Line of action:

Terrestrial ecosystems

Status:

En ejecución

Location:

Cantabria

Geographic scope:

España

Execution date:

2024

Duration:

01/03/2024 - 31/07/2025

Typology:

Development and diversification of forestry uses and harvests

Total budget:

619,120.32 euros

Amount of aid from the Biodiversity Foundation:

545,323.52 euros

The climatic and soil conditions in Cantabria make it one of the regions with the greatest forest extension (>68%). Forests provide valued and necessary services to society such as resource provisioning, regulating services (water and carbon sequestration) and cultural services (tourism), contributing to the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. The management of forest resources presents economic, ecological and social difficulties. Currently, the model focuses on obtaining raw material (biomass) for energy production and industrial transformation. In addition, the usual exploitation practices cause erosion, loss of soil quality and biodiversity and increase the risk of fires due to abandoned biomass in the areas of operation. It is therefore necessary to develop new management models that are economically attractive, ecologically sustainable, socially accepted and have a positive impact on the population, involving technological innovations in the selection, extraction and valorization of resources.

Through a circular bioeconomy model that implements the efficient management of forest resources, this project contributes to the preventive maintenance of forests, avoiding soil degradation and biodiversity loss caused by forestry activities. This bioeconomic model not only preserves the environment and guarantees its resilience against natural risks (fires, floods, etc.) but also generates green employment and population fixation in an area of natural interest such as the Saja Reserve. In addition, this model may prove to be an exemplary initiative that can be implemented in other areas with similar social and environmental problems.

FORTEXVAL’s main objective is to develop a new forestry management model based on the valorization of agroforestry resources through the use of low carbon footprint technologies.

• Technical study of the areas of action.
• Adaptation of animal traction to new silvicultural technologies and development of pilot actions.
• Technological development of the pyrolysis process to obtain biochar and use as filler for thermoplastic matrix.
• Economic and environmental impact assessment.
• Communication and dissemination.
• Integration of the gender perspective throughout the value chain of the bioeconomy model.
• Coordination and management.