• The "Biofomento" Operational Group was created to boost the biomass industry in the Region of Murcia.
• Among its objectives is to generate an innovation ecosystem that boosts the agroforestry sector in the area.

The increasing depopulation of rural areas is leading to the abandonment of these areas, which is reflected in the poor condition of forests and woodlands, a fact exacerbated by the low profitability of the products obtained in these areas. The abandonment of forests leads to a greater risk of forest fires, pest infestations, and greater vulnerability to the effects of climate change.

It is in this context that the Biofomento Operational Group was created , with the mission of promoting the supply of forest biomass in the Region of Murcia under the project "Implementation of cooperative actions to promote a sustainable supply of biomass through the generation of an innovation ecosystem." What are its objectives?

• The use, optimization, and valorization of the various products resulting from the transformation of biomass resources available in Murcia (pellets, wood chips, sawdust, compost, etc.) using innovative initiatives.
• Create a continuous demand for agroforestry biomass, enabling sustainable forest management by their owners, through full or partial financing of the necessary silvicultural treatments.
• Promote a biomass market with a reduced carbon footprint.
• Promotion of forest certification and the standardization of forest products based on traceability, sustainability, and quality criteria.

Plan of action

The Operational Group starts with the advantage of Murcia's biomass production potential and the enormous forest area it has: in the Northwest region, the forest area amounts to 141,331 hectares, which represents almost 28% of the region's forest area, and within this region, Caravaca de la Cruz stands out with a forest area of 39,703 hectares.

Throughout the forest, a significant amount of biomass can be extracted, which, with proper management, certification, and standardization, can generate significant economic revenues that would foster development in the area and offset forest management costs. This would encourage landowners to develop sustainable management strategies to improve their forest stands.

How? Through the creation of a biomass logistics center in the Region of Murcia. To this end, the Operational Group has an industrial warehouse and its own machinery for biomass harvesting in the mountains.

Components

The Biofomento Operational Group is made up of 8 partners , and its funding comes from the FEADER fund (63% - €126,000), the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia (25.9% - €51,800) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (11.1% - €22,200).