One of the great challenges of this century is population distribution: more than half of the world’s people live in urban areas, and the trend is expected to continue along these lines. This leaves a large area of land abandoned and in a kind of vicious circle: the fewer people live in rural areas, the fewer services and jobs there are, which in turn causes more inhabitants to migrate to the cities.
Establishing a population in these non-urban areas –where they can work and put down roots– is key to a sustainable future. In these rural areas there is a great opportunity: forest areas, surfaces covered by forests or tree vegetation. Investing in their development encourages people to stay.
“Forest development contributes to population settlement by promoting a sustainable and diversified model that combines environmental conservation with new economic opportunities,” explains the RIA Foundation, an independent non-profit agency that contributes to research, analysis and strategic territorial planning in Galicia. In the specific case of the Autonomous Community in which they operate, they point out that adding value to their forests also involves “overcoming traditional models of forest exploitation, based on monoculture for the production of cellulose and boards and wood derivatives, to open the door to economic diversification, combining timber exploitation with mycology, resin production or extensive livestock farming, among others”.
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Through this approach, employment opportunities are generated for the younger and local population in rural areas and innovative and sustainable economic activities are created. As an example of initiatives of this type promoted by the Foundation itself, they mention the Ecosocial Laboratory do Barbanza,, launched in 2020 in collaboration with the University of Santiago and the Banco Santander Foundation. Through this laboratory, they point out, “we understand the important role that people historically played in the organization of the territory, but above all of the communities that inhabited them, who actively managed the ecosystems from an integral perspective, with a circular approach focused on the use of waste.”
Years later, they have already drawn several conclusions from the project, such as that “land management and governance must be considered together in planning to effectively combat the climatic and demographic challenges facing our rural areas.” Another lesson is that investments in the territory must not be passive, but “promote sustainable activation over time, favouring the creation of qualified employment, settling the population and ensuring quality of life in rural areas.” Finally, they point out the risks of “making superficial assessments based on global data and statistics” and the importance of addressing the scale of communities and ecosystems “with the intention of promoting concrete solutions to concrete problems.”
The importance of local communities
Although establishing a population also means attracting foreigners, one of its main objectives is to ensure that those who are already in these areas do not leave: that there is employment and opportunities, that the only option when reaching working age or after finishing studies is no longer to go and seek a life elsewhere. To achieve this, it is key that forest development initiatives involve local communities.
“Communities possess valuable knowledge that has been passed down from generation to generation: the best cultivation practices, appropriate seasons and rotations, historical land uses, traditions; elements that are essential for the design of sustainable, effective initiatives that are adapted to the environment,” agrees the RIA Foundation.
This involvement of local entities and mountain communities is one of the objectives of Panda da Dá, another project of the Foundation in collaboration, in this case, with Finsa. “This space is designed as a meeting point for research and territorial management activities, such as forestry, livestock, resin extraction or mycological research certifications, promoting the potential of the forestry sector and strengthening collaboration with communities. Furthermore, the building is expected to be a place open to visitors of different audiences, including clients of the entity, which reinforces its role as a model of development and participation,” they point out.
Success stories in forestry development
Although many of these projects are still taking their first steps, forest development policies and initiatives that seek to promote sustainable management models are nothing new. The RIA Foundation cites the German region of Bavaria as an example, which stands out for the use of its natural resources through the development of technical universities of applied sciences and exemplary vocational training closely related to its industry.
In a country, Germany, which has been publishing an annual report on the state of its forests since 1984 and has been doing so since 2008 acting to ensure that they survive climate change, is not entirely surprising. Also in Switzerland they have become leaders in the use of wood as a material of the future, the Foundation adds.
But we don’t have to go that far. The Baroña mountain community, in Porto do Son (A Coruña, Galicia), is a pioneer in the diversification of mountain uses. “Since the great fire of 2006, Baroña has opted for a model of diversified uses that generate economic, social and environmental benefits. Its management includes the production of wood, resin, pastures, beekeeping, livestock farming and mushroom collection. In addition, it organizes outreach activities such as archaeological routes, workshops and courses. These initiatives strengthen their sustainability model while promoting tourism and environmental conservation,” explains RIA.
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Also, in Galicia, the Montes do Carballo community in Friol combines forest management with extensive livestock farming of goats, purebred Galician horses and Celtic pigs, whose meat is marketed by the community itself, reinforcing the kilometre zero. In addition, they promote collaboration with local farmers. “Twenty of the forty members of the commune have livestock farms and use the communal meadows for grazing,” says the RIA Foundation. “The parish is deeply involved in mountain activities, including events such as the iconic Rapa das Bestas de Carballo and other gastronomic celebrations.”
Challenges of forest development
To reach a future in which forests and mountains are no longer forgotten areas left to their fate, a series of challenges must be overcome. In the case of Galicia -although most of them can be extrapolated to other forest areas in the world- the RIA Foundation lists the following:
Lack of active management in large areas of the territory
This is the result of the constant flow of population to cities, which has led to “the disappearance of family farms and the lack of generational continuity.” The abandonment of many forests as a result of this situation causes, for example, an increase in the risk of forest fires. “Initiatives such as cooperative forest management and innovative projects, such as the Barbanza Ecosocial Laboratory, demonstrate the potential of models that promote multifunctionality and collective stewardship of the territory,” says the RIA Foundation.
Finding the balance between economic exploitation and respect for the environment
In this case, the Foundation assures that “research and training play a key role in establishing sustainable models that can be adopted by different communities.”
The professionalization of the forestry sector
If we want to overcome these traditional ways of doing things and truly achieve a sustainable model, we need to make significant progress in professionalising the sector. “The implementation of certifications, courses and workshops can increase the interest and involvement of citizens, reinforcing the perception of the sector as a viable and sustainable economic activity,” they explain.
Fostering connections between the forest sector and other activities
As a result, economic opportunities are diversified, paving the way for new initiatives that promote more resilient and innovative forest development. These other activities can include “mycology, livestock farming, resin production and even tourism,” the Foundation explains.
