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture, Water, Livestock and Fisheries, which sent a report from the Plant Health Service to the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Territory on 27 July 2026. In said report, dated 21 July, it is argued that stubble burning is an effective technique for combating pests, diseases and weeds, mitigating physiopathies related to anoxia and reducing dependence on pesticides, in line with Directive 128/2009 on the sustainable use of plant protection products. The legal framework is based on Article 137 of Annex I of Decree 91/2023, of 22 June, of the Consell, which regulates the Valencian forestry law (Law 3/1993).

Phytosanitary reasons and early harvest

The high temperatures recorded in recent weeks have predictably brought forward the rice harvest to the first fortnight of September in the earliest plots. According to the technical report, it is essential to burn the stubble as soon as possible after harvesting to prevent green regrowth, which would hinder combustion and reduce the effectiveness of the phytosanitary technique. Therefore, the resolution authorizes the use of fire from 16 September 2026 until the end of the harvest campaign, and in any case until 31 December 2026, both inclusive.

Affected municipalities and plots

The authorization covers rice plots in six Valencian municipalities, all of which have their own local burning plan:

Almenara
Chilches
La Llosa
Oliva
Pego
Dénia

The annex to the resolution contains the complete list of cadastral references for each authorized plot, broken down by municipality, polygon and plot number.

Conditions of the authorization

The burning is subject to a set of conditions designed to minimize the risk of forest fire:

It may only be carried out when the forest fire risk pre-emergency level is level 1. It is prohibited at levels 2 or 3. Information can be consulted at www.112cv.com.
The burning schedule runs from sunrise until two hours before sunset, and all flames must be extinguished by that time.
Residues other than those authorised (rice straw and stubble) may not be burned.
Burning must ensure the complete mineralisation of the plant residue to avoid the production of anoxic waters.
On plots located less than 500 metres from forest land, a strip at least 2 metres wide must have been cleared around the burning area.
At least one person must remain on watch, with the means to report incidents to the Generalitat’s 1·1·2 emergency line.
Burning may not be carried out during thermal inversions or when winds exceed 30 km/h.
The watch must not be abandoned until the fire is completely out and two hours have passed with no visible embers.

Administrative appeals

Against this resolution, which does not exhaust the administrative route, an appeal for reconsideration may be lodged with the Directorate General for Forest Fire Prevention itself or directly with the Regional Secretariat for Environment and Territory, within one month of publication in the official bulletin, in accordance with articles 121 and 122 of Law 39/2015 on common administrative procedure.

The measure provides relief for rice farmers in the L’Albufera area and other Valencian wetlands, who had been calling for this exceptional authorisation in view of the accelerated agricultural calendar caused by summer temperatures. The resolution takes effect the day after its publication, i.e. from 18 August 2026.

Source: Official Gazette of the Valencian Government, 17 August 2026, section III (Administrative Acts – Other Matters), page not specified (official reference: DOGV-C-2026-27062).