management is the responsibility
of the Department of Agriculture
and Environment. The president
of the Valencian Forestry Platform
(PFV), Fernando Pradells, explained
that fire is something typical of the
Mediterranean mountains, it cannot
be avoided. However, measures
can be put in place to prevent the
occurrence of a conflagration.
There are fires that cannot be put out
and the only solution is to regulate
the density of the biomass. This
can only be achieved with long-
term interventions. The mountains
have been given overprotection that
neither creates income nor uses
nor prevents fires. There are three
times more trees now than in 1970,
mainly due to the abandonment of
agriculture. No resources have been
allocated to forest products that could
substitute for petroleum products.
In general, traditional agriculture has
taken precedence over agroforestry
despite the importance it has for its
environmental, economic and social
values. From:La Razon