From the Board of Andalusia It has been announced that in 2025 a great boost will be given to the circular economy and also to forestry policy. This will be possible thanks to the fact that more than 813 million have been allocated in the Accounts for these and other purposes.
The Minister of Sustainability and Environment of the Board of Andalusia, Catalina García, reported this Monday to the Parliamentary Commission of Andalusia on the budgets allocated to its area in 2025. Thus, next year, with a total of 813.73 million euros (almost 6% more than in 2024) for environmental policies, Andalusia continues to strengthen its commitment to sustainable development and environmental preservationwith a special focus on the circular economy, waste management, forest policy and biodiversity.
Andalusia: forest policy and circular economy
“With these Accounts we will promote actions with a great social, territorial, environmental and economic impact. that will be oriented to protect our natural heritage and Andalusian biodiversitywhile improving the competitiveness of business sectors through sustainability. All of them tasks, where administrative simplification, social dialogue and the development of new technologies and research will be their main allies,” he said.
Regarding investments in the circular economy and waste management, these will reach 137.97 million euros, which means an increase of 68% compared to 2024. Figures that reflect, as stated, the effort of the Board of Andalusia for improving the waste management and promoting a more sustainable model in Andalusian municipalities. Catalina García has highlighted the importance of this investment, mentioning that “municipalities continue to be the main beneficiaries of this new waste management model.”
In 2025, the subsidies allocated to municipalities will include specific funds for the acquisition of urban solid waste collection trucks, with a budget of 10 million euros, and 81.4 million in terms of circular economy and improved waste management. In addition, through the PLA Plan, 7 million euros will be allocated to the construction of clean points and, through the PLANETA Plan (Plan for Transfer Stations Andalusia), 2.9 million euros will be invested for the 2025 year.
Likewise, the budget provides 8.2 million euros for sealing landfills in several Andalusian towns. At this point, the counselor has mentioned those of the province of Almería (Cuevas de Almanzora, Berja, Albox, Lijar and Castro de Filabres). Catalina García has emphasized that these investments, in addition to promote the circular economyalso seek to alleviate the negative effects of the landfill waste tax, imposed by the Government of Spain.
In his speech, he also valued actions regarding environmental sustainability, “which will be the spearhead of the political action of the Andalusian government in its objective of attracting investment, business development and innovation in Andalusia”. In this sense, progress will continue in the 12 air quality plans, with special attention to the metropolitan area of Granada and Villanueva del Arzobispo, in Jaén, areas where levels of pollution above average at times.
In addition, work will continue on the processing of the Draft Decree for the new Acoustic Preservation Regulation and a Protection Regulation against Light Pollution, with the objective of preserve the night sky as natural heritage.
In 2025, the review of environmental quality and the streamlining of environmental permits, facilitating the attraction of investments and promoting a sustainable economic model in Andalusia. “This agility in the processing pursues the environmental protection of our natural heritage, while at the same time it will provide legal security and guarantees for the business sector that wants to establish itself in Andalusia”, has added.
Andalusian natural heritage
Another key pillar of this budget is the increase in the amounts allocated to forest policy, biodiversity and protected natural spaces, which reach 383.88 million euros, which represents an increase of 6.6% compared to the previous year. With this investment, “forestry policy is consolidated as one of the axes of the 2025 budget action, within the green revolution in Andalusia”.
Catalina García has highlighted key projects such as the acquisition of the Finca Veta la Palma in Doñana, an “environmental milestone” in almost 50 years that guarantees the survival of this important wetland. Precisely, in 2025, close to one million euros will be allocated to the design of the action, protection and development plan for this estate.
Likewise, he has highlighted the actions of restoration and conservation in wetlands from Seville, Córdoba and Granada for a total of 8.7 million euros. Such as the restoration of the Cabo de Gata Salt Flats (1.2 million), the wetlands of Seville (one million euros), the restoration of wetlands in Granada for half a million (Charca Suárez) and the wetlands of the province of Córdoba, who will receive a joint investment of 1.2 million euros.
In this section, the Andalusian Government will allocate 75.38 million euros to the conservation and protection of protected natural spaces, including 11.6 million to support the areas of socioeconomic influence of National Parks and one million for the demolition of the Algarrobico in Carboneras, pending the execution of the Supreme Court ruling by the City Council.
The prevention and management of forest fires is another priority for 2025. With 136.9 million euros, 1.5% more than in 2024 and 62.5% more than in 2018, the Board of Andalusia seeks to strengthen the preventative measures and sustainable forest management. “This investment is vital to respond to the rapid changes that occur as a consequence of climate change, desertification and the increasingly serious presence of large forest fires,” he recalled.
In this sense, the 2025 budget also includes an allocation of 7.55 million euros to address climate change, an increase of 16.7% compared to the previous year, and the development of the Green Infrastructure Plan for the Connectivity of Andalusia, with 38.7 million euros allocated to adaptation and conservation of livestock trails and ecological connectivity.
In this regard, he highlighted that the 2025 budget includes a line of subsidies of more than 80 million euros for private owners to promote sustainable forest managementin addition to 6 million euros in aid for the acquisition of forestry machinery. As for other key projects, the Ministry will allocate more than 36 million euros to direct actions in forestry matters and the maintenance of forest roads.
Protection of biodiversity
In the area of biodiversity, the budget also includes programs for the recovery and conservation of threatened flora and fauna, as well as the maintenance of recovery centers, laboratories, botanical gardens and breeding centers. The Board will develop the Andalusian Biodiversity Strategy 2030, aligning its objectives with national and European regulations to guarantee comprehensive biodiversity management Andalusian.
Likewise, the Andalusian Government will continue with conservation and protection programs for cataloged specieslike the lynx and the imperial eagle. In relation to the latter, more than two million euros will be allocated to adapt the power lines and prevent the collision and electrocution of birds, protecting the native birdlife.
The counselor has also reviewed the progress in environmental legislation, with the future Forestry Law, the Law of Environmental Agents and the Law for the Environmental Management of Andalusia, that will modernize and strengthen the regulations in sustainability and sustainable development in the region.
Catalina García concluded her intervention with a call to dialogue and cooperationremembering that “these are ambitious budgets that meet the needs of Andalusians.”
The counselor has emphasized that this budget represents a total of 528 million in investments for all provinces. “These are very municipal budgets, which will promote economic and social development, employment and will improve the quality of life of Andalusians”.
Compared to the previous year, the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment has significantly increased investment in circular economy, fire prevention and forestry policydefense of biodiversity and waste management, among others, with a view to next year 2025.