Harnessing forest biomass as renewable energy is key to preventing fires

According to the latest "Forest Fire Report in Spain" from the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO), a total of 87 forest fires have occurred in Spain so far this year, burning a total of 66,064 hectares . This figure, however, is lower than last year's. 2022 was a disastrous year for Spanish forests : the worst year of the century so far in terms of wildfires. That year, 786,000 hectares burned across the Eur , according to year-end data from the Eur Eur Union's Copernicus Earth Observation Programme . 39% of these fires were in Spain, with almost 310,000 hectares burned. The future outlook is not very hopeful , with the United Nations predicting a 30% increase in forest fires by 2050 and a 50% increase by the end of the century.

proper management and maintenance of our country's forests is crucial and, consequently, reducing the risk of wildfires. Veolia carries out improvement, conservation, and naturalization work in forest areas, which helps prevent fires. This work is controlled and focused on transforming these ecosystems into forests that are resistant and resilient to fire , while also ensuring the sustainable and rational use of woodlands, thus contributing to the development of the local economy in rural areas.

All of this is achieved in part through controlled thinning, which involves reducing the density of trees per hectare to adapt and optimize the forest stand for naturalization. This practice helps improve forest cover, ecological function, and long-term sustainability. Furthermore, it creates planned areas with less vegetation fuel, making it easier to contain and control the spread of a fire in the event of a blaze, thus facilitating its extinguishment.

Through its subsidiary Veolia Biomass , and with a firm commitment to ecological transformation and the circular economy, Veolia utilizes this generated biomass as a clean and environmentally responsible fuel . In this way, forest waste is transformed into new resources. Currently, the company is carrying out preventative work in various areas, including Font de la Figuera (Alicante), covering 160 hectares; several towns in the province of Albacete, totaling 480 hectares; and Sinarcas (Valencia), as well as in several municipal forests through the Valencia Provincial Council, in an operation covering more than 100 hectares.

As proof of Veolia Biomass' commitment to sustainability and traceability in the controlled procurement of biomass, and to ensure that its origin meets the most stringent sustainability requirements under the European Renewable Energy Directive Eur all the biomass managed by the company is SURE certified . This voluntary certification system for the sustainability of this resource, developed by REDcert and Bioenergy Eur , guarantees the sustainability and environmental responsibility of the more than 200,000 tons of biomass it manages annually, and allows its clients to offset the emissions generated by their production processes.

Cleaning up burned areas is key to their recovery.
In addition to prevention, the recovery of areas already damaged by fires is essential for our forest ecosystems, as it accelerates their restoration . In this regard, Veolia is currently working in places like the Sierra de la Culebra in Zamora (where one of the most devastating fires in Spain last year occurred), covering 500 hectares; in Serradilla del Llano in Salamanca, with another 300 hectares affected; and in Terrer and Moros in the province of Zaragoza, covering an area of ​​400 hectares.

intervention to remove burnt wood from forests affected by fires is essential for several reasons. First, it prevents the proliferation of insect pests and potential diseases that arise as a consequence of fires, thus helping to conserve the forest area that has not been affected by the flames. Second, acting quickly promotes ecosystem regeneration, as it avoids the delayed arrival of machinery that could destroy seedlings once the forest has begun to regenerate. Furthermore, it prevents the risk of wood staining fungi and insect infestations that can lead to a loss of wood quality and, therefore, affect the value of the forests.