Cuenca, October 8, 2024 - The regional government, through the Department of Sustainable Development, presented this Tuesday in Cuenca, the new European Life project called 'WOOD4LIFE' which has an investment of over 3.3 million euros and will promote the forestry sector "to contribute to carbon sequestration from forests to sustainable wood products".
This has been advanced by the autonomous minister Mercedes Gómez who has attended, at the headquarters of the University of Castilla-La Mancha in the campus of Cuenca, the working forum to launch the project that is held for two days with all its partners "in order to make a sharing of actions and work packages to be developed over the next four years that will last this Life project," he said.
"The overall objective is to propose tools and business models to revive the forestry value chain and strengthen its fundamental role in climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration capacity and providing materials with lower greenhouse gas emissions, in line with the European Commission's Carbon Farming Strategy," explained Gómez.
Wood4Life will involve key actors in the forest value chain, test improved forest management practices in productive forests in Castilla-La Mancha to increase carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation and wood production to supply industries that manufacture long-lasting wood-based products, such as those demanded by the construction sector, Gómez explained.
Thus, at the EU level, action will be taken in Castilla-La Mancha, specifically in the Serranía de Cuenca and Alto Tajo in Guadalajara; and in Italy, in the National Park of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. To this end, it will focus on innovation with the development of new practices and technologies and the collaboration of a network with the participation of multiple actors, public and private owners, companies in the forestry and construction sectors, universities, researchers and expert consultants. And on the other hand, citizens interested in the environment, consumers of sustainable products.
The Councilor has highlighted the contribution of the European Union to launch this joint project between regions of Spain and Italy, providing 60 percent of the budget, around 1.9 million euros.
"This project will promote the grouping and association of forest owners for the creation of technically and economically viable management groups, with emphasis on the promotion of timber harvesting". And all this, as he has assured, "in the context of the future strategic plan of the forestry sector in which we are working from the Government of Castilla-La Mancha with the objective of taking advantage of the opportunities that the construction sector is demanding. A strategy that we are going to develop as a roadmap in the coming years".
The Councilor was accompanied during the presentation by the mayor of Cuenca, Darío Dolz; the delegate of the Junta in Cuenca, Marian López; the vice-rector of Culture, Sports and Social Responsibility of the UCLM, Cesar Sánchez Meléndez; the vice-councilor of Environment, José Almodóvar; the general director of Natural Environment and Biodiversity, Susana Jara; and the provincial delegate of Sustainable Development, Jose Ignacio Benito, among other institutional representatives.
Potential of the forestry sector and the ecosystem services it offers
As explained during the presentation, the forestry sector is fundamental for the transition to a low-carbon, circular and positive future for nature. Forests play a crucial role in CO2 absorption and climate change mitigation, while providing multiple ecosystem services.
Afforestation, restoration and improved forest management can increase carbon storage in soils and biomass, while the use of wood-based materials in long-lasting products ensures long-term carbon storage outside the forest.
However, high fragmentation, lack of associative forms and sectoral skills, low-value timber supply chains and lack of remuneration for ecosystem services are increasing forest abandonment, leading to lower resilience to climate change
Spanish and Italian partners of 'WOOD4LIFE'.
The Consejería de Desarrollo Sostenible is the coordinator of the WOOD4LIFE project and, in Spain, the consultancy firm Dendron Soluciones S.L. (formed by a multidisciplinary team of foresters and biologists with strong competences in management and development of governance strategies in the territory where the project is implemented). The state agency Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas through the Instituto de Ciencias Forestales (CSIC-ICIFOR), whose mission will be to provide the necessary knowledge to carry out the conservation, management and sustainable use of forest systems and resources.
Lignum Tech, an innovative SME dedicated to the development and manufacture of industrialized construction systems for residential buildings, which aspires to play an important role in the regional wood chain. The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), an international non-profit organization that promotes the responsible use of forest products and services and whose certificate is the most widely recognized worldwide by markets and consumers as a guarantee of origin and sustainability.
And finally, the University of Castilla-La Mancha, through the School of Agricultural Engineering and Forestry and Biotechnology (ETSIAMB) with a multidisciplinary team with extensive knowledge and experience in climate change adaptation projects.
On the Italian side, Etifor SRL, a highly specialized consulting company derived from the University of Padua that offers solutions to the main socioeconomic challenges in the framework of development and nature conservation projects, is participating.
The National Park of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, which extends over 26,140 hectares in two administrative regions (Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna), four provinces and 14 municipalities and whose objectives are the conservation and enhancement of the natural heritage, the preservation and reconstruction of hydrogeological balances and the promotion of local socio-economic activities.
And finally, Conlegno (Consorzio di Servizi Legno-Sughero), a private non-profit consortium founded in 2004 whose mission is to promote the different uses of wood, from raw material to packaging, including structural wood. The main tool used is the quality seal and reliability of products and services (it manages and promotes 14 different brands).
