Swine fever: forest around Collserola and the Vallès closed

If you were planning to go mushroom picking in the forest near Barcelona, first check whether it falls within the high-risk zone for African swine fever (PPA in Catalan). In this part of Cataluña you currently can't get into the forest. The Serra de Collserola Natural Park has been fully closed since 12 March 2026, and there is no word yet on when it will reopen ¹².

Does the ban apply to your municipality?

If you live in or are planning to walk in the Vallès, the Baix Llobregat or around Collserola, most likely it does. The ban applies in the high-risk zone (zona infectada d'alt risc), that is, within 0 to 6 km of the outbreak site. According to the Diputació de Barcelona's natural parks network, it covers Badia del Vallès, Barberà del Vallès, Castellbisbal, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Esplugues de Llobregat, Molins de Rei, Montcada i Reixac, el Papiol, Polinyà, Ripollet, Rubí, Sabadell, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Sant Just Desvern, Sant Quirze del Vallès, Santa Perpètua de Mogoda and Terrassa, as well as the Barcelona enclave and the whole of the Collserola park ². The Generalitat (the Catalan government) lists these same municipalities first in its table, together with Barcelona ¹.

At first, Collserola was off limits only to people coming from some of these municipalities. On 12 March 2026 another infected wild boar was found within the Barcelona city limits. After that the radius was extended and the park entrances on the Barcelona side were closed too. So before you check the forecast on the map, find your municipality in the list.

What exactly is banned?

You can't go out into the countryside outside built-up areas. In the zone it is forbidden to enter forests, riverbeds and stream beds, meadows and fields, parks and country roads, or to do anything there at all ¹. The ban covers both natural parks and urban parks along watercourses. Walking, dog walking, running and cycling are not allowed there. Picnic areas, car parks and entrances to natural areas are closed. Organised events have also been cancelled: group walks, trail races, cycle races and horse rides ².

What is still allowed?

Not much. You can still get to your home, work indoors, go to restaurants and use sports facilities, but disinfection is compulsory. The same exceptions apply to Collserola ¹.

What do you need to know about wild boar and hunting?

Hunting in the high-risk zone is banned. The only exception is hunting that is needed to contain the disease ¹². Farms must apply stricter biosecurity, and moving herds out of risk zones is prohibited. General rules also apply across the whole infected area. If you see a dead wild boar, don't touch it and call 112. Wild boar must not be fed, lured or chased off. The fences and biological control devices for wild boar that have been installed there must not be touched or removed ¹.

Can you walk in the 6 to 20 km zone?

Yes. In the low-risk zone, according to the Generalitat, the restrictions on activities in the countryside have been lifted, although it doesn't say from what date ¹. The wild boar rules from the previous section apply here too. Hunting in this zone is generally banned. Resolution ARP/2762/2026 of 31 July 2026 added a new exception to this ban, but the Generalitat does not specify what it is ¹.

When will the ban be lifted?

No one knows yet. No end date is given anywhere, and, as the Generalitat writes, the measures change as the outbreak develops ¹. The information is current as of 3 October 2026. Before you set out, check on the Generalitat website whether the ban is still in force and whether the list of municipalities has changed ¹.