23.04.2018

The event, opened by Guillermo Fernandez Centeno, Deputy Assistant Director of Forest Policy, was well attended by members of the National Rural Network assembly , forest management of the autonomous communities , General State Administration and private companies that intervene directly in private and public utility forests, and even forests that are located in collective properties.

During the day, an analysis was conducted of the structure of forest ownership in Spain , its specific characteristics, and the implications it can have on forest abandonment and deterioration. Various measures to curb this abandonment and deterioration were also discussed.

The presentations clarified basic concepts for the forestry sector and explained its economic activity . The complexity of communal forests, jointly held forests, and undivided forests was explained. The catalog of public utility forests was presented, among other tools to curb abandonment. The problems facing state-owned land and the solutions currently being implemented, including land transfers, were also discussed.

Furthermore, the concept of active forestry was explored in depth, taking into account the paradigm shift in rural areas and the current land tenure system. The structure of forest holdings and the functioning of taxation, which drives forest management and its role in combating forest abandonment, were analyzed.

Finally, an example of communal forests managed by local residents in Extremadura was presented, explaining the current situation and management, as well as the needs and future prospects.

It was a productive and interesting day thanks to the quality of the presentations and the realistic analyses, along with invitations to participate in the activities and develop solutions based on the examples presented.