Line of action:

Terrestrial ecosystems

Status:

En ejecución

Location:

Murcia (Region of Murcia)

Geographic scope:

España

Execution date:

2024

Duration:

01/02/2024 - 31/12/2025

Typology:

Development and diversification of forestry uses and harvests

Total budget:

5,303,241.63 euros

Amount of aid from the Biodiversity Foundation:

2,000,000.00 euros

The GREEN BOOST project aims to promote Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) in a scenario of climate change, for the diversification and optimization of forest uses, conservation of biodiversity and connectivity, and generation of ecosystem services of forest systems.

The planned SFM will generate masses that are more resilient to climate change, capable of maintaining their multifunctionality, and the opening of markets for their various uses will contribute to boosting the bioeconomy, entrepreneurship and green employment in these socioeconomically vulnerable rural areas. The objective implements fundamental axes of the EFE2050 (diversifying uses, value chain, productions and associationism, conservation of forest resources, governance), giving weight to issues related to water (Andalusia is with restrictions), and including actions to promote the circular bioeconomy: Act on the entire forestry value chain (forest-industry), applying a forestry and hydrological management approach that values wood and water to reverse the dynamics of depopulation and aging in the northeast of the province of Granada.

The main objective is to achieve the development and diversification of timber and non-timber forest products under sustainability criteria, promoting value chains and energy cogeneration and consumption industry through companies specialized in energy services.

• Promotion of the forest-related bioeconomy for climate change mitigation.
• Digitization of forest green infrastructure as a basis for the management and procurement of ecosystem products and services.
• Creation of a technology center for the promotion of sustainable forest management, forest certification and the use of bioenergy in the Region of Murcia.
• Improving forest governance by promoting partnerships, planning and the sustainable harvesting value chain.
• Implementation of a cogeneration plant in Caravaca de la Cruz to boost green entrepreneurship and the ecological transition.
• Network of forest management living labs and the use of sustainable forest management in the model forest stands of the Region of Murcia.
• Scientific-technical committee to consolidate the transformational nature of the forest bioeconomy project for the territory and the demographic challenge
• Communication and awareness plan

The expected results are relevant in terms of increase in certified areas, improvement of forest masses, sustainable forest management, employment promotion, innovation, obtaining products prioritizing biodiversity, etc.: enhancement of poplar and pine timber products (structural wood with high added value and cross-laminated timber), with traceability by PECF, as well as the maintenance of classic water infrastructures and water management plans. Includes: Evaluation of ecosystem services in 3 different areas (2,400 ha), silvicultural actions in 20 ha, PEFC forest certification of 1,500 ha. Obtaining data on timber stocks (mapping, potential and new cubing rates), analysis of the quality of standing timber, marketing of 500 m3 of timber, tests and value chain on more than 50 trees, and report on the design of new silvicultural itineraries. Correlation analysis of the quality of standing timber with sawn and dried timber, generation of cross-laminated technical timber (CLT) products with 2 prototypes, promotion of public-private partnerships (increase of 10 partners) and marketing through the certification of 2 companies in the PEFC chain of custody. It recovers old irrigation ditches (4 km), drafts 6 management plans for irrigation communities (over 2,200 ha) and creates 2 cultural routes of 10 km.