Statutes of the Association “Albiétar”

Article 1. Name and nature

The Association “Albiétar” is constituted as a private, non-profit entity under Organic Law 1/2002, with its own legal personality and full legal capacity to act.

Article 2. Registered office and territorial scope

The territorial scope of the Association comprises the whole of Spanish territory. The registered office shall be located at carretera de Ávila a Casavieja 48, portal B, 1.º 7, 05113, Burgohondo, Castilla y León, Tax ID (NIF): G05612056, and may be relocated whenever the Board of Directors so agrees, duly informing the General Assembly.

Article 3. Purposes and objectives

The main purpose of this Association is to serve as a channel or hub bringing together all common actions proposed by member natural or legal persons (i.e., associations, universities, research centres, landowners, professionals, businesses, citizens' groups and any other public or private agents linked to the territory, the rural environment, natural heritage and its conservation) in relation to the following purposes:

• a) To promote silvicultural reforestation, ecological restoration and the conservation, protection and improvement of flora, fauna, habitats, ecosystems, soils, water resources, watercourses, springs, wetlands, riparian areas and any other natural elements and values, as well as to prevent forest fires.
• b) To promote the recovery, restoration and regeneration of ecosystems and territories affected by them.
• c) To promote the prevention, self-protection, preparedness and appropriate response of society to forest fires and other emergencies, especially at municipal and inter-municipal levels.
• d) To contribute to addressing the abandonment of the rural environment and the territory, to enhance its natural, forest, agricultural, livestock, landscape, cultural and social wealth, and to promote sustainable economic development models, including responsible nature tourism compatible with environmental conservation.
• e) To promote citizen participation, associative action, social cooperation and environmental volunteering as instruments for the protection and improvement of the environment and the territory.
• f) To foster environmental education, training, dissemination, awareness-raising and sensitisation aimed at people of all ages and the different social groups.
• g) To promote, drive and support social, scientific and technical research related to the environment, the territory, the rural environment, forest management and the prevention and management of forest fires.
• h) To promote the continuous improvement of public policies relating to the prevention and comprehensive management of forest fires, forest management, environmental restoration and conservation of the territory, and to foster their effectiveness, coherence, transparency, evaluation and accountability.
• i) To drive and foster the obtaining and mobilisation of public and private resources, at local, regional, national, European and international level, intended for the fulfilment of the entity's purposes and the development of initiatives of environmental, territorial, rural and social interest.
• j) To represent, promote and defend the collective and legitimate interests of citizens relating to protection of the environment and the territory, prevention and management of forest fires, sustainable management of the rural environment, conservation of natural heritage and the safety and resilience of communities in the face of environmental risks.
• k) To promote transparency, public participation, access to information and accountability in matters related to the entity's purposes.
• l) To promote, drive and develop any other purposes of general interest directly or indirectly related to the foregoing and, in particular, those that contribute to protection and improvement of the environment, conservation and sustainable management of the territory, prevention of environmental risks, revitalisation of the rural environment and the well-being of society.

Article 4. Activities

In order to fulfil its purposes, the Association “Albiétar” may promote:

• a) Creation and strengthening of collaborative networks between member persons or entities.
• b) Establishment of relationships with entities, associations and territories that have suffered or are liable to suffer forest fires or other disasters, with the aim of gathering and disseminating their experiences, analysing the actions taken, identifying good practices and enabling the knowledge acquired to be used elsewhere.
• c) Receipt and channelling of proposals and initiatives from third parties.
• d) Identification and connection of projects, needs and resources, fostering cooperation between those raising a need or initiative and those persons, entities, institutions or authorities able to contribute knowledge, experience, technical capacity, volunteering, funding or other means to help develop it.
• e) Dissemination and promotion of projects, initiatives and good practices developed by other entities and territories that may serve as a reference or be replicable, with the necessary adaptations, in other parts of Spain.
• f) Volunteering and citizen participation days and programmes, training, awareness-raising and environmental education.
• g) Congresses, conferences, meetings, forums, technical sessions, seminars and other activities enabling knowledge, experience, projects and good practices to be shared between different territories and entities.
• h) Collaborative initiatives with Civil Protection, fire prevention and firefighting services, emergency services, public authorities, competent forces and bodies, environmental organisations, conservation entities and other bodies related to protection of the territory and emergency management.
• i) Requesting or preparing scientific studies; entering into agreements, covenants, programmes or participating in forums, commissions, working groups or legal actions with other entities.
• j) Preparing, promoting, driving, commissioning and disseminating studies, reports, research, analyses, opinions and work of a scientific, technical, legal, economic or social nature, and entering into agreements, covenants, contracts, programmes and any other instruments of collaboration with public authorities, universities, research centres, public or private entities and other organisations, national or international, to develop the entity's purposes.
• k) Participating in forums, councils, commissions, advisory bodies, working groups, participatory processes and other spaces for collaboration, consultation or representation, and pursuing appropriate administrative and judicial actions, including submissions, appeals, claims, complaints and other legally provided actions, in defence of the entity's purposes and the collective interests it represents.
• l) The Association may also directly carry out specific activities and not merely coordinate them, in accordance with its purposes, once approved by the Board of Directors.
• m) Promoting, driving and developing any other activities of general interest directly or indirectly related to the foregoing and, in particular, those contributing to protection and improvement of the environment, conservation and sustainable management of the territory, prevention of environmental risks, revitalisation of the rural environment and the well-being of society.

Article 5. Admission requirements

Any natural or legal person aligned with and interested in the purposes of the Association may join the Association “Albiétar”. There may be the categories of founders, municipal representatives, member associates and collaborators.

• a) Founders: natural or legal persons who take part in the constitutive act of the Association and sign the founding minutes. They shall hold full member status, with the rights and obligations set out in these Statutes.
• b) Municipal representatives: member associates who, by reason of their residence, connection, knowledge of or relationship with a particular municipality, voluntarily act as the point of reference for that territory within the Association, fostering communication, participation and awareness of its needs, initiatives and issues related to the entity's purposes. Municipal representative status is internal to the Association and does not, in itself, entail institutional, administrative or legal representation of the Town Council or any other local entity, nor require appointment or authorisation by them. Municipal representatives may participate with voice and vote in the meetings and bodies in which they are entitled to intervene, provided they attend the relevant sessions and comply with the requirements, procedures and other conditions set out in these Statutes.
• c) Member associates or full members: natural or legal persons who share the purposes and principles of the Association, voluntarily apply for membership and are admitted under the procedure in these Statutes. They shall have the rights and obligations recognised for members and may take part in the Association's activities, bodies and decisions, with voice and vote where applicable, in accordance with these Statutes.
• d) Collaborators: member associates who, in addition to their ordinary participation, actively contribute, occasionally or continuously, to the development of the Association's purposes, projects and activities through knowledge, work, professional experience, technical or scientific assistance, volunteering, material or financial resources, dissemination, organisational support or any other form of collaboration. Collaborator status is compatible with other functions or responsibilities within the Association and shall not limit the person's rights as a member associate.

A person may join the Association solely by putting themselves forward, once registered, providing their national identity document (DNI) number, first name and surname, and once assigned a membership number.

An entity (legally constituted or in the process of constitution) may join the Association solely by putting itself forward, once registered, providing its tax ID (NIF) number and association name, and once assigned a membership number. Associations in the process of constitution are understood to be those that have filed the documents necessary for legalisation with the relevant bodies.

All natural or legal persons wishing to join the Association “Albiétar” shall comply with these Statutes and its resolutions, in the manner and form set out below. Membership is non-transferable.

Article 6. Number of members

The number of members shall be unlimited, although entities must remain within the scope specified in the regulations applicable to them according to their nature.

Article 7. Admission procedure

Natural or legal persons wishing to join the Association “Albiétar” must complete the following formalities and meet these requirements:

• a) A legal person must be legally constituted, or in the process of constitution, with its registered office in Spanish territory.
• b) To formalise the admission application, both natural and legal persons must complete the electronic website form or write to the Board of Directors by email (asociacionalbietar@gmail.com) or by post. Applicants must provide their identifying details and expressly agree to the Association's statutes. The Board of Directors shall decide on admission within a maximum of 30 days. If that period elapses without an express decision, the application shall be deemed approved. For legal persons, evidence of legal personality and of the representation of the applicant may be required. Membership shall be acquired upon notification of admission and, where applicable, payment of the corresponding fee.
• c) Admission shall be indefinite, except upon withdrawal. Both admission and refusal must be notified to the person concerned.
• d) No minimum number of members is required to join; however, the applicant association's purposes must align with those of “Albiétar”.
• e) Undertake to comply with the Statutes, Internal Rules of Procedure, if any, and other operating rules of the Association “Albiétar”.
• f) Designate an email or postal address for communications and notifications.
• g) If a membership fee is established, it must be paid upon joining.

Article 8. Rights

Both legal and natural persons belonging to “Albiétar” are entitled to enjoy the Association's services, attend all its events and, in general, exercise all rights granted by these statutes.

Article 9. Obligations

Members shall fulfil the Association's purposes and comply with its operating rules.

Article 10. Loss of membership status

Member natural or legal persons shall cease to belong to the Association “Albiétar” for any of these reasons:

• a) Voluntary resignation notified in writing to the General Assembly, effective upon receipt.
• b) Failure to attend or respond to four consecutive General Assembly sessions or emails without justified cause. Specific circumstances shall always be considered.
• c) By resolution of two-thirds of the General Assembly, with an agenda item referring to the matter and on a proposal by the Board of Directors, where a member natural or legal person has committed a serious offence through improper conduct, discrediting the Association, disrupting its proper administration and governance, or other conduct contrary to its purposes, thereby incurring such sanction. Before this measure, the interested entity shall be given ten days to make representations in its defence. Anyone considering their expulsion unjust may appeal against it at the next General Assembly. Withdrawal of any member entity entails loss of all its rights in the Association.
• d) Non-payment of four consecutive membership fees established by the Association, where applicable.

Article 11. Relationship of “Albiétar” with legal persons

As both natural and legal persons may belong to the Association “Albiétar”, it shall respect member associations' own sphere of action and not interfere in their internal affairs, although it may gather their proposals, guide common action and establish internal rules for its better functioning, to which all associations must adhere.

At the express written request of persons or entities affected by an internal problem, “Albiétar” may also act as a mediator to help resolve it.

Article 12. Organisation and operation

The Association “Albiétar” shall be governed by these Statutes, the General Assembly, the Board of Directors, the Internal Rules of Procedure and any operating rules established.

Its governing and representative bodies are, respectively, the General Assembly and the Board of Directors.

Each body may form as many working committees as it deems appropriate to perform its functions more effectively, entrusting them with specific purposes.

Article 13. Composition of the General Assembly

The General Assembly shall comprise all individual members and up to three representatives for each member legal person. These representatives must have been democratically elected within their associations and accredited in writing to the Association “Albiétar”. Each natural person shall have only one vote.

Article 14. Attendance quorum and adoption of resolutions

The General Assembly shall be validly constituted at first call with attendance of half plus one of the natural and legal persons, and at second call regardless of the number attending. The second call must be held half an hour after the first and at the same venue.

The General Assembly may be held by videoconference or a similar system, with one or more members attending through it, provided real-time communication and therefore unity of the meeting are ensured.

Resolutions shall be adopted by simple majority, except as provided in these Statutes. All natural or legal persons shall be bound by resolutions of the Association “Albiétar” General Assembly, including absent and dissenting members and those present who abstained.

Article 16. Frequency and calling of General Assembly meetings

The General Assembly shall meet in ordinary session at least once every three months, except for the Assembly at which the Board of Directors renders accounts and the Association “Albiétar” membership register is fixed, and the Assembly at which Board appointments are ratified and the work programme approved. These shall be held one month before and one month after, respectively, the Ordinary Election General Assembly.

Extraordinary sessions shall be held by resolution of the General Assembly or Board of Directors, or at the request of one-third of members. Notice shall be given at least seven days before an ordinary Assembly and 72 hours before an extraordinary Assembly. In both cases the written notice must state the agenda. The Board shall endeavour to provide documents sufficiently early for discussion. Notice of ordinary or extraordinary sessions shall be sent by ordinary post or email.

Article 17. Functions of the General Assembly

The General Assembly shall have these powers:

• a) Decide on admission or withdrawal of natural or legal persons.
• b) Form committees necessary for the proper running of the Association “Albiétar”.
• c) Address guidance for better fulfilment of its purposes and the means to develop them.
• d) Drive, foster and guide the work of the associations.
• e) Maintain and ensure compliance with these Statutes and current operating rules.
• f) Organise and direct the services of the Association “Albiétar”.
• g) Propose and decide members' financial contributions.
• h) Approve the Association “Albiétar” annual budgets.
• i) Resolve queries from member natural or legal persons and support petitions to authorities.
• j) Identify agenda items for the next General Assembly.
• k) Elect the Board of Directors.
• m) Approve the Internal Rules of Procedure.
• n) Amend these Statutes by a qualified two-thirds majority.
• o) Lastly, exercise other functions not expressly assigned to other bodies or persons that are appropriate for the proper administration of the Association “Albiétar”.

Article 18. Composition of the Board of Directors

As the Association's representative body, implementing General Assembly resolutions, the Board of Directors shall comprise a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and no more than ten Members-at-Large. From these ten the Board may appoint one attached to the Secretariat and another to the Treasury.

Article 19. Appointment of the Board of Directors

The General Assembly shall elect the entire Board of Directors every FOUR years by the following procedure:

• 1. The Association “Albiétar” membership register shall close and an election period shall open with the outgoing Board's accounts and management report. The nomination period shall be at least 15 days and end fifteen days before the Election General Assembly, allowing the outgoing Board to circulate candidacies and programmes to the associations. The next Assembly shall be electoral. Candidacies shall be closed, complete lists of no more than 14 persons. The list or candidacy receiving most votes shall be elected; the new Board shall comprise the Board officers and the most-voted members-at-large or candidacy, up to ten members-at-large. If there are no closed lists, members of the Association “Albiétar” may put themselves forward for election to the Board.
• 2. Each member participating in the General Assembly shall have one secret vote for their chosen candidacy or list.
• 3. Postal and proxy votes shall not be valid.
• 4. If no candidacy achieves 25% of votes at the Election General Assembly, a second round between the two most-voted candidacies shall be called immediately. It shall be held within 15 working days from the day after the first round of elections to the Association “Albiétar” Board. The list receiving most votes shall then be elected. The new Board shall comprise no more than the 14 members of that list or candidacy.
• 5. If a vacancy arises during the Board's term and up to six months before elections, the departing person shall automatically be replaced by the next member of their candidacy. If no names remain on that list, partial elections may be called.
• 6. The Assembly following the election must ratify Board appointments and approve its work programme. If either is not approved, the Board must submit another proposal to the next Assembly. If that is also not approved, new elections must be called by the same procedure.
• 7. All Board members must be individual members or members of the legal persons belonging to the Association “Albiétar”.

Article 20. Functions, calling of meetings, quorum and resolutions of the Board of Directors

1. The Board of Directors shall:

• a) Propose admission or expulsion of members to the General Assembly.
• b) Administer Association funds.
• c) Organise and carry out activities approved by the Assemblies.
• d) Coordinate committees appointed to develop Association “Albiétar” activities.
• e) Interpret its Statutes and ensure compliance.
• f) Prepare the Balance Sheet, Statement of Accounts and annual activity report.
• g) Agree to initiate or pursue legal actions, appear as a party and/or conduct proceedings and appeals before public authorities and/or courts as deemed necessary for the legitimate defence of the Association “Albiétar” or its member associations, reporting the resolution to the next General Assembly.
• h) Perform functions not assigned to the General Assembly.
• i) Undertake activities not among those approved by the Assembly, reporting their outcome to it.
• j) Select and hire paid staff for the workforce determined by the Assembly.
• k) Designate and appoint lawyers and court representatives to represent the Association “Albiétar” judicially or extrajudicially before public authorities and/or courts.

2. Calling of meetings and adoption of resolutions. a) The Board, convened by the Chairperson or their substitute, shall meet in ordinary session as frequently as its members decide, but at least once every four months. Notice shall be given at least seven days before ordinary sessions and 72 hours before extraordinary sessions. b) Extraordinary sessions shall be called by the Chairperson or at the request of one-third of Board members. c) Board meetings may be held by videoconference or a similar system, allowing one or more members to attend remotely, provided real-time communication and unity of the meeting are ensured.

3. Quorum and resolutions. a) The Board is validly constituted if convened with the required notice and a quorum of half plus one of its members. b) Members must attend all meetings unless excused for justified reasons. The attendance of the Chairperson or Secretary, or their substitutes, is always necessary. c) Resolutions are adopted by simple majority of those present. In a tie, the Chairperson has a casting vote deciding the outcome. d) Resolutions shall be recorded in the minute book. At the beginning of each meeting the previous minutes shall be read for approval or correction.

Article 21. Revocation of the Board of Directors

At the request of at least one-third of member natural or legal persons, the General Assembly shall decide by simple majority whether to place discussion of Board revocation on a subsequent Assembly's agenda. If approved, that Assembly shall have no other agenda items except reading the previous minutes and any other business.

To succeed, the initiative must obtain an absolute majority of the Association “Albiétar”: at least half of registered member natural or legal persons plus one. Revocation shall trigger an immediate election process.

Article 22. Functions of the Chairperson

The Chairperson shall:

• a) Chair and convene the Board of Directors.
• b) Together with other Board members, represent the Association “Albiétar” before any authority or body.
• c) Jointly with the Board, ensure compliance with these Statutes, Internal Rules of Procedure if any, General Assembly operating rules and any other applicable rules.
• d) Authorise by signature all documents issued by the Association “Albiétar”, including Treasury documents. Documents shall be signed jointly with the Vice-Chairperson and Secretary.
• e) Adopt urgent measures for better governance, operation and administration of the Association “Albiétar”, reporting them to the first subsequent Board meeting.
• f) Enter contracts on behalf of the Association “Albiétar” and grant powers to third parties, including procedural representation, appoint lawyers and court representatives, file administrative claims and claims before Ordinary and Special Jurisdictions, accept donations, legacies and inheritances, bring actions and raise defences, all with the Board's knowledge.
• g) Perform functions entrusted by the General Assembly.
• h) Exercise the casting vote in ties on matters discussed at ordinary or extraordinary Board sessions.

Article 23. Functions of the Vice-Chairperson

The Vice-Chairperson shall replace the Chairperson in absence, by delegation, illness or resignation; assist in their duties; assume responsibilities entrusted by the Board; and sign documents requiring the Chairperson's signature. If the Chairperson definitively leaves office or resigns, the Vice-Chairperson must convene the Board to elect a new Chairperson as soon as possible and no later than twenty working days.

Article 24. Functions of the Secretary

The Secretary shall keep the Association “Albiétar” books, documents, files and seal, except accounting records; maintain the membership register and report to the Treasurer; draft institutional documentation; draw up and sign meeting minutes with the Chairperson; issue meeting notices and distribute minutes to all member associations; issue certificates referring to books and documents; handle correspondence; and perform administrative functions not entrusted to other persons or bodies that contribute to the Association's better functioning.

Article 25. Functions of the Treasurer

The Treasurer shall safeguard funds and control the Association “Albiétar” resources; receive and make payments and record them in the cash book; prepare the Budget, Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts; and perform accounting activities inherent to the office. They shall sign receipts, membership fee documents and other treasury documents, and pay invoices approved by the representative body and previously endorsed by the Chairperson.

Article 26. Functions of Members-at-Large

Members-at-Large shall assist other Board members and carry out assigned tasks. If appointed, the members attached to the Secretariat and Treasury shall especially assist the Secretary and Treasurer, respectively, in their ordinary duties.

Article 27. Term of office

Board members shall hold office for four years and may be re-elected indefinitely.

Board membership shall be lost when, on a proposal by one-third of member associations, the Association “Albiétar” General Assembly so decides by simple majority. The Board may at any time revoke offices or tasks assigned to its members.

Early departure from office may be due to:

• a) Voluntary resignation in writing, stating reasons.
• b) Repeated unjustified absence from Board meetings: three consecutive meetings or four alternate meetings within one year.
• c) Sanction for an offence committed in office or repeated failure to fulfil assigned obligations.

Removal under paragraphs b) and c) requires written notification of the grounds to the person concerned and ten days, from the day following notification, to make representations. After representations are made, or the period expires without them, the Board shall decide and propose a resolution for ratification or rejection by the Association “Albiétar” General Assembly at its first convened session.

From the opening of proceedings, the person retains their office but temporarily stops attending Board meetings until the case is finally resolved.

Vacancies on the representative body shall be filled at the first General Assembly. It may, however, provisionally appoint an Association member to the vacancy until that Assembly.

Article 28. Apolitical nature

Board membership of the Association “Albiétar” is incompatible with simultaneously holding public or private offices or functions that may conflict with its interests and purposes. Political offices in the Administration are expressly incompatible. Any doubt shall be referred to the General Assembly.

Article 29. Federation project

An “Albiétar” Federation of associations may be constituted within the Association “Albiétar” when circumstances and members deem it appropriate.

Article 30. Institutional collaboration

The Association may enter agreements and covenants with Town Councils, Provincial Councils, Autonomous Communities, River Basin Authorities, universities, research centres and public or private entities, national or international.

Article 31. Resources

Resources for the Association “Albiétar” purposes shall comprise membership fees (proposed by the Board and ratified by the General Assembly, when decided by a two-thirds Board majority), donations, inheritances, legacies or grants received, income from assets and profits from services provided to members for an established fee or charge. Fees shall reflect the Association's needs. Profits from economic activities, including services, if any, shall be used exclusively for its purposes, and may also be distributed among member natural or legal persons who must likewise apply them to their own social purposes.

The Association “Albiétar” has a founding endowment of €400.

Article 32. Draft budget

Each year the Board shall submit a draft budget to the General Assembly for approval, containing estimated income and anticipated expenses, duly separated by item. The financial year shall close on 31 December.

Article 33. Books and organisation

• 1. The Association “Albiétar” shall keep the Minutes, Cash and Membership Register books and other documents prescribed by law. They may be digital with the legally authorised digital signatures of the relevant officers.
• 2. Current accounts or savings books at credit institutions must bear the Chairperson's, Treasurer's and Secretary's signatures. Two signatures suffice to dispose of funds, one necessarily that of the Treasurer or Chairperson.

Article 34. Data

1. In all cases, the membership file must contain the name, DNI or NIF and address of each natural and legal person and their representatives at the Association “Albiétar” General Assembly, and an email address for each association for communications and notifications.

Changes to supplied data must be reported to the Association “Albiétar” within one month of occurrence; entities must additionally report:

• a) Changes in Board officers and General Assembly representatives.
• b) Change of registered office or address.
• c) Change of the association's designated email address for communications and notifications.

2. Personal data protection: the Association shall ensure compliance with current personal data protection regulations. Members' data shall be processed solely to manage membership, collect fees and send communications related to its purposes, always guaranteeing rights of access, rectification, erasure, objection, restriction and portability.

Article 35. Dissolution

1. The Association “Albiétar” may only be dissolved by resolution of the General Assembly expressly convened for that purpose, on the grounds in Article 39 of the Civil Code or by final court judgment. The resolution is valid only if adopted by two-thirds of member natural or legal persons.

2. That Assembly shall appoint a Winding-Up Committee of five members drawn from the Board of Directors.

The Winding-Up Committee shall:

• a) Safeguard the Association “Albiétar” assets.
• b) Conclude pending transactions and undertake any new ones necessary for winding-up.
• c) Collect debts owed to the Association “Albiétar”.
• d) Liquidate assets and pay creditors.
• e) Apply surplus assets to the purposes set out in the Statutes.
• f) Request cancellation of entries in the relevant Register.
• g) Take charge of any net remainder so that, after obligations are settled, it is handed to an entity with similar purposes selected by simple majority at the General Assembly, under Article 39 of the Civil Code.

Article 36. Principles of action

The Association shall act according to legality, transparency, participation, scientific rigour, sustainability, institutional collaboration and equality. All actions shall comply with environmental regulations and have necessary authorisations.

The Association “Albiétar” is founded on a participatory, open, collaborative organisational model, fostering horizontal working, dialogue and shared responsibility, without prejudice to General Assembly and Board powers. It shall guarantee equal treatment and opportunities and non-discrimination on grounds of sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, origin, nationality, ethnicity, culture, language, age, disability, religion, beliefs or any other personal or social condition or circumstance. It shall foster a safe, inclusive, respectful environment, regarding diversity as a core value and essential to shared protection of natural heritage. It shall maintain a markedly apolitical character. Failure to comply with any principle may justify revocation of membership and refusal of admission.

Final note

All references to offices, posts or persons using the generic masculine form in these Statutes shall be understood to apply equally to women and men.