A technical-legal report prepared by ARBA Tres Cantos has highlighted severe environmental damage and potential contractual breaches resulting from clearing operations carried out in April 2026 in the Alcornoques Forest Park. The study identified 323 geolocated damages, affecting 44% of the analyzed area, suggesting the total number of incidents in the park could exceed 600.
According to the document, the use of heavy machinery without differentiating between herbaceous and woody vegetation may have caused considerable impact on the park's trees and flora. Documented damages include 164 cases of mechanical trunk damage, 79 general mechanical damages, and the total destruction of 76 specimens, in addition to four irrigation outlets.
The association notes that 78.95% of the registered damages directly affect the trees, which they consider a significant alteration of the forest ecosystem's structure. Among the native species damaged are holm oaks, junipers, Pyrenean oaks, and cork oaks, some up to 30 years old, as well as community plantations established since the 1990s.
The report emphasizes the significance of the timing of the clearing operations, mid-April, coinciding with critical phases of the vegetation's biological cycle. The removal of ground cover during flowering, according to ARBA, reduces seed production, hinders natural regeneration, and negatively impacts pollinator insect communities by eliminating available floral resources.
From a legal standpoint, the report concludes that the events could constitute serious and very serious breaches related to the public contract for green space maintenance. The Technical Administrative Clauses and Specific Prescription Specifications are cited as the framework for assessing potential responsibilities, which could incur penalties, restoration obligations, or compensation.
ARBA proposes a review of the municipality's forest space management model, suggesting the replacement of generalized clearing with selective and perimeter interventions, and the potential incorporation of sheep and goats to balance fire prevention with forest ecosystem conservation.
