Recovering the agricultural mosaic of Collserola: from fire risk to a more sustainable territory

The Serra de Collserola, the green lung of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, has seen the abandonment of agriculture favor the proliferation of a highly flammable continuous forest, increasing the risk of a major forest fire next to the main population center in Catalonia. Faced with this scenario, the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation is promoting a new line of work to recover the traditional agricultural mosaic and strengthen the resilience of the territory, while committing to closer public-private collaboration.

A pilot project in Sant Just Desvern

The project has been launched with a pilot action in the municipality of Sant Just Desvern, where the Foundation, together with L’Olivera and the Collserola Natural Park, has begun the recovery of abandoned olive groves. It is planned to restore up to 240 olive trees of the Arbequina variety, planted between 2002 and 2006, through tasks such as intensive pruning, reducing tree density and clearing adjacent vegetation.

From 2028, it is estimated that production could reach 2,500 kg of olives, equivalent to about 330 liters of oil, turning this space into a model of a productive and sustainable agroforestry mosaic.

156 hectares with future potential

The project adopts a long-term perspective. Across the entire Collserola Natural Park, 156 hectares of potentially recoverable agricultural land have been identified — around 2% of the park’s surface — distributed across six municipalities: Barcelona, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Molins de Rei, Cerdanyola, and Sant Just Desvern. The estates show a great diversity of types: olive groves, orchards, vegetable gardens, cropland, and pastures.

The goal is to restore this agricultural mosaic over the next five years, with a vision toward 2050, in order to achieve:

• A landscape more resilient to wildfires

• An agricultural activity that supports biodiversity

• The creation of jobs for people at risk of social exclusion

• And the production of local food, connected to society

A commitment to sustainability and social responsibility

Beyond wildfire prevention, the project includes a clear social and participatory dimension. It aims to promote responsible consumption and gradually expand the initiative to other areas of the park. It also plans to consolidate production with an in-house oil mill, adding value to agricultural activity.

This replicable model of active agroforestry management strengthens the bond with the land and contributes to environmental, social, and economic sustainability.

Through this initiative, Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera reaffirms its commitment to sustainability, active land management, and the connection between nature and society.