Madrid unveils 10-year plan to restore Sierra Oeste forests after July wildfire

The fire and the damage it left

The Community of Madrid has presented a Forest Restoration Plan for the Sierra Oeste, covering the area hit by the large fire of July 2026. The fire began in late July and burned more than 24,000 hectares, 18,000 of them forest, mostly pines and holm oaks. The regional president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, said the fire forced the evacuation or confinement of 50,000 people and destroyed about a hundred primary residences. It was declared under control and in the extinction phase on 4 August, after the Interior Ministry had declared it an emergency of national interest.

A ten-year plan in three phases

The plan runs for ten years and prioritises natural regeneration and sowing of native species, while also promoting the management of privately owned forests. The first phase, lasting one year, aims to guarantee the safety of people and infrastructure, the survival of wildlife, selective removal of trees and the maintenance of watercourses and reservoirs, including the Pantano de San Juan. The second phase, lasting one to five years, focuses on natural regeneration and the evolution of insect populations. The third, lasting a little over three years, centres on reforestation and recovery treatments where regeneration has not occurred, using holm oaks and other native species more resistant to fire, pests and extreme conditions. Experts will assess each tree using satellite images, measurements and erosion risk calculations, since many trees keep green crowns while their roots or trunks are damaged. The IMIDRA will produce 300,000 native plants until 2028.

Funding and support for owners

The plan is budgeted at about 25 million euros for 2026 and 2027, with 5.53 million euros in 2026 and 19.2 million euros in 2027.

Private forest owners affected by the fire can receive aid of up to 60,000 euros for soil conservation and plant health work. The plan also includes agricultural aid worth three million euros to compensate damage to crops, vineyards, livestock farms and infrastructure. Hunting activity will be limited during the season to reduce pressure on surviving wildlife. Safety strips of 20 to 30 metres will be created along main roads and forest tracks, in the tree-free areas that make up 2% of the surface.

Water supply for two villages

The regional government has offered the councils of Aldea del Fresno and Villa del Prado that Canal de Isabel II manage their water networks. Together the two municipalities have about 11,250 inhabitants, and their supply currently relies on five small wells near the Alberche river, which proved insufficient during the fires and after the 2023 dana storm. Connecting them would require a pipeline of about 24 kilometres from neighbouring Villamanta, and the works could last five to seven years according to councillor Carlos Novillo. The project has not been costed, and the municipal plenary sessions will decide whether to change supplier. On the fire's effect on drinking water, Novillo said:

There should not be a problem with drinking water

The San Juan and Picadas reservoirs, in the most affected zone, are managed by the Tagus Hydrographic Confederation, which Novillo urged to speed up work to limit the impact of ash.

What happens next

The municipal councils of both villages still have to decide on the Canal de Isabel II offer. The first phase of the restoration plan extends to 2027. Officials worry that autumn rains could wash ash into rivers, streams and reservoirs and affect water quality. According to the regional department, the first autumn rains had caused no problems so far, and the Canal's treatment plants in the area use modern filters.