Forest management, key to decarbonization

Forest Bioeconomy in the Pyrenees –Bio For Piri The project—in its official name—is the initiative that the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation has developed over the last two years for forest fire prevention and forest management, the promotion of the forest bioeconomy, and knowledge transfer in the region. The strategy aims to transform the threat of large forest fires into an opportunity for rural development and nature conservation. Based on this premise, the event held yesterday in the La Pedrera auditorium focused its discussion on four success stories. The event, moderated by physicist and meteorologist Tomàs Molina, featured Daniel Ibáñez, director of the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia; Virginia García, director of the Functional Fabrics unit at Eurecat; Antoni Reig, mayor of the Barony of Rialb; and Miquel Rafa, director of Sustainability and Territory at the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation.

"As architects, we have seen that in the last two decades, within the framework of a globalized economy, we have outsourced without taking into account either the origin of the materials or their carbon footprint. This process has been accompanied by a progressive rural abandonment and the accumulation of a forest resource that grows rapidly: a small oversight is all it takes to trigger it," stated Daniel Ibáñez, who now leads the program from the IAAC. More Woodwhich encourages a change of model. "What we propose is a virtuous circle: to use this waste intelligently and turn it into high-quality raw material. In this way, we build better buildings, capable of absorbing carbon and much more sustainable. Wood is a fantastic material."

In the case of Eurecat, "we promote the textile industry through innovation and the circular economy. Textiles can be made from wood, and this is one of the lines of business we are developing. This industry exists in Northern Europe, but not here, and we have now begun working with the Forestry Center of Catalonia," explained Virginia García. "In Catalonia, there is no forestry textile industry, but there are Catalan companies that work with paper or pulp, which comes from forest management, but we don't have this extraction industry." Therefore, she added, "it is crucial to delve into the chemistry of forests and understand what this biomass can offer us, and from there, diversify." At Eurecat, "we know this industry is viable, but to scale it, we first need to understand it," because the demand for textile pulp also exists in the hospital, home textiles, and other sectors.

For Antoni Reig, "the world of organic chemistry is a great opportunity." As a mayor with extensive knowledge and managing 15,000 hectares, he stated: "It's clear we don't have the money to manage this, and if the government does it, we'll empty the coffers. Therefore, we must take advantage of this biomass. We've opted for biofuels," such as biogas and bio-kerosene. "The technology is there and it's working. Agriculture also decarbonizes. The best barrier is crops," he reminded everyone. Reig was very clear, saying that "we won't achieve anything if we rely on oil energy. We must become independent. If we don't, we'll be poor. We have to work because it can be done." He also emphasized the need to retain young talent. "They're leaving for urban areas, and this must be reversed. We have to fight for it; we have to ensure people have opportunities in the region, and these projects are essential."

Miquel Rafa, speaking on behalf of the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation, reminded everyone that "forest management today is more complex. It's no longer just a reservoir, but much more. We must attend to biodiversity. For half a century, we have neglected forest management, and we must bear in mind that the climate context increasingly compels us to do so." Forest protection, therefore, requires meticulous management and "must be as collaborative as possible." According to Rafa, the new methodology for forest use is also linked to the life cycle of trees. Therefore, "the surplus must be utilized: from how we will heat our homes to how we will clothe ourselves," and society must be made aware of the need for decarbonization. "The planet is getting hotter and hotter," warned the Director of Sustainability and Territory at the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation. "As forest managers and owners, we are working to ensure that this model is compatible. The solution must be a joint one. Neither the administration nor the landowners can solve it alone."

Training is the foundation

All of this is happening, moreover, because of raising awareness in society. That's why Reig suggested that "decarbonization should be the core subject in high school because people currently don't understand it and have a very biased view, even though decarbonization is possible." As Virginia García also pointed out, "education is the foundation, research is fundamental, and European projects must be continued." Daniel Ibáñez also indicated that "more training is needed, and above all, bolder public policies: simply making the bidding processes a bit more demanding is enough to accelerate the change." And he gave a relevant statistic: "In Spain, barely 1% of construction is done with wood, despite being one of the countries with the largest forest area. We have the economy and the resources to do it. In the last two years, 30% of construction has reached 30% using this technology, and in a few years, we will surely be around 15-2%."