Large-scale logging of pine stands at the source of the Tagus River has become a focal point for citizen coalitions led by SOS Montes Universales and the Observatory for Sustainability. In the Teruel province, near the borders with Cuenca and Guadalajara, activists claim that the government-backed removal of thousands of trees to feed pellet production is producing serious ecological impacts in an area of high environmental value.
In recent months, the petition drive surpassed 100,000 signatures, conveying broad public concern about the logging. Citizens have also taken steps to present a formal complaint to the European Commission and are pursuing avenues in national and international courts to challenge what they view as infringements of community standards.
The manifesto from SOS Montes Universales quotes scientists who question whether these interventions align with the Aragon Biodiversity Strategy, Natura 2000 objectives, and even the local Forest Law. The document emphasizes prudence and advocates a halt to operations until scientific evidence clarifies their appropriateness.
Signatories stress that the landscape, ecological integrity, and environmental interests of the Montes Universales demand an immediate stop to actions they describe as excessive and harmful mechanical procedures. They warn that losing the natural heritage accumulated over centuries would undermine the region’s future.
The primary aim is to secure prompt compliance by the Government of Aragon with existing regulations while urging responsible mental health and environmental stewardship among public administrations and citizens alike.
“Lack of precision and criteria”
The Montes Universales represent a biogeographic junction boasting high species diversity and ecologically important natural habitats. Signatories point out that parts of Castilla-La Mancha have been designated protected areas through Alto Tajo Natural Park, with portions of Teruel included in Alto Tajo and Muela de San Juan LIC, and within Natura 2000 networks.
The Observatory for Sustainability and related groups note that heavy logging could undermine conservation goals and the coherence of Natura 2000, referencing the risk to habitat types and to species of community interest, including alkaline peatlands and the distinctive Actias isabellae butterfly.
The signatories, comprised of scientists, researchers, and professionals from multiple disciplines, call for an immediate halt to logging and a review of forest management plans at Vega del Tajo. They frame sustainable forest management as a citizen-driven objective aligned with Natura 2000 goals to protect landscapes, species, and habitats for regional communities.
“Planned forest use”
The Observatory for Sustainability highlights serious environmental, economic, and social impacts in the Tagus River reserve, a highly protected ecological zone with endemic features. They warn that the use of heavy machinery in peatlands can degrade mature trees, create erosion channels, and simplify ecological networks, ultimately harming resilience.
The platform notes that the broader area, including the future Alto Tajo National Park, is being shaped by plans that could permit mass felling in ways that are not allowed in other parts of the country, risking species and habitats protected by Natura 2000.
The coalition calls for an urgent halt to logging, accountability for any damage, and a shared commitment to a future-preserving path that involves local communities, scientists, and residents in the protection of ecosystems.
Aragon Government advocates cutting trees
In parallel, government representatives defend the logging as a planned management approach designed to renew forest mass and increase resilience to fires and climate stress. They argue that these measures help sustain landscapes and protect long-term forest health.
Officials report that several forestry operations are conducted outside the Alto Tajo Nature Reserve and are included in the annual exploitation plan for the Aragon region.
The broader context includes ongoing studies and documentary materials supporting forest renewal as part of regional stewardship.
The debate remains contentious as environmental advocates press for rapid safeguards and a transparent assessment of the plan’s impacts on Natura 2000 networks and regional biodiversity.
The broader call from SOS Montes Universales and affiliated groups emphasizes a collective responsibility: to safeguard ecosystems through prudent management and community participation, ensuring that natural heritage remains a living resource for future generations.