The Provincial Council of Badajoz approves the regulations for the Council of La Siberia

The Provincial Council of Badajoz has definitively approved the Internal Operating Regulations of the General Council of the La Siberia Biosphere Reserve. The agreement was adopted by the Plenary of the Provincial Corporation in an ordinary session on September 30, 2026, and is published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Badajoz No. 196, dated October 13, 2026, under announcement reference 4002/2026.

The text develops the organic Regulations of the General Council and regulates the composition, appointment, session regime, deliberations, and adoption of agreements of the Council itself and its three derived collegiate bodies: the Executive Committee, the Scientific Committee, and the Social Participation Committee. The process began with the initial approval by the Plenary on June 30, 2025, followed by a public information period of thirty business days announced in the BOP on July 9. The file was resolved with the dismissal of the claim submitted by the local action group CEDER La Siberia, approving the regulations in accordance with articles 49 and 70.2 of Law 7/1985, of April 2, Regulating the Bases of Local Government.

A Council with eleven city councils and four administrations

The General Council is composed of the Presidency, held by the head of the Presidency of the Provincial Council of Badajoz, and a Vice-Presidency elected from among the municipal representatives, with a rotating two-year mandate. The body is completed by:

• Three representatives of the Provincial Council of Badajoz.
• One representative from each of the eleven city councils within the Reserve’s territory.
• One representative of the local action group CEDER La Siberia.
• Four representatives of the Regional Government of Extremadura (forestry, tourism, education, and environmental sectors).
• Three representatives of the General State Administration (MaB Secretariat, Government Delegation, and Hydrographic Confederation).
• One representative from the University of Extremadura, one from the Scientific Committee, and one from the Social Participation Committee.
• The Secretariat, with voice but no vote, assumed by civil service personnel appointed by the Provincial Council.

Members shall hold office free of charge and shall cease to do so upon resignation, expiration of the mandate, revocation, loss of status, or unjustified absence from three consecutive sessions.

Sessions, quorums, and majorities

The Council shall hold at least one ordinary session in the last quarter of each year, with the notice of meeting issued by the Secretariat at least five business days in advance; extraordinary sessions shall be convened with 48 hours’ notice. The quorum for a valid constitution is half plus one of the members, and agreements are adopted by simple majority, with the Presidency holding a casting vote in the event of a tie. An absolute majority is required for determining the number of members, the appointment and removal of officers, the approval of accounts and the Action Plan, and the dissolution of the Council. Sessions are not public and may be held virtually if so agreed and digital means for their validation exist.

The Executive Committee shall meet at least once every four months and assumes the drafting of the annual activity plan and report, the monitoring of their execution, the custody of archives, and the resolution of authorizations regarding the “La Siberia Biosphere Reserve” brand and logo.

Three committees and a registry of entities

The Scientific Committee is a consultative body specialized in the scientific, technical, and educational fields, with a minimum of three members grouped into three areas: Conservation, Sustainable Development, and Logistical Support. It shall meet at least once a year, and its coordinator, elected by absolute majority, shall have a four-year term, renewable only once.

The Social Participation Committee channels citizen, sectoral, and territorial participation and shall include representatives from territory custodians, environmental NGOs, agricultural, trade union, and business organizations, the tourism, livestock, beekeeping, agricultural, and forestry sectors, natural environment agents, cultural, hunting, fishing, disability, pensioners, youth, and women’s associations, renewable energies and waste management, social responsibility, a Local Development Agent, and the Reserve manager. A General Registry of Participating Entities is created, with voluntary registration, which shall be updated annually during the first quarter; the term of the representatives shall be four years.

Deadlines, resources, and entry into force

An administrative appeal may be filed against the final agreement before the Administrative Chamber of the High Court of Justice of Extremadura within two months from the day following the publication of the full text, in accordance with Article 112.3 of Law 39/2015 and Articles 10 and 46 of Law 29/1988. The regulation shall enter into force once published in full and after the period of 15 business days specified in Article 65.2 of Law 7/1985 has elapsed. Any amendment shall require an absolute majority of the General Council and approval by the Plenary of the Provincial Council. The announcement is signed by the Acting Secretary General, María Fernanda Rubio Cortés.

The regulation provides a stable structure for the governance of a protected area spanning eleven municipalities and organizes the participation of administrations, universities, associative networks, and economic sectors. Its entry into force establishes clear rules for calls, quorums, and majorities for decisions regarding conservation, sustainable development, and the use of the Reserve’s brand.

Source: Official Gazette of the Province of Badajoz, No. 196, October 13, 2026, Local Administration, p. 2 (official reference: announcement 4002/2026).