CSIC-Xunta Agreement 2026-2029: What Changes in Forest Management and Fire Prevention in Galicia

Key data

Forest managers, fire prevention technicians and Galician local administrations face a new framework for action. The agreement signed on August 3, 2026 between the Consellería do Medio Rural of the Xunta of Galicia and the CSIC, through the Biological Mission of Galicia, establishes a structured scientific-technical collaboration that responds to the increase in forest fires associated with climate change. The Resolution from the Presidency of the CSIC that publishes it in the BOE is dated August 4, 2026 and was published on August 14, 2026.

This agreement is not a statement of intent: it articulates three concrete action blocks, with financing and execution shared between both administrations, and a jointly agreed Work Plan that will serve as a roadmap for the next four years.

What does this regulation establish?

The agreement is structured in three clearly differentiated action blocks:

The financing and execution of actions will be shared between both administrations. The monitoring of the agreement will be carried out through a jointly agreed Work Plan, which ensures continuous coordination throughout the 2026-2029 period.

The agreement is based on the Law 40/2015, on the Legal Regime of the Public Sector, and on the Law 14/2011, on Science, Technology and Innovation. It complements and reinforces the Pladiga Plan, Galicia's plan for prevention and defense against forest fires.

Economic and operational impact

The agreement does not publish specific economic amounts in the available resolution. However, its operational impact is significant for the organizations and professionals involved:

• Shared financing: Both the Xunta of Galicia and the CSIC assume part of the execution costs. This means that both administrations must foresee and allocate specific budget items for the 2026-2029 period.
• Human resources: Personnel from the Forest Fire Prevention Service will receive specialized training, which involves dedicating time and training resources over four years.
• Scientific-technical coordination: The Biological Mission of Galicia (CSIC) will provide research and technical capacity for the evaluation of hydrological-erosive risk and the monitoring of prescribed burns, reducing dependence on external reports for these matters.
• Long-term risk reduction: More effective management of prescribed burns and post-fire evaluation can translate into a reduction in costs associated with fire suppression and hydrological damage in affected watersheds.

Who does it affect?

• Galician public administrations: Especially the Consellería do Medio Rural and dependent organizations with competencies in forest management and fire prevention.
• Personnel of the Forest Fire Prevention Service of Galicia: Directly affected by the training block and by the protocols derived from prescribed burns.
• Private and public forest managers: Actions in vulnerable areas and prescribed burns may affect the planning of work in Galician forests and forest lands.
• Municipalities and local entities with forest mass: Evaluations of post-fire hydrological-erosive risk may generate recommendations or conditions for territory management.
• Researchers and technicians from the CSIC (Biological Mission of Galicia): Directly involved in the scientific execution of the agreement throughout the entire period.

Practical example

A technician from the Forest Fire Prevention Service of the Xunta of Galicia working in a region with high fire recurrence will benefit directly from this agreement in the following way:

• Will have access to specialized training taught or endorsed by the Biological Mission of Galicia (CSIC) on prescribed burn techniques and risk assessment.
• Will have updated scientific protocols to evaluate hydrological-erosive risk in burned areas of their region, which will allow them to prioritize post-fire actions with solid technical criteria.
• Will participate in the execution and monitoring of prescribed burns coordinated with the CSIC, reducing improvisation and improving the safety of these operations.

In terms of territory management, a Galician municipality with communal forests affected by recurring fires may request or receive post-fire erosive risk evaluations framed within this agreement, which may condition or improve the planning of reforestations and hydrological restoration works.

What should organizations do now?

1. Identify if your activity falls within the scope of the agreement: Forest managers, prevention technicians and local administrations with forest mass in Galicia should review whether their actions may be coordinated or conditioned by this agreement.
2. Contact the Consellería do Medio Rural: Entities managing forest lands in Galicia should consult with the Consellería on how the joint Work Plan will be structured and which areas will be prioritized for actions during 2026-2029.
3. Plan participation in training actions: Personnel from the Forest Fire Prevention Service should be alert to the call for training provided for in block 3 of the agreement.
4. Review prescribed burn planning: Managers who have prescribed burns planned in Galicia should verify whether their actions must be coordinated with the protocols derived from this agreement.
5. Follow the development of the Work Plan: Since monitoring will be carried out through a jointly agreed Work Plan, it is advisable to be alert to publications from the Xunta of Galicia and the CSIC on its development.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source (BOE-A-2026-17764)

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-17764