The Generalitat has issued the environmental assessment for the Natural Resource Management Plan for Sierra Escalona and Dehesa de Campoamor, marking a significant step toward creating this future protected area. The plan spans over eighteen thousand hectares, with nearly ten thousand hectares designated for maximum protection within the park and a further nine thousand for impact mitigation zones. The delineation of this area has been in progress for five years.

A major aspect of this plan prohibits the installation of solar plants in the buffer zones, responding to previous proposals for large solar projects in the region. The environmental declaration underscores the high ecological value of the area, noting its importance for various raptor species. The plan also identifies the landscape’s value, combining forested and agricultural land that supports diverse wildlife.

Additionally, the plan opens the possibility for land reclassification from non-urban to urban in specific buffer areas near urban centres such as Orihuela Costa and San Miguel de Salinas, contingent upon a strategic environmental assessment conducted by the Generalitat. Most objections from landowners regarding the buffer zone restrictions have been dismissed, emphasising the priority placed on ecological conservation over commercial interests.

In a broader context, the Generalitat expresses that the establishment of the natural park will better address territorial imbalances and relieve pressure on valuable natural resources, enhancing adaptations against climate change. Local groups advocating for the park’s creation have also suggested expanding protected areas within the surrounding region.