The Generalitat Valenciana has allocated a total of 700,000 euros to the Community to subsidize actions in mountain municipalities. Of these, Castellón concentrates the largest share, with 28 localities receiving aid for sustainable forest management and fire prevention. The province of Valencia has 11 beneficiary municipalities, and Alicante has 2.
Each town hall can receive a maximum of 20,000 euros. These funds can be used for the improvement and maintenance of forest land, both municipally owned and privately owned (with a collaboration agreement), and for the acquisition of equipment related to fire prevention. The objective is to enhance safety in mountainous areas prone to depopulation.
The municipalities in Castellón receiving this aid are: Azuébar, Gaibiel, La Pobla de Benifassà, Sierra Engarcerán, Matet, Zorita del Maestrazgo, Aín, Algimia de Almonacid, Ares del Maestrat, Atzeneta del Maestrat, Bejís, Benassal, Castillo de Villamalefa, Cortes de Arenoso, Eslida, La Serratella, Morella, Palanques, Rossell, Arañuel, la Vall de Almonacid, Villahermosa del Río, Vistabella del Maestrat, Xodos, Ludiente, Zucaina, Caudiel, and Alcudia de Veo.
The evaluation of the subsidies considered criteria such as hectares of municipal forest land, agreements with private land, kilometers of tracks and trails, and the gross per capita income of the municipalities, according to official data from the INE.
