This wildfire in Casas de Miravete, Extremadura, continues to advance on several fronts as wind shifts relentlessly. It is burning through Monfragüe National Park, with more than 3,000 hectares already singed. The principal front lies in the Solana del Coto area, a very dry eucalyptus belt where flames spread quickly.
The situation now includes damage to two Egyptian vulture nests, with additional nesting sites for golden eagles and an imperial eagle encampment also affected. The fire is advancing toward the Tagus River basin where other blazes are concentrated. Precious pockets of virgin Mediterranean forest and the nests of at least 15 black vultures and their chicks are at risk.
Only a change in wind direction and the tireless work of firefighting teams have prevented a far worse outcome. SEO/BirdLife has urged the Junta de Extremadura to request reinforced resources from the state, emphasizing that saving Monfragüe National Park is essential and that if weather improves, there remains a real chance of containment.
The largest fire began in the Las Hurdes region of Cáceres on Monday afternoon, 11 July, and then spread to Las Batuecas in Salamanca the following day. Almost simultaneously, another blaze started on the slopes of the Sierra de Béjar, near the town of Candelario, and quickly feeding into Extremadura under adverse wind and heat.
On Wednesday, a fire that had been extinguished last week near the Sierra de Dios Padre in Las Hurdes reawakened, complicating extinguishing efforts further. Soon after, the Casas de Miravete fire expanded into Monfragüe, where it was officially declared a priority incident.
Affected habitats of high ecological value
The firefronts in Extremadura have ravaged more than 6,000 hectares of forest and scrubland on high mountains. SEO/BirdLife’s preliminary assessment indicates that Natura 2000 sites are affected across seven areas of the network.
These locations include several habitats of significant ecological value. More than twenty vertebrate species face risk, including vultures, black storks, royal kites, Egyptian vultures, golden eagles, peregrine falcons, goshawks, booted eagles, and other raptors protected by EU regulations. The Batuecas region supports unique flora such as the Batuecas lizard, the Asturian narcissus, and related savanna species that are part of the local biodiversity mosaic.
Two examples of the black vulture are pictured here. The habitat loss and nesting disturbance pose a serious threat to this species, which is the largest scavenger in Europe and has experienced a positive but fragile recovery in Spain, still categorized as threatened in the Red Book of Birds.
Other affected species include the Egyptian vulture and the black stork, both known for nesting chicks in perilous conditions. Several species listed as vulnerable at the state level in the Red Book may have suffered declines or local die-offs due to the fires or adult abandonment.
Very difficult conditions
SEO/BirdLife has offered its strongest support to the professional crews battling these fires in extremely challenging conditions.
It is urged that fire management resources be adapted to the new climate reality and that resources be allocated adequately for prevention and the preservation of forest masses in natural areas, ensuring a robust defense against future events, as described by the NGO.
Fires have already devastated nearly 60,000 hectares across Spain in recent days. Last Monday afternoon alone, 33 fires were counted that burned more than 29,000 hectares, with an additional 30,000 hectares consumed by the wider blaze in Zamora. Two fatalities have been reported, including a forest firefighter and a rancher, while about 15 people were injured and around 32 communities had to be evacuated, affecting more than 5,000 residents. The human toll and environmental damage underscore the urgency of intensified prevention, rapid response, and long-term forest health strategies.