The director of the Biodiversity Foundation, a public foundation of the Government of Spain, under the Ministry of the Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs, Ana Leiva, attended today as a guest the inauguration of the new building of the Forest Technology Center of Catalonia (CTFC) in Solsona, Lleida.

Since its foundation 12 years ago, the Forest Technology Centre of Catalonia has worked to modernise and improve the competitiveness of the forestry sector through research, training and technology transfer. The new building is, in this journey, an important step in the consolidation of an innovative plan.

The Biodiversity Foundation and the CTFC have been developing joint projects for several years. The five projects launched since 2005 have meant a total investment of 869,766 euros, of which the Biodiversity Foundation contributes 592,600 euros.

Among the joint activities that are promoted, it is worth mentioning the work for the development and dissemination of a fire risk management model that improves the efficiency of the resources allocated to the fight against forest fires and promotes sustainable rural development.

The Biodiversity Foundation has also supported agroforestry training actions among the self-employed and SMEs in the sector; the publication of a manual that provides planning tools for the conservation of natural resources to managers of mountain forest areas; as well as advisory and promotional activities for the incorporation of environmental aspects into the work of companies and self-employed workers in Aragon, the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, Madrid, Navarre and the Basque Country.

Among the actions that are being developed jointly, it is also worth highlighting the project for the development of scientific-technical capacities for the conservation of forest resources in large rural areas of Syria and Lebanon, through the production, innovation and marketing of new sustainable products and services.