Spanish 
Dutch 
French 
German 
Norwegian Bokmål 
Polish 
Swedish
The Generalitat has begun the removal of thousands of dead pine trees from the historic Guardamar pine forest, which spans nearly 600 hectares from La Marina de Elche to northern Torrevieja.
This forest, originally planted a century ago to combat advancing dunes, has been severely affected by extreme drought and a pine tree plague, with 30–40% of its trees now irreversibly dried out, according to the environmental group Friends of the Wetlands of Southern Alicante (AHSA).
Large-Scale Logging Operations Underway
Forest personnel have started felling dried-out trees on the southern slopes of Moncayo, between the old forest house near the Los Montesinos road roundabout and the pedestrian walkway along the N-332. Heavy-duty machinery is being used to uproot and crush smaller trees, while larger trunks are left in place. The result is a stark and desolate landscape, highly visible from the N-332 highway.
The most affected areas are those most exposed to strong westerly winds and intense sunlight, where humidity levels are lowest. In contrast, trees located in dune depressions or along the coastal edge, where they benefit from sea moisture, have fared better.
Uncertain Future for the Forest
The Valencian Ministry of the Environment, which operates a nursery and facilities in Guardamar, has not yet specified the extent of the logging efforts or what reforestation plans will follow. However, experts suggest that pine trees may no longer be a viable option for replanting.
In October 2024, the regional government allocated €700,000 in emergency funds to combat the pine plague across the Valencian Community. The Generalitat, along with the Andalusian and Murcian regional governments, has also sought European funding to expand intervention efforts, as the problem extends beyond Alicante.
A Deteriorating Situation
According to AHSA President Sergio Arroyo, studies conducted in 2017 and 2019 already warned that 27% of the Guardamar pine forest was dead, while 51% showed serious signs of decline. A €900,000 restoration plan, funded by the Generalitat with European aid, was launched in 2020 to remove dead trees and replant the area with 95,000 new pines, along with native shrubs and trees. However, environmental groups claim that while many sick trees were removed, replanting efforts never materialized.
Unlike in 2020—when local residents and opposition parties strongly criticized the tree removal plan—the current intervention has seen little public backlash, as the sheer scale of tree mortality is now evident.
A Changing Climate and an Uncertain Future
Experts warn that the historic environmental conditions that allowed pine trees to thrive in this region no longer exist. Climate change has led to higher temperatures and extreme drought, drastically altering the landscape. Historical records describe the dunes as having moist, even stagnant soils due to contributions from the Segura River, which no longer reach this area.
“If we replant with pines, they won’t survive,” says Arroyo. “They would need irrigation, and that’s simply not going to happen.”
The same devastating pattern is unfolding elsewhere in Alicante, with thousands of dead pines in Sierra Escalona, Sierra de Orihuela, and Sierra de Callosa—though not yet at the scale seen in Guardamar.
In the more immediate future, the municipality of Guardamar del Segura has announced the removal of 150 dead trees from Reina Sofia Park, covering just over five hectares. Mayor José Luis Sáez confirmed that replacement planting will focus on drought-resistant native species, including junipers, sabinas, kermes oaks, and lentiscus shrubs.
With reforestation efforts still uncertain, one thing is clear: Guardamar’s historic pine forest will never be the same.
Spanish Dutch French German Norwegian Bokmål Polish Swedish
