Forest certification in Spain is becoming more established

This is confirmed by data collected by PEFC, the Spanish association that promotes forest sustainability, and which reflects an increase in the number of hectares of forest, foresters, managers and certified processing companies, who, through the PEFC seal, demonstrate their sustainable practices and management.

The figures, finalized on December 31, 2016, indicate an increase of more than 76,000 hectares of land certified under Sustainable Forest Management, representing a 4% increase compared to the previous year, for a total of 1,967,418 hectares of certified forest. This total area represents 11% of the national forested area. There are 19,262 foresters and managers adhering to PEFC certification. Public administrations own 72% of the PEFC-certified area, while the remaining 28% is privately owned.

The region with the most certified hectares is Castile and León (718,000), while Galicia has the highest number of owners and managers, with more than 13,500. Taking into account the forested area of ​​each Autonomous Community, Navarre has the highest percentage of PEFC certified area with 60%.

The PEFC system offers three types of sustainable forest management certification: regional, group, and individual. The regional certification has historically been the most successful, established in eight Autonomous Communities and accounting for 70% of the certified area nationwide. However, the group certification began to grow significantly from 2013 onwards, primarily due to strong industry demand for certified products and the fragmentation of forest ownership. It now encompasses 60% of certified owners and managers. Group certification allows for the participation of various owners and managers with different types and sizes of forest land, and is currently most prevalent in Andalusia, Extremadura, and Galicia.

Fifty percent of this area is covered by pine forests. Beech and oak forests each cover 12%. Eucalyptus plantations account for 6% of the certified area, while holm oak and cork oak forests each cover 4%. Poplar groves, chestnut stands, and other broadleaf and coniferous species, as well as riparian vegetation and mixed stands, follow with lower percentages.

On the other hand, data obtained from the harvesting activities carried out in certified forests demonstrate the multifunctional nature of PEFC-certified land management. The primary use is timber harvesting, mainly of eucalyptus, pine, and poplar, with over 2.5 million cubic meters. Additionally, in some autonomous communities such as Aragon and Andalusia, the production of firewood and biomass has been highlighted as a significant source of timber. Furthermore, the harvesting of non-timber forest products such as cork, honey, Iberian pork, mushrooms, resin, game, pasture, and pine nuts, among others, is also of great importance.

In 2016 there was a 12% increase in companies certified in PEFC Chain of Custody reaching a figure of 1,271, of which 29% are located in Galicia, Community that occupies the first position with the highest number of certified companies (367), followed by Catalonia with 174, Euskadi with 122 and Madrid with 98.